The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-22

to their own destruction. No government ever has o
ever can long survive such policy. Ii is with
the basis Of all civil govenment-ihe industry ndepend
ence, and integrity OF free people.
REMARKS OF HON. PRESTON KING,
YORK,
On Tie bill to authorize the Governor of New MEXICO q
call another session OF the Legislature assembly; deiiy
cred an ae House of Representatives May IT, 1852.
The first business in order being the consideration
bill TO authorize the Governor of New Mexico Il
call another session OF the Legislative Assembly, shoult
the same be deemed necessary and expedieni,"
occur Tor me to submit remarks desire to make
than the present. when the business relating the Ter
rories whose acquisition originated the measures re-
speeding which shall speak, before the Committee on
the state oil the Union aliude the measures known
as the compromise measures.
Mr.. RICHARDSON rise to question OF order.
territorial business, and feel that ought do all can
10 press that business forward MAKE the question
ORDER that the discussion OF anything except something
in relation 10 the bill itself is out OF order.
Mr. KING. We are in Committee OF the Whole on
the state Of the Union
The CHAIRMAN. The Chair decides that the gen.
tleman from Illinois Mr. RICHARDsoN] is right in bis
point OF order; but the gentleman from New York Mr.
KING has not yet shown what is be the drift of his
remarks and is impossible for the Chair to decide him
Mr.. KING. My remarks will be general, and in rela.
lon to measures which adopted in consequence Of
the acquisition OF these Territories intend to speak
measures and upon the point OF order will say It has
been invariably decided. whenever question OF orde
has been raised like that of the gentleman from Illinois
Mr. RIcHARDsoN,l when the House were IN COMMITTEE
OF the Whole the state OF the Union that any question
relating TO the Union, or its affairs was in order.
The CHAIRMAN. The Chair has not decided thu
gentleman from New York Mr. KINGl 10 be out OF or
der The bill before The House provides for an ex
ira session OF the legislative assembly OF New Mexico
Texas The establishment Of her northern and western
boundares the REIMBURSEMENT by said State OF all ter.
rtoy claimed by her exterior to said boundaries, and OF
all her claims upon the United States. and establish
territorial government for New Mexico" 1 think the
Chair would be exceeding lis authority, and the practice
OF The House on former occasions TO decide remarks such
as the gentleman from New York proposes 10 make, &c
be out OF order at ihls early period
Mr.. RICHARDSON. | request, after the gentleman
from New York shall have concluded his remarks, thai
the House will permit TO pass these bills, that may
gel towards the end of them, and then take up
the other bills, and discuss these questions they ought
to be. desire TO pass this bill.
The CHAIRMAN. That is a question for the House,
Mr. HOUSTON. Mr. Chairman, unders,and--
The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Ala
bama mir. HoUsTosl rise to question OF order
MIR. HOUSTON. | understood the gentleman from Iii.
nois Mr. RICHARDSON TO have raised question of
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman has made ques.
ton OF order which has been overruled Does the gen
,leman from Alabama appeal!
Mr.. HOUSTON. ! DO not.
Mr.. KING resumed. On the final adjournment OF the
last Congress- those in and out of Congress who favored
acqulesced in the passage Of the series OF
relating to slavery which grew out OF the late acquisition
or territory by the United States declared that these ques
lions settled and they then declared their hostility
10 any further agitation discussion of them. They
went so lar as TO denounce agitation as hostile TO the
peace and safety OF the Union In the passage OF these
acts, the lines OF party division had been dsregarded
and, although most OF them adopted by Congress
under the guide OF the great leader OF the whg party
Mr.. CLAY-and were all but OF them indebted for
their adoption 10 the active influence OF whig admins
tatlon, without which they could never have become
aws yet they were voted for and voted against by
bers OF Congress without regard TO the distinction OF wing
democrat Whatever may be the opinion OF any man,
or set OF men, for against any all OF these measures,
or whatever may be the opinion OF the wisdom and pa
rotsm, the want oil bolh in which these measures
conceived and adopted they stand laws upon the
siautebook and whatever the present opinion OF indl
vduas the future opinion OF the courts or the country
may be OF their constitutional validity, enough has trans
d red to show that the courts, they now consti
tuied, are OF opinion that all these laws constitutional
What the measures which now stand as cnactmenis
upon the statute book relation TO slavery IN the new
Territories First in the order oil time, is the law erect
ing Oregon into territorial government In this law, by
the act of Congress- slavery and Involuntary servude are
expressly prohibited in that Territory. This law is the
only OF the series which passed by Congress
under democratic administration. IL was approved by
President Polk who sen, 10 Congress special message
assigning the grounds upon which he approved and signed
it. The prohibition OF slavery in the Oregon territorial
bill is important mainly in the assertion and maintenance
OF the constitutional power of Congress to prohibit ala
very IN the Territories for the people OF Oregon, like
the people OF the Territories acquired from Mexico, were
opposed TO the introduction OF slavery among them, and
desired only that in form its introduction should be
by law. President Polk was personally op
posed TO inserting The prohibory clause against sla
very in the Oregon bill but no constitutional oblec-
lion existing, he deferred to the known pnhlic sent
ment OF the country and signed IT, All the other meas
have been passed under the present wing admins
raion One OF these Is the admission OF California INTO
the Union a State, with constitution containing an
express prohibition of slavery With the application oil
for admission State, their constitution,
the provision against slavery, was submitted
10 Congress- approved consistent with the cons
luton of The United States, and California was admitted
free State into the Union by act OF Congress Another
is the organization OF separate territorial govern
nents for The two Territories of New Mexico and Utah
The people OF New Mexico known to be op
POSED to the introduction OF slavery among them by their
,wn express declaration in constitution which they
ormed with avew 10 their admission into the Union az
State.
The people OF Uiah-who chiefly II not entirely
difficulties with the people of the
states IN which they attempted settle induced them TO
migrate TO the place they now inhabit have not that
IN aware ever distinctly expressed their opinion for or
gans slayery-uness an effort which they made to be
Included within The State OF California whose constitu
ION prohibits slavery, may be regarded expressive Of
heir opinions upon this subject rhe acts oil Congress
reaiing these two territorial governments declare that
hey may hereafter be admitted into the Union States