The southern press., 1852-05-20


man from New York, { Mr. KlNe, has not yet
shown what is 10 BE- the drift of his remarks,
aud il is impossible for the Chair to decide HIN
out of order.
Mr. KING. Ny remarks will be general, and
in relation to measures which were adopted IN
consequence Of the acquisition OF these terrlto-
ries intended to speak upon the measures
usually known as the compromise measures; and
upon the point Of order | will say il has been
invariably decided, whenever question of or
der has been raised like that of the gentleman
from Illinois, [Mr. RICHARDSON, when the
House were in COMMITTEES of the Whole on the
state OF the Union, that any question relating
\ To The Union, or its affairs, WAS in order.
The CHAIRMAN The Chair has not de.
cided the gentleman from New York Mr.. KING
TO be out Of order. The bill now before the
! House provides for an extra session OF the leg
islative assembly Of New Mexico, and refers
especially to an act proposing to the State OF
Texas the establishment ef her. northern and
western boundaries the relinqushment, by
said State OF all territory claimed by her exterior
to said boundaries, and OF all her claims upon
the United States, and to establish territorial
governmental New Mexico" think the Chair
viii be exceeding its authority. and the practice
Of the House on former occasions, to decide
remarks such rs The gentleman from New York
proposes to make, To be out Of order ut this
early period.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. | request, after the
geptlenan from New York shall have concluded
his remarks that the House will permit us to
pass these bills, that we may get towards the
end of them, and then take up some OF the other
| bills, and discuss these questions as they ought
| to be | desire to pass this bill.
The CHAIRMAN. That is a quegtion for
The House, and not the Chair.
Mr.. HOUSTON. Mr.. Chairman, | under
stand .E
The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from
! Alabama Mr.. HoUsToNl rise to question OF
order?
/ Mr.. HOUSTON understood the gentleman
from Illinois MIR. RIcHARDsoN to have raised
question Of order
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman has made
question of order, which has been overruled
! Does the gentleman from Alabama appeal!
Mr.. HOUSTON. do not
] Mr.. KING resumed. On the final adjourn
i ment of the last Congress- those in and out of
Congress who favored or who aequiesced in the
passage Of the series of measures relating to
] slavery, which grew out of the late acquisition
of territory by the United States, declared that
| these questions were settled and they then
declared their hostility to any further agitation
| or discussion Of them. They went so far 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 dsre-
garded; and, although most of them were
adopted by Congress- under the guide of the
great leader of the Wing party-Mr. CLAY
and were all but one of them indebted for their
adoption to the active influence Of Wing admin.
istration, without which they could never have
become laws, yet they were voted for and voted
against by members of Congress, without regard
to the distinction of Wing or Democrat What
ever may be the opinion of any man. or set Of
men. for or against any or all of these measures,
or whatever may be the opinion of the wisdom
and patriotism, or the want of both, in which
these measures were conceived and adopted,
they stand as laws upon the statute book; and
whatever the present opinion of individuals, or
1 the future opinion Of the courts or the country
| may be of their constitutional validity, enough
| has transpirC 10 show that the courts, as thsy
are now constituted, are Of opinion that all these
laws are constitutional. !.
What are the measures which now stand as
enactments upon the statute book in relation to
l slavery in. the new territories! First, in the
order of time, is the law erecting Oregon uto
territorial government In this law, by the act
! of Congress, slavery and~invountary servitude
are expressly prohibited in that territory This
law is the only one of the series which was
passed by Congress under Democratic admin.
istration. II was approved by President Polk,
who sent TO Congress a special message assign
ing the grounds upon which he approved and
signed IL. The prohibition Of slavery in the
Oregon territorial bill is important mainly in
The assertion and maintenance Of the constitu-
tional power Of Congress 10 prohibit slavery 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
some form its introduction should be prevented
, by law. President Polk was personally opposed
10 inserting the prohibitory clause against slav-
cry in the Oregon bill but no constitutional OBJ
lection existing, he deferred 10 the known public
sentiment of the country and signed il. Al the
pther measures hays been passed under th
present Wing administration. One OF these is
! the admission Of California into the Union as a
State, with n constitution containing an express
r prohibition Of slavery. With the application OF
California for admission "a a State, their consti.
tuition, containing the provision against slavery.
y was submitted TO Congress, was approved as
consistent with the Constitution OF the United
0 States, and California was admitted free State
$ into the Union BY act Of Congress Another
y measure is the organization Of separate terrific
4 rial governments for the two territories Of New
Mexico and Utah.
\ The people OF New Mexico were known 10
4 be opposed TO the introduction Of slavery among
them, by their own express declaration in n con
n siituton, which they formed with view "a
:, their admission into the Union rs State.
n The people Of Utah, who are chiefly, IL mol
entirely, Mormons, whose difficulties with the
n people Of the States in which they attempted "a
settle induced them to emigrate to the place
v they now inhab't, have not that am aware
i ever distinctly expressed their opinion for OF
+ against slavery, unless an effort which they
n made TO be included within the State Of Cali
# fornia, whose constitution prohibits slavery
may be regarded as expressive of their opinion:
e upon this subject The acts Of Congress Great
n ing these two territorial governments, declare
h that they may hereafter be admitted into the
Union as States, with or without slavery, as the
!. people Of these territories may determine, wher
l.. lit a L..t a..