The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-20

man from New YORK, Mr.. KING, has not yet
shown what is to be the drift OF his remarks,
and it il impossible for the Chair to decide him
out of order.
DIR. KING My remarks will be general, and
in relation to measures which we're adopted in
consequence of the acquisition OF these terrific
RES / intended to speak upon the measures
usually known ms the compromise measures; and
upon the point of order will say it 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 Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union, that any question relating
to tho 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 extra session of the leg
slatve assembly of New Mexico, and refers
especially to san act proposing to the State of
Texls the establishment Of her northern and
western boundaries the REIMBURSEMENT, 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
government for New Mexico" think the Chair
will be exceeding its authority. and the practice
Of the House on former occasions, to decide
remarks such as the gentleman from New York
proposes to make to be out OF order at this
carly period.
Mir. RICHARDSON. | request, after the
gentleman 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 question for
the House, and not the Chair
Mr.. HOUSTON. Mr. Chairman, | under
stand
The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from
order!
Mr. HOUSTON. understood the gentleman
from Illinois Mr. RICHARDSON to have raised a
question Of order
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman has made
a question of order, which has been overruled.
Does the gentleman from Alabama appeal!
Mr. HOUSTON. | do not.
Mr.. KING resumed. On the final adjourn
ment of the last Congress, those in and out OF
Congress who favored or who acquiesced 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 i; and they then
declared their hostility to any further agitation
or discussion of them. They went so far as to
denounco agitation as hostile to the peace and
safety of the Union. la the passage of these
acts, the lines of party division had been disre-
garded and, although most Of them were
adopted by Congress under the guide of the
great loader of the Wing party-Mr. CLAY-
and were all but one of them indebted for their
adoption to the active influence of a Wing admin
stration, 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
the future opinion Of the courts or the country
may be of their constitutional validity, enough
has transpired to show that the courts, as they
are now constituted, are ofopinion that all these
laws are constitutional.
What are the measures which now stand as
enactments upon the statute book in relation to
slavery in the new territories? First, in the
order of time, is the law erecting Oregon into Il
territorial government In this law, by the act
are expressly prohibited in that territory. This
law is the only one of the series which was
passed by Congress under Democratic admin
stration. 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 s important mainly in
the assertion and maintenance of the constitu
tional power of Congress- to 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 r
some form its introduction should be prevented
by law President Polk was personally opposed
to inserting the prohibitory clause against slav
cry in the Oregon bill but no constitutional OBJ
lection existing, he deferred to the known public
sentiment of the country and signed it. All the
other measures have been passed under Il
present Wing administration. One of these il
the admission of California into the Union as
State with constitution containing. an express
prohibition of slavery. With the application o
California for admission as a State, their consti
tuition, containing the provision against slavery
was submitted to Congress, was approved a
consistent with the Constitution OF the Unitet
States, and California was admitted free Stat
into the Union by act oil congress. Anotne
measure is the organization Of separate terrific
rial governments for the two territories of New
Mexico and Utah.
The people of New Mexico were known t.
be opposed to the introduction of slavery anon!
them, by their own express declaration in con
stitution, which they formed with view t.
their admission into the Union as State
The people of Utah, who are chiefly, if no
entirely, Mormons, whose difficulties with tn
people of the States in which they attempted t,
settle induced them to emigrate to the plac
they now inhab;t, have not that | am aware
ever distinctly expressed their opinion for o
against slavery, unless an effort which the,
made to be included within the State of Cali
( fornia, whose constitution prohibits slavery
may be regarded as expressive of their opinion
J upon this subject. The acts of Congress Great
ing these two territorial governments, declar
that they may hereafter DO admitted into tn
Union as States, with or without slavery, as tn
people Of these territories may determine whe
they come to be admitted rs States; but thes
acts do not decide or declare the law in thes
territories for the time during which they re
main under territorial governments Whe