Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-16

ternai concerns and domestic institutions IN Msi,
otcn tcay.n
Again:
" These things arc all confided by the Constitu-
ton to each State 10 decide for ITSELF and ow
OF NO REASON WHY THE same priacips should not
be cogfdedto he Territories"
In this speech it will be seen that i lay down
general principle of universal application, and
make no distinction between territories north or
south of $50 3d.
am aware that some ofthe abolition confeder-
ates have perpetrated monstrous forgery on
that speech, and are now circulating through the
abolition newspapers the statement that said that
would "cng with the tenacity of life to the COM
promise OF 1920" This statement, false as it is
deliberate act of forgery, as II is known to be by
all who have seen or read the speech referred
to-constitutes the staple article out ofwhich most
OF the abolition orators al the small ant-Nebraska
meetings manufacture the greater part of their
speeches. / now declare that there is not SEN
tence, line, nor even word in that speech,
which imposes the slightest limitation on the APP
pcaton ofthe great principle embraced in this bill
in all new territorial organizations, without the
least reference to the line of $50 30.
AT the session OF lS50-'5l few weeks after
this speech was made at Chicago, and when it
had been published. in pamphlet form and crcu-
of Illinois proceeded to revise its action upon the
slavery question, and define its position ON the
compromise of 1850. After resembling the reso-
utions adopted at a previous session, instructing
my colleague and myself TO vote for proposition
prohibiting slavery in the Territories, resolutions
were adopted approving the compromise measures
OF 1850. ! will read one of the resolutions,
which was adopted in the House of Representa-
tives, by vote of 81 yeas to nays:
IS ;r,l, IL.
are based upon the right of the people to form for
themselves such "a government as they may
choose that this great prlvilege-the birhright Of
freemen, the gift of Heaven, secured TO us by the
blood Of our ancestors-ought TO be extended 10
future generations; and no limitation ought 10 be
applied 10 this power, in the organization of any
Territory fihe United States, of either Terrific
rial government State Constitution: Providea
The government SO established shall be repub-
can, and in conformity with the Constitution"
Another series of resolutions having passed the
Senate almost unanimously, embracing the same
principle in different language, they were con-
Cured in by the House. Thus was the position
of Illinois, upon the slavery question, defined at
the first session of tie legislature after the adop-
ton of the compromise of 1850.
Now, sir, what becomes of the declaration
which has been made by nearly every opponent
of this bill, that nobody in this whole Union ever
dreamed that the principle of the Utah and New
Mexican bill was tob incorporated into all future
territorial organizations? / have shown that my
own State so understood and declared it at the
time in the most implicit and solemn manner. IL
nois declared that our I" liberty and independ-
cnce rest upon this s'prinople - that tho prin-
pie fought TO be extended to future generations"
and that mo LIMITATION OUGHT DE APPLIED
TO THIS POWER IN THE ORGANIZATION OF ANY
TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES" No excep-
ton is made in regard to Nebraska. No Missouri
compromise lines; no reservations of the country
north of $50 30. The principle is declared to be
the ''birthright of freemn;'' the ssgift of Hea-
ven," to be applied without Imitation" in Ne
braska as well as Utah, north as well as south of
$50 3O'.
1t may not be out Of place here to remark that
the legislature Of Illinois, at its recent session, has
passed resolutions approving the Nebraska bill;
and among the resolutions is one in the precise
language of the resolution of 1851, which / have
just read to the Senate. -
Thus have shown, Mr.. President, that the legis-
lature and people Of Illinois have always under
stood the compromise measures of 1850 as estab-
fishing certain principles rules of action in the
organization of all new Territories, and that no
limitation was to be made on either side of the
geographical line of $50 co.
Neither my time nor your patience will allow
me to take up the resolutions of the different
States in detail, and show what has been the COM
mon understanding of the whole country upon
this point. am now indicating myself and my
own action against the assaults of my calumnia-
tors ; and, for that purpose it is sufficient to show
that, in the report and bill which have presented
to the Senate, | have only carried out the known
principles and solemnly declared will ofthe State
whose representative am. Twill now invite the
attention of the Senate to the report of the COM
mttee, in order that it may be known how much
or rather how litte truth there is for the allega
CATION which has beenGo often made and repeated
on this floor, that the idea of allowing the people
in Nebraska to decide the slavery question for
themselves was !" sheer after-thought," CON
ceiyed since the report was made, and not until
the senator from Kentucky proposed his amend
ment to the bill.
read from that portion of the report in which
the committee lay down the principle by which
they proposed to be governed
"ln the judgment Of your committee, those
measures compromise of 1850 were intended 10
have far more comprehensive and enduring
effect than the mere adjustment Of the difficulties
arising out of the recent acquisition of Mexican
territory. They were designed TO establishcertain
great principles, which would not only furnish
adequate remedies for existing evils, but IN all
time 10 avoid the perils ofa similar agitation
By withdrawing tie question Of slaveyy from Tie
halls Of Congress andMe political arena, and com
mnting 10 The ar6nranaeRt Of those acjio
mediateiy interested IN and alone responsible far It's
consequences"
After making brief argument in defence of
this principle, the report proceeds, as follows:
From these provisions. it is apparent that the
compromise measures Of 1850 affirm and rest upon
the following propositions:
First. That all questions pertaining TO slavery
in The Territories, and in the new States 10 be
formed theretrom TO be LETT TO the decision Of
the people residing therein, by their appropriate
representatives, 10 be chosen by them for that
purpose"
And, in conclusion, the report proposes sub
stitnte for the bill introduced by the senator from
Iowa, and concludes as follows
The substitute for the bill which your COM
mitice have prepared and which is commended
10 the favorable action Of the Senate proposes 10
carry these propositions and principles into prac-
cal operation, in the precise language Of the COM
promise measures Of 1882
Mr.. President, as there has been SO much mis-
representation upon this point II must be permit
ted to repeat that the doctrine of the report of the
committee, as has been conclusively proved by
these extracts, is
First. Thatthe whole question of slavery should
be withdrawn from the Halls of Congress, and
the political arena, and committed to the arbitra-
Al