The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-23

and the constitution of Mexico, slavery did exist in
those Territories at the time OF then annexation They
therefore denied the right asserted by the South 10 hold
slaves those Territories and insisted thai the whole Of
them should be dedicated 10 free labor The South coDtendcd
that by the inevitable extension of the constitution Of the
United States those Territories The southern stakeholder
had the rgh. TO held his slaves IN them aud denied that
any Mexican law prohibiting him from doing could
in after their acquisition, Thus of those
very geographical questions SO much deprecated by Wash
ngton - Farewell Address had arisen and felt called
upon the 18th of July lSAs 10 redeem the pledge which
had previously given to compromise that question, II
could on terms equally fair and honorable for the North
and Souh' Hence II was, repeat that moved for The
appointment of the committee.
The South agreed, with extraordinary unanimity to sub
init the validity of their claim to the Supreme Court Many
northern gentlemen agreed the thing; but there
by the unaniny regard To II at the
North which existed 1T the South STILL, there was as
have shown from the VOTE overwhelming majority of the
Senate in favor of the bill of ls48 which carried out this
principle The bill having passed the Senate, was sent to
the House of Representatives Ii Ii not necessary for me
state fate there Ii defeated by indirect vote OF
no to 81 laying the table, and by looking the jour
nal you will ascertain that thrceouhs perhaps hive sxs
Of those who opposed the BILL and destroyed by laying 1t
the table, consisted of northern gentlemen. do
propose 60 discussion of the whole merits OF that
BILL or by any means 10 arragn the conduct OF gentlemen
here of the North of the South who thought proper to
oppose the That is not the purpose for which
cite these facts them for the purpose of showing the
pursued by the North and the South upon the settle
ment of the question at this stage of the controversy I'M
medately after this and during the session. the House
Of a the duty of establishing
governments in California and New Mexico passed bill
for the organization Of government Oregon
containing the Wilmot provso. That bill under
deraton in the Senate the 10th Of August 1t4S,
will be seen by reference to page 563 ofhe Journal when
"on motion by Mr.. DOUGLAS amend the bill, section
fourteen, line one by inserting after the word enacted ,
"That the line Of 36 deg 80 min of north atitude
known the Missouri Compromise line, defined by the
eighth section of act entitled An act to authorize the
people of the Missouri Territory form constitution and
State government and for the admission of such State into
the Union equal footing with the original States,
and to prohibit slavery in certain Territories approved
March 9Th 1920 be, and the hereby declared to
extend to the Pacific and the said eighth section
together with the compromise therein effected hereby
ved and declared to be in full force and binding for the
future organization of the Territories Of the United States
in the sense, and with the understanding with
which it was originally adopted -
The amendment agreed by vote of yeas SO, nays
81. The yeas
"Messrs Atchison, Badger Bell Benton, Berren, Bor-
land, Bright, Butler Calhoun, Cameron Davis Of Missis
sppi, Dickinson, Douglass Downs, Fitzgerald, Foote
Hannegan, Houston Hunter, johnson of Maryland, john
of louisiana, Johnson of Georgia, King Lewis Man
gum Mason Metcalfe Pearce Sebastian, Spruance Sur
geon, Turney, and Underwood--33"
The nays
Messrs. Allen Anterior, Baldwin, Bradbury, Breese
Clarke, Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dix,
Dodge Felch, Greene Hale, Hamin, Miller Niles, Phelps
Upham, Walker, and Webser--2l."
Every southern senator, will be observed except my
SELF voted for the amendment carry the Missouri line
the Pacific and committed to that course and would
mad done before, III had been here
was absent, attending upon his last illness, and
did during that session. 1t true has been
stated by Others that southern gentlemen then impored
their northern brethren settle upon that principle.
large msjony of northern voted against il; but the
South strong enough, with the force which it had
here carry the and the bill went TO the House
with that amendment. ##.G.#-
The gentleman who stood prominently forward and led
the northern band opposition the extension Of the Mis-
contemporaries line TO the Pacific Mr. Webster, of
Massachusetts, who voted have against the
amendment Of the Senate. He with his northern friends
ut time preferred defeating organization of the
oria governments altogether, rather than that slavery
hoa ss Be allowed N any PORTION OF the south Of
He, that day, claimed that the Wilmot proviso was
" his thunder and of this Mr.. Foo,e, OF Mississippi
afterwards often here reminded him. To his great nhn
ence and that of others could name-for itwould
men 10 Congress, attributed the time the defeat of
all efforts compromise. He did attend the session
Of the Senate during the progress of die compromise bill
of IS46 through this body, but his opinions
pressed in other places according to the statements Of
the public press the time, and he appeared TO be hos
tile the settlement of the question any other basis
than that Of absolute restriction all the Territories
The Oregon bill returned to the House of Represent
aves as amended by the Senate and there by northern
votes the amendment extending the Missouri promise
line TO the Pacific disagreed The bill originally
cnme from The House, contained the Wimo proviso The
Senate did object that with the understanding that the
Compromise line extended to the Pacific, the
whole Territory far north OF SO deg 30 min the south
crn boundary Of being the parallel Of AZ deg The
disagreement between the houses finally temi-
mated from North Carolina Mr.. BApGSRl
has stated by the Senates rectdng from it's amendment
and the bill, containing the Wiot poyso, finally passed
both houses, and signed by President Polk.
Sir, this is faithful history Of what occaued prior 10
December l645 At the commencement Of the session OF
Congress in that month, President Polk transmitted to
both message, which he stated the why
he had approved the Oregon bin with the Wimo provso
The assigned by him for placing his signature
to the bill to organize Oregon into territorial government
containing the restrictive provso which he had declared
be unconstitutional, was, that lay north of the Missouri
line of sc deg 30mn which he considered ought be- and
would be, THO Pacific and in accordance with the
principles Of the who had governed the country
before him, he felt himself obliged to sign that BILL with the
expectation that the line would be continued the Pacific
This message his last annual message, and the abes
which he wrote. After stating the history of the Mis-
sour Compromise, he said
"It upon this consideration that the close OF youl
last session. gave my sanction the principle Of the Mis-
sour Compromise by approving and signing the bill tc
establish the territorial government Of Oregon. From
sincere desire preserve the harmony OF the Union
in the Of my predecessors felt
to yield my acquescence TO the extent which they hsd
gore compromising this delicate and dangerous question
But IL Congress shall the decision by which tn,
Missouri Compromise effected, and shall propose
extend the restriction the whole territory, soutl
well north Of the parallel Of S6 deg 30 min il viii
cease TO be compromise, and be regarded an orr
| ginal question"
The whole message is full Of argument and eDireaty
Congress extend the Missouri Compromise line 10 th
Pacific and settle the question. lie says TO them effect
In the confidence that this would be done signed bill
establish territorial government in Oregon; but II Con
gross should refuse carry the expectations which hav
been entertained, this will be a compromise. ans
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