The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-27
CON GRESSI0NA AL.
SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM SMITH,

SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM SMITH,
on VIRGINIA,
rap 20 Mr. Culon Of Tennessee the position Of Mr.
cgay n the Missouri Compromise; delivered IN the House
81 Representatives, May, 1854
The House being in the Committee Of the Whole on the
tate of the Union,
Mr. CrAmNAs: When had the honor of addressing this
ommse ON the 27th Of April last question OF fact was
ised between the honorable gentleman rom tennessee
MIR guLoM and myself AS to the position ol mr. oay on
h a., Of is20 commonly, but enormously termed the
Missouri Compromise The issue will be best presented ny
be following extract from my speech on that occasion
| "Mr. saIrn Well, sir, let ii pass. ! now propose TO
rsad from the National inteligenoer.
Mr SMITH February, 1920 1t says: The House then
sgan went the Committee OF the Whole, Mr. baldwin
chair the restrictive oehg @ Saher a
ee nearly four hours against the right ana expeuienc
Le proposed restriction So that he not only went against
the right but he went against the 'ne
aMr' CuLloM That the restriction upon the State
and not the line Of 36 deg 80 min
d any ..Mr NJ. SMITH. The restriction general.
Mr CulloM But insist that it was the restriction up
On the State. ! ,.,.. , !.
s not Mr. Clay who introduced that measure, it has been
metimes supposed. 1t well known that it intro
ced by member from of the free States. But here Is
what the nteigencer upon the occason Mr Speaker
ay rose and addressed the committee nearly four hours
sn the right and exPedency Of the proposed restriction
hen under consideraon2 was not only to prevent Mis-
suri from coming into the Union State, without the abb
clifton Of slavery within its limits, but it also restc
Non upon all the territory in the Louisiana purchase
through to the Pacific ocean, that under discussion
have watched scdulous up to the present hour for
fitting opportunity to make good my position that MIR.
Clay his elaborate speech of four hours dealing
with the subject in general and in respect in limit
ed sense and now in this closing hour fdebate the
Nebraska BILL this opportunity of vndicating
my position before the country to the indulgence OF the
committee
Mr. Chairman in consequence of the publication of
Mr. Cays speech the occasion referred to- il is necessary
to look the records of the day which happily ofa
character complete to leave the fact at issue without
cloud to cast the slightest shade upon it,
On the 9Th of December l8l9 the subject Of admitting
Missouri into the Union State referred to select
committee On the next day bill in the usual FORM with
out restriction to slavery was reported and committed
to the Committee of the Whole On the 18th the order OF
the day for the consideration Of said bill postponed to
the second Monday in January next The discussion OF
the BILL however did not take place until the 25th Janua-
~ when the House resolved itself into the Committee Of
the Whole the bill, sand sundry petitions and me-
MORALS relating TO the subject The debate continued
until the 2Sth of February and after time spent
therein the Speaker resumed the chair and Mr. Cobb re-
ported the said bill with amendments These facts are
taken from the journal Of the House.
On the day the subject was referred to the special com
mttee Mr. Strong gave notice OF purpose to bring In
Bill oprob The further eytension Of stacery ,cin The Uni
ted SatesF On the 14th of December Mr. Taylor of New
York, offered the following resolution:
"Rsolved That committee be appointed to inquire into
the expedency of prohibiting the introduction Of slaves into
the Territories Of the United States west of the Mississippi
| with leave to report by bill or otherwise
This resolution the day agreed by the
House On the 18th the committee was discharged from
the further consideration Of said resolution and s
day Mr. Taylor offered similar resolution which
referred to the Committee of the Whole for considers
ton the same day upon which the Missouri bill Il
be considered Several other resolutions Of similar char
aeter were offered but those given are sufficient for Illus
tration
The memorials referred to the Committee of the Who'll,
were Substantially of the character. They remon
ssied against the further introduction of slavery int,
The Territories OF the United States and against the ad
mission Of slavery into any State 10 be admitted into th
Cnion west Of the Mississippi
The resolves Of States the same extent; some
them here given The legislature Of New Jersey
ported and passed the following resolution among others
prior TO January 22 1920:
They do resolve and declare that the farther admission
Of Territories into the Union without restriction OF SLAYER,
would in their opinion essentially impair the right Of th
and other existing States TO equal in Congress
right At the foundation Of the political compact nas
much as such newly admitted saveholdng States would b.
represented the basis OF their slave population
SION made at the formation Of the constitution in favor Of thu
then existing States bat stipulated for States
TO be inferred from any article clause in that instrument"
The legislature Of Delaware reported and passed prio
January %, 1920 among others the following resolu
ton:
Re'Olred BY the senate and house Of representatives Of II
Sae Deiarare, "a general assembly met, That, IL the opn
ION Of this general assembly the future introduction of
into the Territories Of the United States and into such
States be hereafter admitted into the Union, ought
DC prohibited by Congress"
Prior to February s. 1920 the following resolves passe,
The general assembly Of Ohio:
Whereas the existence Of slavery in our country has eve
een deemed great moral and political evil and its endenc
aecy calculated to impair national character and
erialy affecting national happiness; and inasmuch
le extension OF slave population In the United States
sug with the most fearful consequences the permanen
and durability Of republican Institutions and where
the subject Of the admission of slavery in the State
ssonr Is at this time before the Congress Of the Unitet
States Therefore,
Rs.oIred BY he general a.semJy ef OHIO, That
ana representatives in Congress be requested to the
dangerous measure
Prior TO February s, 1920, the following resolution
mously; '
Whereas the inhibitng the further oxten.;on az avor
N these United States subject Of deep concern among In
people OF tins state and whereas we consider slavery ~ a,
~ % 20 De deplored and that every constitutional barrie
ua DC herposed 70 prevent It's further extension AM
mat The constitution OF the United States clearly gives Con
tne right TO require Of new States, comprised With
we original boundaries OF these United States the probbito
Therefore, NV ''e on'on
Resotced W the honorable senate concur hcrcin) Tha
our senator's In Congress be instructed and our
lives be requested to oppose the admission State into M
Union OF any Territory not comprised aforesaid whou
making The prohibition OF slavery therein indspensab
condition."
10 Legislature ef Peansysanio Harris5urg December q
1919.
heotred by he senate dad house Of representatives Of
Commonwealth o Penasyieio That the senators and re,
sen'sves OF this State in the Congress Of the Unite
states be- and they hereby requested to vote against ii
mission OF any Territory as State into the Union une
@@ @@ imther Introduction Of slavery or involuntary scrv
except Tor the punishment Of crimes whereof the part
have been duly convicted, shall be prohibited and
den born within the said Territory after It's admssio
.ne mon as State shall be free but may be held
'rVice until the age Of twenty five years.
give these few only Of the evidences out Of Cor
gress of what the real question in Tho nubl; nina