The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-09

wings resisted il because they soers and in
iavor OF the Wimot pToviso. La the end they carried the
day, and broke down the policy OF div sion and in
terventon was established Shall this policy now be
carried out for the futures IL to be set aside the
iormer one was when II would have been favorable 10
the South This is the first occasion since 1850 for a
trial Of the matter. AS to the Territory Of Washington,
oganzed by the last Congress. The gentleman from Vr-
snia Mr.. MILLsoNl has overlooked important fact
Washington part of the Oregon Territory and the
people there had in their territorial legislature passed
law prohibiting slavery This done before Congress
aPped the Wilmo provso 10 IT, Had we therefore, du-
ring the last Congress, repealed their laws already esab-
lished this would have been direct violation OF the
principle on which the preses restsviz: the
right OF the people TO regulate their own domestic mat
ters.
Ii appears therefore. Mr.. Chairman that the Kansas
and Nebraska bills afford the first proper occasion for
carrying out The new principles adopted in 1880
come now, MIR Chairman, 10 what ! consider the
grea, obstacle 10 the passage OF the bill The main OPP
position TO il does not arise from any OF the sources as
yet alluded to, but il comes from another quarter and
orce which has been fighting The question under false
the character OF that opposition 1t seems 10 be well un
derstood that every member OF the old wing party upon
this floor ifom the Moth is an opponent OF the bill
understand that those gentlemen making earnest ap
peals to southern wings not 10 press this question on
them, lest they should thereby break up the old whig
patty. They also deprecang agtatIon and insisting
on quiet Sc Those appeals are not made 10 me, Mr.
Chairman, because for the last four five years have
for which will presently state, regarded myself
emeu conlrol in fact, am rather out of all regular
party organizations and am regarded, believe as an in
dependent But, sir enable those members from the
South who have less experience than myself to under
stand the subject properly and 10 know how much
weight they ought to attach to such declarations and APP
peals, wish TO recur things in the pas--n
offensive spirit but to make clear to every The real
principles upon which these gentlemen have been and
still acting.
In 1916 the Wilmot proviso was brought forward !;
every wing from the free States voted Tor it, II pro-
VeIy
near breaking up the party They said, however to
southern Wigs Do be alarmed about this proviso
only 10 TO put stop the Mexican war,
and prevent the conquest Of Mexico, and also to split
in two the democratic party in New York, and cripple
them in Pennsy lvania-n Wimols district remember
how they used TO put their around their southern
friends in The kindesl manner. and exclam, '.bly God
do you suppose that we mean 10 push this thing, and
drive you all of from U.S. Do not ear we shall no,
press II 10 PRACTICAL extreme" After the iernina
ted, the first attempt TO settle The question by the
CLAY compromtse. That was not entirely satisacto-
ry 10 he South But whether we SHOULD akelt or not
depended upon The chance there Of getting better
bill instead OF IL The northern wings. however, in a
body, assaed it in the hercest They said
cheat in itself that II gave the South hing prac
cally, and was scheme OF the democratic party TO
their forces aud elect Gen. Cass II that
il it passed he would be elected, Gen. Taylor would be
stricken down, and utterly repudated by the North,
der the fierce excitement which would be raised and
that pos Sbly even the free. .soiers would carry every
thing 1 do not Know that these declarations had any
weight with those southera gentlemen who went against
here at that time know well the earnest appea
that made southern men, aud ibe promises held
out OF better settlement at a future time.
The bill was defeated, and the election every
body expected would By the division of the d, mo
Gratis in the State OF New York. CAss los its vote and in
the Wmo aslficl in Pennsslsania. apd other places,
there was detection enough 10 iose him that State and
General Fayo carried both those States The loss Of
either OF which would have been fatal TO bim The
northern wings bal therefore trumpbed upon their
ireme ii-slayery policy We bad a right 10 expect
therefore, that they would al length be liberal towards
us, and come 10 a fair adjustment OF the pending is.
sues. We met in December, after the presidential
election, and, of coLcation and harmony,
one Of those gentlemen, Mr.. Gou of New York Intro
duced b in most offensive language TO abolish the
slave trade the District OF Columbia All OF those
genremen voted for il, with the exception OF Mr. Lin
coin, Of Illinois, only, believe They passed IL by
heavy majority. with the aid o some fteeso democrats.
The southern members oi both houses of Congress
thefeupon held meeting In The Senate Chamber The
noribern whgs seeing The condition OF lhings likely 10
be produced, and feeling sone alarm, ~ that soo;h
ng aud conclliang manner Tor which they disin.
gulshed, said that the vote Go's resolution was a
hasy aud inconsderae act and that they world recon-
slider the resolution and reject it, They also said that tn
meetings which we eolding bad been gotten up by
Gen Foote, Mr. Calhoun, and other democrats, with a
covert design Of breaking down General Tay los admins
raon before into power by exciting divisions be.
tween northern and southern wings, and that ought
10 have more confidence 10 them than such movemen,
implied and that all difficulties could be arranged amica.
bly,. These declarations had no weight with me. as
bad fully determined not 10 give them my cooperation
Ii was seen however, that there occasion Tor
action that Time The part OF the southern members,
and the excitement passed by
Bui, the matter did not stop there Al that session.
many members ol the democratic party in The Senate be.
ing still ANXIOUS 10 settle The question. MIR Walker, a
rom WISCONSIN, with great beralily aud manli.
ness, brought forward proposition as an amendment 10
the civil and diplomatic bill which woud have settled
the whole question fairly and liberal terms That
proposition was adopted 10 the Senate and came into this
House. aud here supported by every southern
Der Of both parties, and also BY many liberal northern
democrats ID sscesined ihsth likely 10 pass
and hereupon the northern whgs-who ought rather to
have desired TO get The matter settled TO avoid
barassmeHt 10 General Taylofs incoming sdninistra-
uon-made the strongest opposition 70 H. They entered
into a combination wnb the tfee-s0ilers and abGtnonss
10 defeat II and when il seen that we would prob.
ably carry ~ they, they then said and afterwards
boase. had agreed tna rather than majority should be
until he end OF The session, and taus defeat all The sp-
preparation bills. ln this way some who in favor
of The measure frightened, and induced 10 give
way, 80 iba ne measure was lost.
Then, sir during tie year following they kent this
question before the people A. The North, and the result
was that the Cass democrats beaten almost every.
where IN thai section OF the country and when we met
ascettaned bat they had nearly ninety whg members
from the Norm every man O whom pledged 10 vote
tor the WmOl pfovso and for The aboliion Of slavery
wherever Congress had jurisdiction, and particularly
10 he District OF Columbia geollect yely well mat,
IN our caucus upon resolution offered By Mr., Ioopbs,
Mr. Brooks of New York. said that he and his colleague,
Mr. Briggs had determined not TO vote for the abolition
OF slavery 10 The Dsret o Columbia during the hSsl
sion OF Thai Congess That all cSald get by way
OF concession from them They would not vote for the
abolition Of slavery in the District OF Columbia the FIRST
session. but they would make no such promise Tor the