The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-02

Il Now, sir. here is, ln my opinion. only By lega
the act OF 1920 and absolute abrogalon oi the geo.
graphical line established BY H. il entire change
OF sentiment and position upon the subject OF the non
existence OF slavery north OF ~ deg 80 min. II is as
understand il. perfect abandonment oil arbitrary aud
geographical DISTINCTIONS and resort to the great pIinci
pie Of popular sovereignty, upon which our government
is basedto Wit. The right OF the people govern.
was The returning from gross departure in 1870 back to
the first principles asserted by the days OF the
oiuon 10 that great struggle 10 be relieved from Bnt,
sh oppression Then, II the act Of 1850 has repealed
the PROVISIONS OF the act OF 1870, have not right TO
say so in this bill? II the fact SO. simple dsClaIa-
ton that the fact exists is proper Have not right
10 say 30 Have not the people OF the Territories and
the States right to say and have not the latter al
ready spoken, IN language which cannot be msunder-
sood and declared that the fact does exsti Was it not
echoed through the land In 1850 that the law Of that year
was repeal OF all former laws in relation to slavery
and that all questions respecting il had been finally settled
full and inal settlement recognised and acknowledged
al the Baltimore Convention in lS52l Was the dem.
onstiaton which made BY the people At the presi-
aSniia e,ecisoh ia that year adenlonsiraon unexa-
Piled in the history Of this any other nalon-made
upon such supposed settlement Did not the peopf6 so
understand and believe H. when they the dark and
porenous cloud which had so long threatened adssolu
ton OF the Union, die away in the distance, succeeded
! BY The bright bow OF promise! And did not re-
ligous temples throughout the land echo with the most
fervent tbansgvngs prayers and praises, that went up
TO Heaven holy incense, in gratitude for the nations
delIverance from peril Yet sir, abotionsts tell that
III not They tell that there no sincerity in
l
whole country, has been deceived cheated and made
believe what was not true Sir, this unexpected and
startling declaration should be confined within these
walls, but should be speedily sent 10 every quarter OF
The county, and poured into the peoples that they
may know with whom they have been dealing
But, sir, let us Tor moment refer 10 the record, and
what really was settled by the act OF 1850 and to set
tie the point whether The abolonists right or wrong
And will refer 10 the very first starting pontto wit, the
preamble 10 the resolutions OF Mr. Clay for the admission
OF California the Unon which have before refer
| red Ii follows: -5 H#N
" 1t being sesirabe for the peace, concord, and
of the Union OF these States 10 sette and adjus amcaby
all existing questions of connoversy between them arising
Ijust basis.'
Now, what were all those existing questions? Why,
the South commended for equal rights under the consttu
lionan equal interest The territory. and the free and
unresained right to carry their slave properly into it,
The abolition portion of the North opposed it, and ungen
erousy contended that the whole oi territory should
be tree and slavery should have existence there Elk
hibDg The most unusiable selfshness and disregard
ing be rights OF their brethren in the South the abo
iioniss eagerly gTasped at ,ne whole OF it, To settle
this, and all other questions that could possibly arise,
resolutions succeeded the preamble to the fret
and second OF which need only refer:
"Rssolrsd, That California with suitable boundaries
ought upon her application, 10 be admitted of the
States OF this Unon without the imposition by Congress Of
restriction in Iepse, 10 the exclusion Introduction
loi slavery within those boundaries #a#-
"Rsopea. That slavery not exist by law, and is
10 Dc leo M
expedient for Congress 10 provide by law, either for It's in
PRODUCTION exclusion nom. sald territory"
Upon the principles embraced IN these resolutions is
based the organic law Of the Territories OF New Mexi-
co and Utah Those principles are, Intervention by
Congress upon The subject OF slavery and freedom 10
all, The South well The North. Those Mr.. Clay
doubtless intended should be substituted in the place of
all Others, The most proper for the government OF
American citizens and as mort consistent with the the
ory o our government and the genius oil institutions
and which should settle the matter forever. And he is
not alone 10 this Mr. Webster. while speaking upon
the same subject. on the l7th of July 1850, SAID
L,tty ty All
TO with IL the ohersubecs by the
commee aud say, thatf The whole report OF the com
all The possible benefits be derived whole county
this, that settles, the Of far
jotiy OF them all tbe questions connected with slavery
which have 50 long sgttated the county"
And again, The same day, he advanced in his re-
marks, be further said:
81 hink the county calls settle this question
that calls loudly and persuvely and think fu rtber
that the whole world is look INK whether this grea,
public can get through with such a crisis"
Yet sir in the face OF all his we are told by abolition
lists, that the question has not been settled but is still
lopen ior agitation The people told that The legsla
uon OF 1850 was iarce and that Clay and Webster
afe not 20 be believed Alas cir, what will not abolition
ism and tanaicism do
Il But called upon to meet an argument OF an.
other character The opponents OF the bill say, that il
the principles OF the Missouri Compromise are changed
BY the compromise measures Of $780, that change is not
TO take effect now, but Ia future and that future when
the Territory OF New Mexico Is admitted into the Union
as State that al tna lime The people shall have fight
to declare IN their constitution whether slavery shall ex
s within It's limits not; ihat before that time the
Territory il 20 be Tree Tertiioy. This is question
which merits consideration.
\ Now, II true that The people OF the Territory have
the right 10 detetmine The question, and at the time
named They are 10 fIame constitution, which is 10
become the paramount law o the land and define the
rights which ihey are 10 enjoy under H. They are, in
other words TO agree upon It's lerms Now, the right OF
the people 10 agree upon and 10 decide naturally presup
poses the existence OF thing to be agieed upon and de-
clded about which there may be difference OF opinion
IL presupposes that the people would be called uron 10
decide a question which might arise between two or
more existing parties II The act OF 1850 means any thing,
il certainly means this Then, let me ask who The paI
lies were which Congress Lad in we al the time of The
passage OF the ac2 Why, undoubtedly, pro slavery
and an snu.slsvery party, which supposed might be
there. That these must inevitably be the parties
IL clear from The fact that the question OF slavery s the
one to be settled Now, II II IL tue, the opponents Of
the bill say, that the Territory is to be free until the
adoption OF constitution that shall permit slavery
10 exist there. then The South has been overreached by
the act Of $780, and duped into the support OF princpe
that means nothing IL is IN no better situation with re-
gard 10 territory lying north of SO deg 80 min than II was
under the &C; OF 1920, aud is Just efeeualy cut of
from the enjoyment oil equal rights under the constitution
OF the United States Now. SIR, | will not do such
grea injustice 10 the Congress OF 1850 10 suppose that
~ that sll-unporant and trying hour, when The salvation
OF The Union hung upon its action, II lppislang
tor dishonest purposes and unmeaning show shall be
the last TO believe that Clay and Webster when
about TO commit the crowning act OF their lives and 10
wind NJ Their glorious careers by supporting the conpr-
mise measafts OF 1850, guilty OF durlcily and
feschery 10 the South Although those ID sting ashed
statesmen believed that, b. the laws OF Nature agj The
laws oil production, slavery never could exist in any po
ton o our Mex can ternioy yet they willing TO
settle principle and to establish equality of right be-
tween the North and the Souih In ho d,e,a ~,