Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-11


body but abroad in th foreign service Of the country
moved the proyso viii Oh have just recited and he did
il as he said, g to f eel the pulse Of the House. Mr.
Webster IN voting that motion OF Mr. Soule, as he had
just voted against Wmo provso used these remark
able words:
Be remsmbs red, sir that now speak Of Utah and New
Mexico, and Of Oh en- alone"
1t was with hat caveat that Mr. Webster voted for the
proyso which forms the characteristic portion Of this e
gsation OF compromise which is supposed to carry with
it law applying to this whole Territory of Nebraska
previously covered by the Missouri compromise of 1920
Mr. Webs had former OCCASION in the great speech
of the tn of March, 1850 to which shall in moment
advert again, used the following remarkable language
And say sir the proposition upon which stand
this day and the truth and rmness Of which intend
to act until il is oycrthrown that there not at this moment
within the United States single foot of land the character Of
whish in regard to its being territory slave terri
tory is not fixed by and irrepeaabe law be-
yond the power of the action Of the Government,
He meant Of to give to the Missouri restriction
the character of compact which the Government in good
faith could not repeal and there in the of the
speech great deal more said to the same purpose.
And now, SIR having alluded to the speech Of Mr. Web
ster of the Ith March, 1850. allow me to dwell upon it
1 for moment. was in position next year, having
requested by that great and amented super
intend the publication ofhis works. to know very parcu
ary the comparative estimate which he placed upon his
own parliamentary efforts. He told than once
that he thought his second speech FooTEs resolution
was that in which he had best succeeded Senatorial
effort and specimen Of parliamentary dalectics; but
he added, with emotion which he unable
suppress the speech of the eth Of March, 1850 much
as have been reyiled for it, when dead will be
allowed to be of the greatest Importance the country
Sir, he took the greatest interest in that speech lie
wished it to forth with specific title and, after
siderable deliberations it called by his direction
"A Speech for the Constitution and the Union" He in
scrDed IT 70 the people of Massachusetts, in dedication
Of the most emphatic tenderness and he prefxed
that motto, which you all remember, from Lyy the most
appropriate and fecitous quotation perhaps that
made: True things rather than pleasant things
Vera pro gras-and with that he it forth to the
world.
Sir in that speech his gigantic intellect brought to-
gether all hat could gather from the law of nature from
the Constitution of the United States from past
legislation from the physical features Of the region
strengthen him in that plan Of Cancellation and peace in
which he feared that he might carry along with him
the public sentiment Of the whole of the country which he
particularly represented here At its close when he di
lated upon the disastrous effects of separation he rose to
strain of imprisoned eloquence which has been
surpassed within these walls Every topic every argu
ment every fact brought to bear upon the point;
and he felt THAI all his vast popularity at stake
the ISSUE Let commend the Alteration of Senator's
and let ask them to consider what weight due to
the authority of such speaking under such crcun
stances and such OCCASION when he tells you that
the condition of every foot of land in the country for
slavery aonslavery, fixed by some irrepeaable
law And you about to repeal the principal law
which ascertaned and fixed that condition And sir if
the Senate will take any heed of the opinion of
humble myself, will say that believe Mr.. Webster
in that Speech went to the very verge of the public
timcnt Ia the nonsayeholdng States and that have
gone hairs breadth further would have been step
bold even for his great weight Of character.
But pass over number Of points to which wished
to make some allusion, and proceed to another matter
think the chairman Of the Committee Territories did
not return entirely satisfactory the argu
ment drawn from the fact that the Missouri restriction
or the compromise of $780, is actually and in
cognsed and confirmed by the Territorial legislation of
1856 in the act organizing the Territory of New Mexico
The argument is this that act contains proviso that
nothing therein contained shall be construed impair
qualify the third article Of the second section Of the
resolutions for annexing Texas When you to that
third article OF the second section the resolution you
find that recognises by name the Missouri compromise
Now, understood the chairman Of the Committee on
Territories to say that all that part of Texas which
that restriction applied north of $50 S0 was cut off and
annexed to New Mexico.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Not all annexed; but large portion
annexed and all cut off.
Mr.. EVERETT But it does not seem me that this is
adequate In the first place, the Senator tells
that all north of $50 30 cut off from Texas. But
there considerable portion Of territory large as
four States Of the size Of Connecticut which in
corporaed into New Mexico, and to which the proviso
still attaches But whether that be SO or not, would it
not be strange phenomenon in legislation that subse
quen act should be construed to supersede to nu to
render imperative and void by any operation in any
way FORM former act which it expressly states
thing therein contained should qualify impair? 1t
does not to that this is formally recognition
that it is unnecessary inquire whether there is is
not any portion of territory to which in point Of fact it
attaches especially when the question is not whether it
operates in Texas but whether it operates III Nebraska
! in its original location. a.. Is.
The Senator stated that, in point of fact, to
tent the Missouri compromise actually repealed by
the territorial legislation Of 1867 and the facts by which
he supported that statement were these: that portion
Of territory taken from Texas where it subject
to the Missouri restriction and Incorporated into New
Mexico where it came under the compromise of 1862
and in like manner that portion of territory in Utah was
taken from the old Louisiana purchase where it sub
iect the Missouri restriction, and Incorporated
into the Territory of Utah. where, in like manner, it
came under the compromise of 1850 But think the
answers be given to these statements perfectly sa
tisfactory.
In the first place, it very small portion of terri
tory, very small, indeed compared with the vast resi-
dunn and suppose that the few hundred, it
may be the few thousand, square miles taken off in this
way from Texas and the old Louisiana purchase, and
thrown into New Mexico and Utah. cam by way of prin
cipe rule, in any other way qualify modify,
as large as all the British Islands, France Prussia the
Austrian Empire, and the smaller Germanc States put
together, for that is the fact?
In the next place. in reference to New Mexico if
derstand it, the territory which thus transferred
was subject to the restriction of 1S20to the real
Missouri compromise now proposed to be declared in
operative and void 1t subject to the Texas
alton resolutions, which extended the Missouri line but
it was part Of Louisiana, had been and not
subject to the restriction which it is proposed to
repeal.
Them in the next place, it was question of dis
puted boundary / do not wish do the statement Of
my worthy friend the chairman of the Committee on
Territories, any injustice, but think he incorrect if
he said that the United States purchs sed this strip Of
land from Texas These not the terms of the act
They are very carefully stated more than The
sell this strip of land but cede her claim it. That
all Texas claimed IL. United States did