Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-07
SOUND DOCTRINE BY AN OHIO ANTI
SLAVERY SENATOR I'm SIG.

In 1851 Major r. III. Weightman, who was
elected by the people of New Mexico one Of their
Senators in Congress, addressed to the Congress
of the United States learned and able memorial
or argument urging upon that body the accept
ance Of the Constitution Of New Mexico and the
admission Of that Territory as State into the
Union. In looking through Major Weightman's
memorial we have been deeply impressed with
his arguments and much interested by the ex-
tracts which he makes from the speeches of many
American statesmen, made on the occasions of
the admission of new States into the Union One
of these extracts we suboin. II is from speech
made in the United States Senate by Mr.. Morris,
Of Ohio, on the admission Of Arkansas into the
Union 1t is as follows:
Mr.. Morris, Of Ohio, said, before | record my
vote in favor Of the passage of the bill under con-
sideration, | must ask the indulgence of the SEN
sons which govern me in the vote shall give.
Being one Of the Representatives Of free State, and
beeping slavery TO be acrong IN principle and mis-
chiepoiis IN practice, wish to be clearly under
stood on the subject, both here and by those
have the honor to represent. | have objections
to the constitution of Arkansas, on the ground
that slavery is recognized in that constitution,
and settled and established fundamental prin-
cple in her government. object to the eristence
Of This principle forming part Of the organic lao
IN any State; and aoould pote against the adnis-
sion Of arkansas as member Of this Union, if
beiiered had the poaoer TO do so. The wrong, in
moral sense, with which view slavery, would be
sufficient for me to do this, did NOT consider my
political obligations, and the duty as member of
this body oce to the Constitution under aIiieh
noc act, clearly require Of me the poie shall gipc.
l hold that any portion of American citizens, who
,rlpy tdn sHft bo e H.
United States, whenever their numbers shall
amount to that which would entitle them to
representation in the House of Representatives in
Congress, have the right to provide for themselves
a constitution and State government, and to be
admitted into the Union whenever they shall so
apply and they are not bound to wait the action
Of Congress in the first instance, except there is
some compact or agreement requiring them to do
SO. ! place this right on the broad, and, con-
slider, indisputable ground, that all persons living
within the jurisdiction of the United States are
entitled to equal privileges, and il ought 10 be
matter OF high graft fcatton TO here that in erery
portion, epen the most remote Of oar country, our
people are dnrious to obtain this high privilege at
as early day possible IL furnishes clear proof
that the Union Is highly esteemed, and has its foun-
daiions deep in the hearts Of our tellop-eiti=ens.
From this extract it appears that in all his SEN
timents Senator Morris was anti-slavery. AS one
of a convention to form State Constitution, he
would have voted against the introduction of
slavery but as member of Congress, as State
rights man, as patriot, and an honest man,
he considered himself bound to vote for the ad-
mission of Arkansas into the Union even with sa-
very in her Constitution.
We commend the noble example of Mr.. Nor
ris to anti-slavery men generally. They would
profit much by initiating it. He laid down with
great clearness, force, and fankness, the only
proper rules by which ant-slavery men can be
governed. Whether Mr.. Morris still adheres to
the sentiments above expressed, or whether
yielding to the pressure of public opinion in his
State, he has joined in the great anti-slavery cru
SADIE, we do not know. Indeed, we do rot know
whether Mr.. Morris is alive or dead. If alive,
we hope, for his fair fame, that he consistently
maintains the sound views developed in his
speech in 1886.