The daily union., 1856-10-25
GENERAL JEsUP's LETTER ON THE RESTRICTION
OF SLAVERY In THE TERRITORIEs.
WAsHISGTos CIrY,

WAsHRGTos CITY
August 10, 1856.
Mr. DEAR Agreeably to my promise to communi-
you Ia writing the substance Of the several con
ysrsations have held with you the subject OF the
transfer OF Texas Spain and Of the attempt BY sectional
political leaders TO restrict negro slavery In the Territories
of the United States OF the Mississippi proceed to
give you the following narrative Of facts with the views
which entertained at the time and still entertain in
gard 70 the attempted restriction.
As regards Texas Mr. Monroe, and some not all, OF
the members Of his cabinet apprehensve early
the close OF the first session of the 18th Congress that great
opposition would be made to the acquisition Of Florida
Texas part OF Louisiana surrendered TO Spain
The acquisition of Florida then a southern, and the
retention Of Texas question but the leaders Of
powerful party in the country, chiefly sectional had
solved that should not have both northern
tor the acknowledged leader of of the great parties
the country understood TO have declared that the
treaty then being negotiated should not be ratified ii
the line placed foot beyond the Sabine; he said
the South and the West taking too rapid fight
and il time to clip their wings The negotiations for
the purchase of Florida continued with the Spanish
minister during the of Congress and Mr. Monroe
from Information from various became almost GER
tain that the treaty would DO ratified should he insist
on retaining Texas Some time in the autumn of 1918
therefore, the Secretary of State required 10 offer in
counter proposition to from the Spanish minister the
line pretty much ii afterwards adopted. Mr. Moa.
roe knowing however that the instructions of the minis
ter would justify him in transferring us the Spanish
claim to the whole territory of the Rio Grande hoped
before the close of the negotiations find our own people
disposed to receive it but after the meeting of Congress
he became satisfied that treaty retaining the whole or
considerable part of Texas could be ratified There
high considerations well of national interest as OF
public policy which made it only desirable but neces
sary, that the treaty be ratified
The South had suffered greatly by the British occupying
Florida during the of 1872 and by their agents re
manning there and exciting the Indians to hostes sub
sequent to that The possession of Florida was
therefore, considered necessary to the peace and security
the whole South
The settlements Of Georgia rapidly extending 10
the Chattahooche; and Alabama was fast rising to the
condition of State Should Florida remain in the hands
of Spain difficulties similar those in relation TO the
navigation Of the Mississippi but smaller scale were
fcreseen in regard the of the Apaachico
river formed by the junction of the Flint and Chaahoo
chic rivers the southern extremity OF Georgia and Ala
bama running through Florida and falling into the Cult
of Mexico within its limits These difficulties it was be-
eved could be avoided only by acquiring the territory
Another object was to put end to the African slave
trade for it known to the administration of Mr..
Monroe that persons engaged in that trade in the
habit of smuggling African negroes through Florida in
the Greek country and thence into Georgia Alabama Mis-
sisspp and Louisiana besides Mr. Monroe was desirou
that independence of Mexico and Spanish South Amer
should be Acknowledged but it deemed important
that the line between the territories of Spain Uni
ted States should first be determined particularly the
Pacific the acknowledgment of the independence
Mexico the claims of Spain would become Mexican and it
believed the line could be readily adjusted with
Spain than with Mexico. These of the lead
ing considerations which induced the administration Of
Mr. Monroe accept the treaty with the line which it Co.
tablished
Simultaneously with the movement against the reten-
on of Texas and of the aggressive character and
objects OF political ascendency, to exclude Al
rcan slavery not from Missouri alone but from the
territory of the Aisssspp-and from Florida too
should il be acquired member of Congress from Penn
eylvana fixed upon initiate the movement think
it about January February of 1918 that he pro-
posed, by resolution, instruct the Committee on the
Judiciary inquire into the enpedency of enacng gen
eral ordinance whereby the fundamental principles of
and religious liberty shosld be guaranteed the inhab
of the Territories exterior the original limits of
the United States and made the basis OF all governments
thereafter 10 be established in those Territories The res
oluion, think, called up and perhaps was not
intended to be but 1t the next buglecal after the
Hartford Convention for the rally of the aggressive section
al party Maine Illinois, Missouri, and Alabama were
seeking admission into the Union admitted according
the wishes of their respective citizens the South and the
North would be equally reinforced and remain relatively
before the admission but If Missouri could be restrict
ed (or seriously thought of restricting AIabama
bounded she was, by Georgia Tennessee and Nisss
sipp) the North would have six additional senator's and
the South only two being relative increase of four sena
tors TO the North To carry out this object the leaders
of the sectional and aggressive party active during
the and at the second session Of the Fifteenth Con-
gress when bills ere introduced admit Missouri into
the Union State sud to form the territory between
Missouri and Louisiana int separate Territory (now
Arksnsss) Mr.. Talmadge of New York, offered proviso
TO the Missouri BILL that the further introduction Of slavery
involuntary servtude be forever prohibited xcept for
the punishment Of crimes, &c, and that all children bor
within the said State after its admission into the Union be
free at the age Of twenty-five years The proposition was
divided in Committee Of the Whole and the first clause
passed BY vote OF eightseven seventy-six and the
se,ond by a vote Of eighty-two TO seventy eight
Many southern gentlemen dishsarened by these
votes in committee that several OF them who In every
stage OF the proceedings up that moment bad opposed
the restriction voted for 1t in the House. and fifteen
or twenty Of them avoided the vote the bill passed the
House by ninetyseven ayes to ysiH Il was sent
the Senate where the provso being stricken by
voe OF twenty-five sixteen, 1t passed and both
houses adhering, IL was lost
Mr. John w. Taylor, Of New York, when the bill to es-
tablish the Territory Of Arkansas up for discussion
offered amendment prohibiting the Introduction Of
slsves into the Territory, and providing that all children
born Of slaves after its organization be free twenty
years age After animated and able debate the first
proposition decided in the negative by majority Of
single vote and the second in the armsiveby majority
Of two votes
bin a select committee with instructions TO strike out
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