Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-05-13
THE WILMoT PRoVIso.


referred to during the present campaign, it
may not be inappropriate to state the princi-
pal facts, and recall few incidents connected
with it.
The Mexican War had in the summer of
l946, quito depleted the National Treasury.
On the Sth August, President Polk, in a mes
sage to Congress, asked for an additional cap
preparation TO provide for any expenditure
which may be necessary to make in advance
for the purpose of settling all our difficulties
with the Mexican Republic" On the same
day, in accordance with this request, Mr.. Nc
Kay, Of North Carolina. introduced a bill into
the House, simply setting forth that state OF
war existed between Mexico and the United
States, and that s'the sum of two millions of
dollars be appropriated 10 enable the President
to conclude treaty Of Peace" &C., to which
Hon, David Wilmot offered a proviso, which
has since become SO famous, in the following
words -
oProuidcd, That as an express and funda-
's mental condition to the acquisition of any
&c territory from the Republic of Mexico by the
50 United States, by virtue of any treaty which
% may be negotiated between them, and tothe
60 use by the Executive Of the moneys herein
| - appropriated, HGllUpT DldNcTl UOT luNOlull-
's tary servitude shall ever exist in any part OF
Z" said territory, exception crime, whereof the
party shall first be duly convicted"
The bill, including the proviso, passed the
House by a vote OF 50 to so, nine Democrats
from this State, namely, Black, Erdman, Fos-
ter, Leib, Thompson, Mclean, Ritter, Wilmot
and Yost, voting for the same. The bill, how
ever, failed in the Senate. At the next session
similar bill with a similar Proviso in sub
stance, passed the House by vote of 1l5 to
log, five Democrats from Pennsylvania voting
in the affirmative. This bill reached the Sen
ate on the 18th February, 1S47, when Mr. Cal
houn introduced a series Of resolutions which
set forth in tangible form the doctrines in
relation to the "pcculiar institution" that are
now entertained by the Pro- slavery Democra-
cy, and which had their triumph in Douglas
Kansas-N ebraska bill. The three million bill,
as it is called was at the bottom OF these alb
stractions and resolutions, and during the re-
mainder Of the session, the Senate, as well as
the whole country, was in state of high ex-
citement. Finally, on the I'd March, the Sen
ate struck out the proviso by vote of 81 to
2l, and passed the bill. The bill with the pro-
|
Here another fierce fight took place, but the
united South, the gifts of office, the rewards
| flung broadcast to those who would vote a.
| gainst the Proviso, were too strong for justice
on the other side. The bill, as it was return
ed from the Senate, passed in the House by
ll5 to 50. With the proviso stricken out now,
the Pennsylvania Democrats stultifed them
selves, and voted in the teeth of their former
ballots on the question:. lodged, all except
Wilmot. lie stocd up to his professions.
| Now, let us see what has been going on in
the meantime in our own State.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania, which was
chosen at the general election in 1916, and
which met in January, 1917, took early action
upon this question, and it is gratifying to turn
back to the records of that body, and see how
emphatically it sustained Mr.. Wilmot. There
were Wings and Democrats in those days, and
their party fights were as bitter as any that
have happeued since; but upon this question
they were united. Nearly every Democratic
member of both Houses recorded his vote in
favor of the Wilmot Proviso.
Mr.. Victor Piolett, democratic member of
the House from Bradford county, introduced
into that body the following preamble and res
olutons:
"Whereas, The existing war with Mexico
may result in the requirement of new Terri
tory; and
Whereas, measures arc now pending in Con-
greSs having in view the appropriation of mo-
| ney and the comforting of authority upon the
treaty making power to this end therefore
Res0lred, &C., That our Senators in Congress
be instructed and our Repres entatives be re-
| qucsted to vote against any measure whatever
! 10y which territory viii accrue to the Union
unless, as part of the fundamental law upon
! which any compact or treaty for this purpose
is based, SIdrery or Involuntary serritUde shall
! De JOrerer prohibited, except for crime"
On the Goth Of January this preamble and
resolution were called up, and they passed u
nanimOHsly, by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Allison, anderson. Bassler,
! Bentz, Bingham, Black, Blair, Bougkaer Bo,c-
man, Breidenthall, Bull, Burns, Bush, Bush
nell, Clark, COlvin, Conner, DAILY, Dickinson,
Dickson, Donaldson, Edie, Evans, FGsseh, Faus-
hold, Fernon, Fcnstermacher, Forsyth, Fox
Gehley, Could Graef, Gratz, Haley, Harris,
HassoR, HaynGker, Hilands, Hunter Tres, ia
CODY, Jackson, kaufman, Keatiey, Kerr, Ken
near, Kline, Kiiagensmith, kaor, Krick Lad
| ley, Laughiin, Lawrence, LavGn, Leyburn
Lockhart, Long, Mackay, MGther. Matthias,
Montelius, Morrison, Myers, McAbee, Mccall
lister, McCurdy, McCurley, Mcknight, Nc
MINI, Noble, Patterson, Pduiiag, Pearce, Per-
~, Phillips, Pioleh, Pomeroy of Mercer, Pome-
roy of Franklin. Reynolds, Robbins, Ross, Rr-
pert, Sanborn, Sharp, Shelly, Sipes, Souder,
Thomas, Thompson, Trego, D7ief, Warner,
Heller, Wertsner and Cooper, Speaiser-95.
NAYs-None. Democrats in italics.
Every democrat present voted aye, and eve
ry democratic member of the House was pres
ent but one.