Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-08


healtbEull and the government was maintained
and improved. And II is my honest conviction,
that there Is too much good sense In the people
OF these United States TO be led away with the
idea OF disnnion, on account OF any dimcuiues
growing out OF this question, surrounded py sueh
peculisr circumstances. predict they WIN not
unless misied and deceived But-hguratiyey
spesking--they will bring TO the block the poliii
cal heads of all who shall Insist on any such
remedy for such complaint
Mr.. Chairman, it Is not to be disguised, that
our Southern people are anxious about appear
ances for the future They see the free States
In number and In Representation, already In the
majority In both Houses of Congress, and this
majority soon to be largely increased; that while
the South falls into this minority, they have wit
messed for the last few years, among many people
Of the free States, an increasing spirit OF bitter
hostility to the South and her institutions. But
let US like statesmen be calm, briefly trace the
history Of this thing, and inquire why IL is.
Though by the census, the actual figures show
that the natural increase of population in the
slave States has been equal to the natu'al native
increase Of the free States, yet the free States
have cxcelled us in the settlement OF new Terrific
ries and raising up new States.
In the first place we of the Southern States
have been and now are, the advocates of free
trade, and many for direct taxes. we have op.
posed the policy of discrimination in favor of our
lating and raising revenue, and no more than
enough to defray the expenses of the Government
economically administered. Ii91h
To this policy We have made in substance, sue
sessful opposition thereby in good degree cut
ting off much of the inducemcnt, that would have
retained the industrious and energetic population
in the old States, who, in consequence have moved
30 the Territories there settled, made new aud free
States, and became producers instead of con-
sumeIs Of the earth's prOductiops.
In the second place, majority of Southern
politicians have uniformly favored the policy Of
inviting, aluring, persuading, and in fact hiring
en,igrapts--not only the citizens OF the States,
but of the whole world, to move and settle Ia our
Territories, Homestoads, by way of p,c-emptions,
The language Of the whole policy is Ia Substance,
"con,e ye all the Earth and settle in Terrific
ries--herc you can become citizens, and without
waiting TO be naturalized, according to the laws Of
the Union, you can vote and hold Office" the
result of which has been to run from the old
States (slave and free) into the Territories, much
of their population, and particularly that portion,
though Young, industrious, and worthy, who have,
or take but little interest in the iDstitutonsof the
South and besides, we find growing out Of this,
that hundreds of thousands of foreigners are
locking to US every year--that foreign paupers
are by thousands and thousands being set upon
our shores IN fact, find from the best official
, statements, that the number OF foreign emgrants
that came to this country from June the lst, 1850,
to December 3lst, 1881, was five hundred and
fifiy-cight thousand-for the year 1852, three
hundred and seventy-fve thousand-for the year
1858, three hundred and sixty-eight thousand--for
the year 1854, nearly the same. The war in the
East diminished the number, but venture the pre-
diction that between the years $50 and 1850 there
will have come to this country foreigners enough
to place in each of twenty new States more popu.
lation than is now in the Terrtority of Kansas.
These foreigners make their way mainly to the
Territories orcrowd into the free States, occasion,
ing increased emigration from them.
These facts being undeniable, submit, how
important it is for our Southern politicians TO
turn their attention TO them. While the people
of the North were willing to dispense with and
check this immense immigration among them, for
reasons of q. social character, to diminish their
taxes, prosecutions and the inmates of their poor
houses, jiils and penitentiarics, l respectfully
ask, why should not the South, to q man, for rea.
sons as well understood as expressed, have joined
in this great movement and If In the first move
ments and organizations any rules were adopted
too strict or stringent to be generally enforced
or too severe on the honest immigrant, to have
given their potent aid and influence in modifying
the same so as to have carried most useful results
to our beloved Southf But 1t has been theiI
pleasure to pursue different course, and the re-
suits thereof have, in no small degree, contributed
10 the embarrassing circumstances that now seem
to gather around US and swallow up our influence
in the National Council. The argument has been,
"settle and populate the Territories" forgetting
the fact that In the last seventy FIVE years our
population has increased from three to some
twenty-seven mlions-ninefold-a il the same
ratio of increase shall obtain for the next seventy
FIVE years, the result viii be nine times twenty.
seven millions-showing how important these
Territories may be (sold at reasonable prices paid
into the treasury, for the homes of our own pos
terity, and Of honest worthy foreigners, who
come to US as they did in former days, from love
Of our free government, and who are willing to
settle among us, sure Of being protected in all
their rights Of religion and property and who are
willing 70 wait uutu they have understood and
become familiar with our people and their institu-
tions before claiming the right to participate In
their government.
These suggestions have made TO Southern
gentlemen here, and throughout the slave States
that on reflection they may determine whether
they have not been remiss in failing to come TO
the aid OF cause quite material 10 Southern in
fuencc and Southern interests
was very much entertained Mr.. Chairman, by
the speech of the gentleman from louisiana Mr..
SANDIDGSl and, II bad time, should like to incor-
porate at least half Of il In mine, to show, in adj
dition 10 the millions that have already come, how
many more millions Of paupers are to come under
our present system OF inviting them TO come here.
But Mr.. Chairman, what is It that VIC have
been discussing here for the last ninety daysi
This discussion has been either Intentionally or acct
dentally conducted so as TO bring out the extreme
sectional views Of gentlemen from the South
and from the North. Ii 10 only within the
last eight orten days that any conservative man
has been permitted TO address the House on this
agitated question. IL Is said that this is ques-
ton whether any more slave States shall come
into this Union, and speech afier speech is made
and sent TO the South to tell the Southern people
that We are solemnly debating in the House Of
Representatives the naked question whether any
more slave States shall come into the Union.
Why, Mr.. Chairman, II that were true, II that
were the only question here, IL might have been
settled wi hin twenty -four hours after this debate
commenced. If that we're the only question
take il that all our American friends would vote
for Il, every man from the South would vote for
II, know that our Douglas Democrats would vote
for IL, and ! am inclined to think that the Free
Soil wing Of the Democracy-tbese Buffalo-plat-
form men-could be got to vote for it. with a
GREEN amendment That Is my opinion.
But, Mr.. Chairman, is that the question: On
what has this debate arisen On the special mes
sage Of the President Does he say that whether
there shall be any more slave States Is the ques-
ton No sir that message, az understand IL,
means these two things-and IL means nothing