Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1860-11-23
Cen. jeff. Davis followed. saying

| Cen jeff. Dayi; followed. saying:
Sir, we ire called upon 10 receive thi: as 4
measure of compromise AS II measure in which
VIC Of the minority arc TO receive nothing. :,
measure Of compromise! look upon it but as Il
modest mode of taking that, the claim to whic!
| has been more boldly asserted by others and
that may be understood upon this question. and
that my position may go forth to the country in
the same columns that convey the sentiments u
the Senator from Kentucky, l here assert that
never will l take less than the Missouri Compro.
mise line extended to the Pacific Ocean, with the
specific recognition of the right to hold slaves in
the Territory below that line and that before
such Territories are admitted into the United
States slaves may be taken there from any of the
United States at the option Of the owners. ! can
never consent to give additional power to ma or-
itw TO commit further aggrcssOns upon the minor
ity in this Union and will never consent to any
proposition which will have such tendency,
without II full guarantee Or counterActing measure
ifconncctcd with il.
Here you ser. Gen. Davis-an extreme Fire
eater from Mississippi-was willing to compro-
mise on the line of 800 3d. with specific recog-
milton OF the right to hold slaves in all Territories
south of that line lie revolted at Mr.. Clay S
proposition. as hut "a modest mode of taking ~
everything by the North he was willing to let
Free Labor have all territory North of 800 3O' if
Slavery might have the residue but Mr.. Clay $
proposition he could not tolerate and yet il is
VI
of all the new Territories to Slavery
Hear how Mr.. Downs of Louisiana regarded it
s.! must confess that, in the whole course of my
life. my as!onishmcHt has never been greater than
it WAS when saw this (Mr. Clay's) proposition
brought forward rs compromise :; and now rise,
Sir not for the purpose of discussing it at ALL but
to protest mos, solcmnly against it. consider
this compromise M no compromise at all. What,
Sir does it grant to the South? can see Moth
ing at all.
Listen next to Judge Batter of South Carolina ::
"As | understand it. the Senator from Ken
tn ky whole proposition of compromise is moth
ns more than this That California is already
sposcd of having formed State Constitution,
and that Territorial Governments shall be organ
lied for Dc.crc. and New Mexico, under which, by
the operation of laws already existing, II slave
holding population could not carry with Them or
own slaves there. What i there in the nature of
compromise here. coupled. as it is. with the pro-
position that 10y the existing laws in the Terrific
ricS. it is almost certain that Shareholders cannot
and have no right to go there with their property
What Is there in the nature Of compromise here?
! am willing. however. to run the risks and am
ready to give to the Territories the governments
they require. | shall always think that, under
Constitution giving equal rights to all parties the
slavcholding people us such. can go to these Ter
ritoricS. and retain their property there. But. if
we adopt this proposition of the Senator from Ken
lucky. il is clearly the basis that slavery shall
not go there.
Now listen to Mr.. Clay's response to these cap
touS gentlemen. and see il he comedies ANYTHING
or denies .hat they have represented him fairly
Il am extremely sorry to hear the Senator from
Mississippi say that he requires. first, the extern
sion of the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific;
and also that he is not satisfied with that hut re-
quircs. if understood lin corrcct..;,.a positive
provision for the odu,;s of Slavery south of
that line. And now. Sir. coming from II Slave
State. rs do. owe il to myself. owe il to truth.
! owe it to the subject. to state that no earthly
power could induce me to vote fora specific meas
for the introduction Slavery here il had not
before existed. either south or north of that line
Coming a> do from II Slave State, il is my sol
cmn, deliberate. and well ma,urcd determination
that no power--no earthly powcr-shall compel
me to vote for Tie positive Introduction of Slavery
either south or north of that line. Sir. while yon
reproach and justly too our British ancestors for
the introduction # this institution upon the Cont-
ment of America, am, for enc, unwilling that the
postcrity of the present inhabitants Of California
and New Mexico shall rcproach for doing just
what We rcproach Great Britain for doing to us
Ii the citizens Of those Territories choose to cstab
li>h Slavery, ! am for admitting them with such
provisions in their Constitutions but then, il will
be their own work. and not ours ana their poster
ity will have to rcrroach them. and not us, for
forming Constitutions allowing the institution of
Slavery to exist among them. These are my views,
Sir. and e!iaase IL express them and care not
how extensively and universally they arc known
The honorable Senator from Virginia has express
cd his opinion that Slavery exists in these Tcrrito
rics, and have 10 doubt that opinion is sincerely
and honestly entertained by him and would say
with equal sincerity and honesty. that believe
that Slavery ne where exists within any portion of
the territory acquired by us from Mexico. lie
holds II directly contrary opinion to mine, rs he
has perfect right to do; and we will not quarrel
obout that difference of opinion
The reader has thus the whole case before him,
and can judge whether Mr.. Clay is fairly quoted
by the bred Scot,tcS Of our day as sustaining or
coun'cnancing their positions lie was anxious
for peace, for harmony, compromise hut on what
basis? The citations above made show that he
stood substantially with the Free States, and was
regarded IA SO standing by the champions of S!a-
very Extension. WE PROPOSED To SAY THAT
SLAVERY SHOULD NOT GO INTO THE TERRI
TORIES. HE WOULD SUBSTITUTE A DE-
CLARATION THAT IT HAS no RIGHT TO GO
THERE. The difference is not worth II controversy.
ACKNOw LEDG MENTs. Our thanks are
due to II. c. Wilson and b. +.
Kendall, Esqs., for their kind attention
to lis down the Sound; to Butler p.
Anderson and Edw. Giddings, Esqs., of
Olympia, and Capt. Richard Hoyt, of
the Steamer Multnomah, torlatest news
from the States. Our thanks are also
due to VIM. L. Clancy, Esq, Of the
Steamer Eliza Anderson, for Victoria
and Down-Sound papers; also to +. S.
Balch, Esq, of San Francisco for valu-
able campaign documents, amongwhich
was the able speech Of Oregon's Flo