Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-04-06

inconsistent with tho principles of the COM
promise acts Of 1850. That is tho reason Civ
en- IN tho bill. can merely say, that those
who passed it put on tho record that as the
reason, and it isl will not give it any bad
namc--a sort Of oquivooation for any man to
resort to any other reason when be has re-
corded the one which he gave at the time ho
is cstoppcd from giving any Others That is
an entirely different reason, and utterly in
consistent with the hrst and, besides, they
are both false for the latter one, though it
was put on record that it was inconsistent
with the compromise Of 1850, is just as wrong
as the other. The fact is. that compromise of
1880 was made on the ground that the former
one OF 1920 was part and parcel Of the arrange
ment; and therefore the excuse is equally un-
founded with the other
But. Mr.. President, have now attended to
three reasons for the repeal. The gentleman
from Virginia found fault with the compro-
mise Of 1920, because, he said, the North
made it, and it was an aggression when it was
made. The next reason that is given Is, that
they would not extend it. The third reason
is the one put into the bill, that it was con-
trary to the compromise of 1850; but we
have this session, and perhaps within short
period before, got another reason. 1t is said
that 1t is unconstitutional that Congress was
well justified in repeating it, because it was
unconstitutional.
Mr.. WrGFALL. With the consent Of the
4 Senator, will ask him a question. | do not
want to protract this debate, because have
little matter that want to get up after it is
I over; but, just a matter of curiosity ]
should like to know what the Senator under.
stands to have been the principle of the com
promise Of 1850 to Utah and New Mexico
J Mr.. CoLLAMRR. 1t was this: there had
been difficulties and controversies about the
/ forming of territorial governments in those
Territories Congress could not agree on il.
At first we had California in with them
Mr.. WGGFALL. Leave California out.
Mr.. CoLLAMER. II was in it, and we can
not help it. 1t was in it for year or two
until California formed State government
Then, when it came to the compromise period
Of 1850. as part of the compromise, California
was admitted as a State. As to Utah and
New Mexico, there had been bills. especially
| for New Mexico pending in Congress before
that. Various measures had been proposed
in relation to them the northern people in
sisting on the application of the provision Of
the ordinance of 1897, declaring that slavery
should never exist there. They would not
pass them without it. When Congress pass
ed them, they were passed without that, and
with provision that the people might make
them free or slave States, and that they should
be admitted as they should be formed, when
! ever they should become States.
| Mr.. WIGFALL. That was the principles
Mr.. CoLLAMER. That was the provision
in relation to them.
| Mr.. WIGFALL. That the Territories should
settle it for themselves and that Congress
should not, in the meantime, interpose to pro-
hibit the introduction Of slavery
Mr.. CoLLAMER. No, sir. When the gem
tleman says the Territories should settle it for
| themselves, he includes moro than under
stand it
Mr.. WIePALL. am not squatter-sove-
reignty man.
! Mr.. CoLLAMER. That is a point you have
I got in that was not put in. 1t was put in in
relation to Nebraska and Kansas but it was
not put in in relation to the others.
Mr.. WIGFALL. Did they not have the
right to regulate their own affairs, without
any intorpostion of Congress as to slavery
Mr.. CoLLAMER. There was nothing said
about that.
Mr.. WleFALL. Was there any interposi-
tion on the part of Congress. either to cstab-
lish or prohibit slavery therei
Mr.. CoLLAMER. There was none.
Mr.. WIGFALL. Then the principle, if there
was any principle involved in the Utah and
New Mexico bills, was, that Congress should
Y not legislate either to establish or protect
Mr.. CoLLAMER. You are drawing con-
clusion.
Mr.. WIGFALL. am asking for informa-
ton
Mr.. CoLLAMER. The bills are very plain.
! Mr.. WIGFALL. These are historical facts
only philosophers can give reasons. was
asking for reason, possibly; but want the
Senator, before he goes on, to answer that.
/ You see | am new Senator. and do not un-
derstand these questions Now, understand
I -at least before got here | had supposed
that the Utah and New Mexico bills left this
( question beyond all doubt-that Congress did
not, in those bills, either interpose for or
against slavery. Is that true, or is it mott
Mr. CoLLAMRR. | have stated about that.
There had been difficulty in forming those
territorial governments, because part of tho
country insisted on putting in the ordinance
of 1897.
Mr. WIGFALL. Yes, sir.
Mr.. CoLLAMER. Congress could not agree
to it +; but when they had the making of tho
compromise of 1850 as part and parcel of it,
these two Territories had territorial acts pass
ed for them, which will speak for themselves,
L Pt'o~N
Of the ordinance Of 1857
Mr. WiGFALL. Precisely Then want
TO ask tho Senator, when you come to form
new territorial bill as to Kansas and Nebras-
ka, if you are not following out the precedent
do not talk about the principle spoken of in
the great speeches that were circulated in
thousands and hundreds Of thousands, but if
the precedent was not followed when the Mis-
sour restriction was repealed and the Kansas
Nebraska bill was passed, as the Utah and
New Mexico bills were passed, without any
provision either iavoring or disfavoring slave
ry That is the question
Mr.. CoLLAMgR. The gentleman has made
his own speech, taking his own promises, and
drawing his own conclusions. | can present
very different views 1 think that that whole
compromise must be taken together.
Mr.. WIGFALL. The omnibus was turned
over, and thsy were passed as separate bills.
Mr.. CoLLAMER. They were passed as sep
arate bills, but they all constituted compro-
mise, and are so spoken Of in the Nebraska
act. 1t was a compromise consisting OF three
or four acts passed here. That compromise
nut together malo a whole and | inaiet that