The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-04

tory south Of said line Of latitude slsrsry Of
| hs African race is hereby recognized as sr-
i,tino' and shall not be inisrfred rih by
| Conorsss but shall be protected as property
on ali the departments Qtths territorial ,9orern-
ment during its continuance :: ana when any
Territory, north or south OF said line, within
such boundaries rs Congress may prescribe,
memb or of Congress, according to the then fed
eral ratio of representation Of the people OF the
United States, Il shall. II its form Of govern
ment be republican, be admitted into the Union
ON An equal footing with the original States.
with or without slavery, as the Constitution oil
such new State may provide.
We have italicised and put in brackets
portion of the above for purposes that will be
apparent.
Mr.. Corwin Of Ohio, moved to strike out the
words h" or hereafter acquired" and q debate
eu,ued in which the fact was disclosed that one
Of the causes Of the present troubles OF the
South was an anxiety that the growing power
of the Free States would prevent the annexation
Of any further slave territory, and in any set
Element of the pending questions this fear
must be put to rest by providing In advance
that the territory acquired South should be
slave. Mr.. Corwin's motion prevailing IL to
10, thereupou Miles Taylor Of Louisiana, sub
mitted paper previously prepared and word
ed so as to meet any case which might possibly
arise, declaring In substance that the South
would not be satisfied without this guarantee,
and that all attempts for Ian amicable adjust
ment had been and would be unayaiiing, aud
that he therefore uiihdrcp from the Committee
in consequence Of the roie just taken.
This proposition to strike out having been
carried, another Southern man withdrew, and
in coming to direct votes the entire article rs
amended was rejected s to Q, every Republican
on the Committee voting to reject.
After some further business, Mr.. Charles
Frances Adams ofMasssubmitted proposition
the character Of which has been somewhat dis
cursed by the press. It provides in effect, that
an enabling act shall be passed authorizing all
the territory now included with the territorial
boundarieso Of New Mexico, which we believe In
cludes all the territory south Of 90 30, taking
in that part now called Arizona, to come In as
q State in accordance with the 2nd sec. Of the
act organizing New Mexico into territory,
passed in 1850, and was one Of the Compro-
mise Measures OF that year, and which pro-
yides that New Mexico shall be adm ited iriih
or rithoui slarsry" as the people Of the terri
tory may direct. This is Mr.. Adams plan for
the settlement ofthe CONTROVERSY. The reasons
assigned by Mr.. Adams, for its adoption are
entitled to consideration, and the character
which Mr.. Adams has for unshrinking fidelity
to the cause of anti-slavery and attachment to
the Republican principle Of non-extension of
slavery, is sufficient, whatever may be thought
of::the plan by the Republicans generally, to
protect him from any suggestions Of its having
arisen from fear Of or seryility to the South.
That II had its origin in patriotic and states
man-like idea ofhnding some way to adjust the
controversy which would be no violation OF the
principles Of the Republican party, is not
doubted. Mr.. Adams has q sincere idea OF the
alarming condition Of public affairs, feels that
the position in which the Republican party
is placed by the circumstances which surround
its accession to power in peaceful manner lie
somewhat embarrassing, and that both states
manship and party policy require that some
proposition Of an honorable character, and
which abandons no principle Of the Republican
party should be made. The bill organizing
New Mexico into territory, so he argues, aud
the argument is not without force, was one OF
the Compromise Measures Of 1850, and as 1t
contained the pledge Of the government that
the State should DO admitted with or without
slavery IL Is right to observe that pledge.
The Free States have not been breakers OF COM
pacts, ann will not break them now. BY INCLUDE
ing within the proposed State, Arizona, III being
now within the territorial limits Of New Mexi-
col which the South is now seeking to make a
Slave State, now should the people adopt
constitution recognizing slavery there would be
but one State, instead oftwo, and that though
nominally slave, would be in effect free, be-
cause the soil aud climate ofthe greater part OF
that territory are not adapted to slave labor.
Without going over the line ofargument favor
able to the adoption of the proposition, or CON-
hitting ourselves to its support, and meaning
, only now to state the chief argument for its
adoption, we have to say that the proposition
was adopted l2to 10, five Republicans voting
against II, the majority however voting for 1t.
with the votes Of Mr.. Davis Of Maryland, and
Mr.. Bristow Of Ky. The votes of members
from the slave states were generally against It,
Ii was carried by the majority, and will stand
as the action ofthe Committee unless reversedby
the coming in Of absent members Mr.. Morse,
the member on the committee from Maine. has
laboured with great assiduity to find some plan
of adjustment honorable TO oil parties, and
stood manfuily upin the Committee Room for
the rights Of the North, and against all sug-
gcstions to give to slavery any further guaran-
ties than is now given II in the present Consti.
tuition and laws. lie has, rs we know, told
the Southern men that II they demanded more
than the present Constitution and laws give
them. their demands could not be complied
with. lie was not present when the vote on
Mr.. Adams proposition was taken. and although
inclined TO give II consideration, unless il was
made certain that its adoption would be set
Element of the controversy, would vote against
il. II may he said here that the Republicans
ON the Committee aud in Congress will stand
, fully up TO the Chicago platform For ourselves,
we have not the faintest confidence that this or
any other proposition which does not sanction
the principle of property in man., and provide
new guarantees in the Constitution for its pro-
lection, will be ofany avail. The submission
Of Mr.. Adams proposition may be Of some
value in satisfying men Of all parties in the
Free States that the Republicans were not un-
willing to make propositions, and were not, as
has been alledged. determined TO sit in dogsed
silence aud await the coming eveuts, and 1t
may be of some service in satisfying the border
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