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.IiNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1847.
it of lir. Wilmot, of Pennsylvania,
hb Ataentrafent feting. Slavery
rem Territory hereafter acquired.
ei in tie House if Representatives oft he United
- Stncs, Fthruary 8, 1847.
ve being in Committee of the Whole on the
.f the Union upon the Three Million Appropria
111..—Mr. Vi'lLMOl addressed the committee
. :—I suppose it will be pro
r me to notify the committee that I intend
re to amend the bill now under considers
y the additional section which has been
viihout desimiatrig the particular place
bill is here Cdestre it to stand.. I do not
o deprive the gentleman from -Virginia,
rumgoole.) or any one else, of the op.
,ny to move any amendment to this bill ;
in embarrassed by the rules of the House,
am but little acqu tinted, ) and I
intend to surrender, or lie deprirq of
or. I Wish,to be heard upon - this (pies.
1.1 cannot consent to yield to the gen
!Min Vir.llll3. and thereby be deprived,
operation of some parlianientary rule,
.I.,,nunity of vindicating this :intends
mid the position I occupy before the
and the eounirv. It is row privilege,
is my duty. to justify myself upon this
mous question ; to vindicate the stand I
abien, and dim. I am resolved to maintain.
oil one ol those who move without reflec
or change without reason. In the ills
of my duty. sit. I have stood alone •
ruv legation on this floor; on that
sir, in support of the great leading
re .4 this administration. Now. sir, if
leiration choose to change their action. I
ul sliro.k from the-responsilitlits of again
ig - alone, even in opposition to the wish
h it Administration. the general policy of '
I approve. EntrenefiCd behind the right,
r. o• powers nor prioripalitte---things,
it., nor things to come7—sliall change my
`se. or swerve me froM mu.' sthjeet. Ste,
rues; of my public life will be brief. The
iioin „iiirh it-is written shall hear rfcrus i L
..eied the mat of a fearless R,presenta
lli.,: I tools my position upon great na
..oestions alter mature deliberation, a.,,{
it with the firmness and consistency •
tl be rerolleeted by all present, that,
s.i-s,oin of Congress, an amendment
.1 H. toe fie a LI lof the sartiertiarac•
nt the Intl of a. proviso, liy whieli
-1, odd he excluded from any trrrnnry
hs.etient!y . be aripiired by Oil
• in m the Republic of Mexico.
• llet•af.lon. that PrAJVISO tis ftt a•
•t a a...1-y decided majortty•of this house.
more. tt was Fu,tattletl, if I mistake
a a j , .ri iv of the itelothitratrparty on
wr. I" ant prepared. I 11111 . }k, to show
SOlllll were then willing to ate
.. an %%hat appea'real to be. and, to zo far
a, ;am .1 that, House was concerned.
t!: , I atslative will and tfeehtration of
11 ; ; ; " silhipet. It p..s..e.lthts floes,
(r , ‘l,r,..tin threats of disunion stnnidell
ars, It e I here and went to ihe
. and it wa. the juthittent of :he
men well int,wated, that. lint it not been
-there fir want at time, it won,il have
that Liotic and beening the established
use I.nut. Sir, the char , re Was not then
limn me. nor upon those ithn art:
by the itttrothiett.m oh that Pr.i
-i an unitinelv per....1,-defeated a nitlabure
in-ccssary hv the Pre-tdent fur the
• of pear.. h‘-tweeit this country
• The Czttott." air, the lb o , le
lute Pres , of land, elt.irotql the tie
tlys apitrncridtt ,, n, nu the ti..parliainen
,q:, t gpl a : 4 eilitauf front Al.i”ael,u,etta,
) • Ile. sir, tt was, that was cliaraed
• ,related this titea:ntre, hr the Ad-
Lot , : t i•res-, and thetOrtnn of the Ad
here at , the Capital.
in not sparitia itt its dermiteia
..t tae Maasavltuseits Senator, for the de
titeasure. . Does this not prove, that
1,-I.:t was anxious fur this" appropria-
In:ir the reatrietions impost:ll . l)y my Pro
the-se fame, 1 assert that the l're.
Wing to take the money and the
es. ia:ettar, and the South were prepar
,-.',..1L1.,the judgment and will of thv na.
I have been spoken of as an tbolition
' a ogre.p,ndent - of the Union, because
cuiiliccinni with this movement. I say
respernabl e editor of that paper, for
al I elittrula high regard, that I am no
( liti A holiiionist than he is a Hartford
Ftderalist ; and of that no matt,
history or character, will charge
• I .arn as far from the one, as he is front
"•rt:. ihen, that the South was piepared
et this restriction of slavery from
'1 South Carolina, '(.llr. IVILuor
the flier.) said he recollected. when
;.E.tio n was looks dismossion here. near
' o lte the Ls: session, that: he had made
:ir ks sustaining the propriety of the two.
-. priation ; hut, in the course of
5, he deprecated. as unumely and
the proptisition which came from
to front Pe'unsyivania and the ea.
far as he recollected. (he knew
tats) when :the Proviso was voted
against it ; and he voted against
sentiments in reference to thelap
so untrillina was he to give any
M such . a
Proviso.
10r, resuming. 1 was aware.that
met with no favor from the South.
.sa n to declare that it did; and. if
in so understood me. I was misun
r did not intend to say that the
teorahle in any way to the Prosii
-I,red. Her representatives
boldly resisted it. But. air.
led. There was then no cry that
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the Union was to be severed in consequence.
The South, like brave roes defeated, bowed to
the voice and judgment of the nation. No. sir,
no cry of disunion 'then. Why now ? The
hesitation and the wavering of Northern -men
on this question has - encouraged the South to
assume a bolder attitude. This cry cif disun
ion proceeds from no resolve of the South. - It
Conies, sir, from the,cowardice of the North.
Why, in God's name, should the Union be
dissolved for this cause ? What do we ask ?
We demand justice and right. If this were a
question of compromise,-I would yield much.
Were it a question of this character I would go
as far as any man.• But it - is no qbestion for
compromise or concession. It a question of
naked and abstract right; and, in the language
of my colleague from the Erie district: (Mr.
Thompson,) sooner shall this right shoulder be
drawn from its socket, than I will yield one jot
or tittle of the ground upon which I stand. No
concession, sir, no compromise. What, I re.
peat, do we ask ? That free territory shall re
;pain free. We demand the neutrality of this
Government upon the question of slavery. Is
there any complexion of Abolitionism in this,
sir? I have stood up at home., and battled,
time and again, against the Ah•ilitionists of the
North. i I have assailed them publicly, upon
all occasions. when it was proper to do so. I
have met them in their otviiiiitneetings, and face
to Lee combatted them. Any einirts, sir, that
may be inade,liere or elsewhere, to give an aboli
tion character to this Movememicannot, so far as
my district and my people are concerned, have
the least effect. Any eflirts made, to give to
me the eh:tract?, of pe Abolitionist. will fall
harmless when theyleach my enn.tituents.—
They know me Upon this question. They
know we distinctly upon all questions of pub
lic interest. My opinions have ever been pro
claimed without reseive, and adhered to with
out change, or the shadow of turning. I stand
by the Constitution upon this gliesti.in. I- ad
here to its letter and its spirit. I would never
invade one single right of the South. So far
from h, I stand ready at all times and upon all
occ•dkpris, as do nearly the entire North, to
sustain the institutions of the South as %key ex
Ist
When the day of trial comes. as many,
many r Southern men fear. it may come, we
stand ready, with our money and our blood, to
rush to the rescue. When that day comes,
sir. the North will stand shoulder to shoulder
with their brethren of the South. We stand by
the Constitution and all its co mpromises. •
Buit.'sir, the issue now presented is not, whe
ther slavery shag exist unmolested where-it
now is.,but whether it shalt be carried to new
an d distant reglilll.l. 111/w free, where the foot
pri it id a slave cannot be found. This, sir, is
the -Issue. Upon it I take iny'stantl, and from
it I ',cannot be frightened or driven by idle
chareeS of Abolitionist. I ask not that slave
ry be abolnitted. I demand that this Govern
nierat preserve the integrity of free territory
ag iiiist the aggressions of slavery—against its
wrongful usurp +lions. Sir. I was an favor of
the annexation of Texas. I supported it with
my whole influence and strength . . I was Wil
ling to take Texas as she was. I sought not
to cliati.e the character of her. institutions.—
,
Slavery i x sti d in Texas—planted there, it is
true, to defiance of law ; still it existed. It
gave character to the country.. True, it was
held out to the North. that at least two of the
five States to be formed out of Texas would be
free. Yet, sir, the whole of Texas has been
given up to slavery. The Democracy of the
Nerd), almost to a man, went for annexation.
Yes, sir', brie was an Empire larger than
France git en up to slavery. Shull farther CM).
Ce.”ll.llb be diode by the North f -Shall we
give up free territory, the inheritanee of free
labor ? 51 ust we yield this also ? Never, sir,
never, until we ourselves are fit to be staves.
lie North may he betrayed by her Representa
tives. but upon this great question she n-ill be
true to 14 .elf—=true to her posterity; Defeat !
Str, uteri Van be no defeat. Defeat to-day will
but arouse the termini , millions of the North.
and lead to a mere decisive and triumphant
victory to-morrow.
But, sir. yeti are told. that the joint Wood and
treasure of the whole country being expended
to this acquisition, therefore it should be divid
ed, and slavery allowed to take its share. Sir,
the South has her share already—the instal,.
ment for;slavery was paid in advance. We are
lighting this war fur Texas and for the t:outh.
I affirm it—every intelligent man knows it—
Texas is' the. primary cause of this war. For (
this. sir.(northern treasure is being exhausted.
and northern blood poured out upon the plains
of Nester,. We are fighting this war cheerful
ly, not reluctantly—cheerfully fighting this war
for Texaii ; and yet we seek not to change the
eharactet of her institutions. Slavery is there,
there let t remain. Sir. the whole histray of
this gees ion. is a history of concessions on the
part of the North. The money of the North
was expended in the purchase o; Irautsiana,
two-thirds of which was given up to slavery.
Again. in!the purchase of Florida, did slivery
gain nelacquisitions. Slavery acquired -an
Empire ii the annexation of Texas. Three
slave States have been admitted out of Louisia
na purchase. The slave State of Florida has
been received idles the Union ; and Texas an
nexed, wi;th the privilege of making five States
out of her territory. What has the North oh
trained from these vast acquisition.. purchased
by the joint treasore.and defended by the cora
mon blood of the Union e One State, sir. one.
Young lOwa, just admitted into the Union,-and'
not yet represented on the floor of the Senate.
This, sir. is a history of our acquisitions since ,
we became a Nation. A history - of northern
concession—of southern triumphs. Now. sir, i
we are told that California is ours—that Newt
Mexico is ours—won by the valor of our arms.
They are free. 'Shall they remain free? Shall 1
these fairi, provinces be the inheryance and
homes- of the white-labor of (reemen, or the
black !ewe of slaves? This, air. is the mine—
this the question. The North has the right,
and her representatives here have the power.
Shall the right prevail? 1 fear hot. sir. There;
is a powerlmore potent than the right. These
- I
fair provinces are ours—so . held.and so-regard
ed by the idatintstraticin. But of this I shall ,
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. S
REGARDLESS OF DERUNCIATI6:4" - TROt ANT QUARTER."
speak Morefully hereafter. All we.ask
their character be preserved. They are now
free. It is a general principle of the law of
Nations, that in conquered or acquired territo
ries, all laws therein existing, not inconsistent
with its new allegiance, shalt - remain 'force
until altered or repealed. This law prohibits
slavery.. in Califdrnia and in New Mexico. But
the South contend, that in their emigration to
this free territory they have the right to take
and hold slaves, the same as other property.—
Unless the amendment I have offered be adop
ted, or other early legislation is had upon this
subject. they. will do so. Indeed, they uni
tedly, as one man, have declared their right and
purpose so to do, and the work has already be
gun. Slavery follows in the rear of our armies.
Shall the war power of our Government be
exerted to produce such a result ? Shall this
Goiertiment depart from its neutrality on this
question, and lend its power and influence to
plant slave:y in these territories There is no
qbeation of abolition here, sir. Shall the South
be Omitted, by aggression, by invasion of the
right, by subduing free territory 'Hod planting
slavery upon it, to wrest these provinces from
northern freeinen, and turn them to the accom
pinhment of their own sectional purposes and
schemes ? Thls is the question. Men of the
North answer. Shall it be so? Shall We of the
North submit to it? If we do, we are coward
slaves, and deserve to have the manacles fasten
ed upon:our own limbs.
Sir, iChas been objected - to this measure that
it was brought forward at an untimely period.
An attempt has been made to cast both ridicule
and reproach upon it. It is said that we are al
ready quarrelling about territory which dues
not belong lo us ; that it will be in time to agi
tate this question when the country shall be
acquired. Sir, I affirm that now is the time.
and ih • only tuns. To hesitate at such a crisis
is to surrender the whole ground; to falter is
to betray.
Sir. what is the policy of this, Administra
tion ? -It is fully disclosed it is not disguised:
there is no attempt at disguisingit. It is frank-
Iv avowed, and stands out to the view of this
House and of the world. Sir. I am one of those
who believe this war just and necessary. So
believing,: I support it. It was forced upon the
country by the fully and matinees of our ene
my. We were compelled to take up arms and
vintlicate our character and national honor.—
Rut, sir, when the first blow was struck on the
banks of the Rio Grande—from the time that
the news first readied this Capitol—the policy
oldie Administration has been fixed.irrevoeably
fixed. that we shall never lay downt our arms
until indemnity is made in territory for the ex
penses, in part at least, of this war, and for the
claims of our citizens. Such is the settled po
licy of the Administration ; there is no ills
guise, no concealment about it. In proof of
this, it would be sufficient for me to refer to the
instructions given to Gen. Kearny and Coin
modore Stockton. The policy of this Admin
istration, I have said, was fixed and settled ;
and, I trust, irrevocably -settled. It is to re
quite indemnity in territory. Peace is desired,
eminently desired, by the Administration and
its friends ; but with peace must come indem
nity and territory. This declaration was frank -
ly. made here to-day, by the Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign . Relations, (Mr. C. J.
Ingersoll.) In the Senate, Mr. Sevier. Chi:m. 7
mam for the same committee in that tidily. made
a similar declaration. I will read an extract
from the speech of Mr. Sevier on this point :
" In making, peace, of course the [Joked
States would expect to receive indemnity, to
some extent at least, for the expenses of the
war, and they would also expect the payment
of the claims held by our citizens against the
Republic of Al , xieo,'and this indemnity was
expected in -the shape of territory. He W:113
not alithorized to state precisely what territory
this Government would require, hut he suppos
ed that no Senator would think they ought to
get less than New Mexico and Uprer Califor
nia. Ile did not suppose a treaty of peace
with less than that would pass this body."
Here, sir, is the direct, explicit declaration.
made by the Chairman of the Coiiimittee on
Foreign . hots i t the Senate, who holds
daily confidential intercourse with the Presi
_lent. and .s-ho therefore may be taken to speak
by authdrity for the Administration. Nay. sir.
more; ibis declaration; was made by Mr. Se
vier upon the occasion of his introducing in the
Senate a- bill, identical in character, with the
one now tinder consideration. Tel my col
league from the Adams district. (Mr. 31'Clean,)
-who has given an indication to oppose this
amendment; doses his apeach by dollar/11g,!
that he "believes 110 territory is to be acquired."
Sir, does my colleague believe that this Ad
ndnistration is to disgrace itself in the, eyes of
the American people and of the world ! Does
he believe that his own party is to recede from
the high ground it his taken ?. No; it is the
fixed policy of this Administration, approved
by the Democratic party. to require indemnity
from Mexico in territory ; and the declaration
has been solemnly wade to the country: and the
world.
The instruction given toCommodore Stock
ton was, to plant our flag upon Upper Califor
nia, and not to lower "it under any - circum
stances. General Kearny has gone so far as
to lay &mit a fundamental law fur the govern
ment of New. Mexico. Nothing of the kind
has been done in the other provinces overiun
by our arms. This, sir, is significant: it shows
to what particular teirititry the Administration
looks. It is, sir, to the , acquisition of Upper
California and New
,Mexico, One thing fur
ther in confirmation of this design ow the. part
of the Administration. I read from the Union
of the 4th instant. The editor is commenting
upon the resolution offered by a Senator from
Ueorgia, (Mr. Berrien,) - declaring itiai peace
(mem be made without acquiring an territory:
"Let the Federal leaders pursue : their indi
cated policy. The free people of thieeotilitry
will repudiate and despise h." -
I call upon my colleague (Mr, hltClean)
notice thie language,:
We are sure that no member of Congress
who owes, the proper allegiance ; to the great:
cause of the Democratic pariy; will eo far for;
get the honor of his country, the demands-of a
gallant people, or his own character, as to lend
any countenance to so absurd and extraordina
ry a proposition.
Yet row honorablecolleague closes his speech
with the - dliclaratiou, that he believes uo ter
ritory War) be acquitiTh.-"
(Some gentleman was here onderstodd to
suggest. that the resolution which called .forth
this article iu the Union " was of a different
character from that which Mr. W. had imputed
to it.) -
No. air, (said Mr. %V.) it related to the ac
quiiition of territory ; it recommends that the
army' be withdrawn, and peace ade without
the acquisition of territory.
•
(Mr. %V. concluded reading th
We but echo the views Jra patriotic peo
ple, without regard to party distinctions, when
we respectfOly call -Upon Congress promptly
to reject and rebuke so unpatriotic of project. i.
If I recollect aright the "project," it was,
that we withdraw our army, and offer terms of
peabe without .demanding territory. It is this
•• project " which the Union denounces—it is
this proposition which Mr. Sevier repudiates,
and which my friend from Philadelphia (C. J.
Ingersoll) disclaims.
Hut, sir, the Union " holds even more
explicit language upon this subject. In a sub
sequent number of that paper. the editor
courses this, in reference to the designs of the
opposition.:
•• The curtain rises slowly on the designs of
the Opposition, and the nation will learn. with
astonishment and in - dip:mon. the position
which it is believed they are about' to occupy.
If we are not mistaken in the signs of the times,
they mean to abandon all idea of actual and go•
lid indemnity from Mexico. They mean to
ABANDON CALIFORNIA: to tear down the flag of
the Union which floats over it, and re-surren
der- it to Mexico, ultimately to fall into the
hands of England. or at least under her -com
mercial conirol. Such open and wonderful
abandonment of the rights and interests of this
country, for the purpose of a possible party tn•
umph, has never heretofore been witnessed in
the Union. We invite the attention of the
American people to the great issue. We are to
be held up by the Opposition party, in conse
quence of greatly exaggerated domestic diffi
culties, to the contempt and derision of the
world, as incapable of self-government. For
the hope of a party triumph. California is to
be sacrificed. and, mark the consequence; the
disgraceful surrender of California leads to the
loss of Oregon. to the loss of the Ira:le of .dsia,
and the exclusion of our fiagfrom the. Pacific
coast. The rights and interest of the country
are, in effect to he as nothing.so that the Fi:de
ral leaders trfav have a chance of triumph.—
And is it, indeed, so. that the country is to he
injured, our flag torn down, and a dishonora
ble surrender is to be made of California. that
the Federalists may succeed in a party contest !
We must freely. but respectfully, say to the
Federalists, if this be their course. the country
will not second the unpatribtic and anti-Amerf
can movement.. No Democrat, true to his
principles and his cause, can be for the surren•
der of California."
Mark the language. sir. "CALTFunnta•
DoNED, SACRIFICED. SURRENDERED. Theike•
of the Union torn down ;" ....an open and
wondrful abandonment of the RIGHTS of the
country."'
Sir, is this proposition of mine too early !
Is it out of season t Must we of the North
Wail until the territory is ... ,
acquired ?" Iv,
sir, we are to be dosed with narcotics—to be
manipulated into a state of somuarnbulisin, and
nut allowed ta tvdke up until the deed of shame
is accomplished, and California and New Mex
ico are teeming with slaves. Then we shall be
told tha we are too late. Sir, if we permit
this. we shall justly merit the insulting epithet
so Mien applied by the IVhigs to the Demne
racy of the North,of Northern Dough-faces."
shall deserve the taunting language used
by John Ra n dolph towards the North, when
tie said, iu the debate on the Missouri ques
tion
•• We do not govern them by our hlaek slaves,
but by their own white slaves. We know
what we are doing—we have conquered you
once, and we can again—and we will conquer
you again. Ay,sir, we will drive you to the
wall, and when we have you there once, we
mean to keep you. Mere, and nail you down
like base mom y."
When, sir, in God's name, will the tame
come for the North to speak out Our stan
dard is in Caliiornia--;our flag floats over New
Mexico. The organ of the tration
proclaims to the world that thee territories
are ours, not to he abandoned. sacrffieed. or
surrendered ;" our troops are there, and an
armed body of emigrants has been sent forward
permanently to occupy and hold the country.
The whole South rise up here, and declare that
they will plant slavery in those 'countries. and
yet we are told that it is not time fur the North
to act ; this, too, by northern men. One finds
in excuse for the boratel of the North, un
der the declaration that he *. believes no terri
tory will be acquired ;" another denounces
any amendment, as puerile, out of time and
out of place ;" a third seeks refuge front the
indignation of a betrayed constituency, under
the idle plea. that*y prrosition embarrasses
'the Administratioii, c anal tenni,to prevent a vig
orous prosecthion , of the war. I shall notice
this last accusation mere at length hereafter:
• My friend from Philadelphia, (Mr. J. C. In
gersoll,) gives me a consoling assurance ; he
says that a slave cannot live in -California—
that the country is not adapted to slave labor..
Sir, as numb as I. respect .his judgment and
opinions, yet in the face of the dedications
the whole South, I cannot safely rely upon his.
This Country is as well, if not betterl adapted
for slave - labor, than is Itentucky, Tennessee,
or Missouri Every southern man declares
they will hold it for slavery t that all below ,
36° 30' shall be slave territory. And, et it is
not the proper time Sow I" The: President's
policy is fined ; the South declare their por.
pose ; and yet northern men flinch meetinviti
Again, Ili, it is vbjetted, that ibis Amend-
GOODRICH & SONI
,ment will defeat the bill. Why defeat the bill
If northern men would act-with the sine feel
ing and unity of the South. my Artiendinent
would carry the bill, and its defeat would be
inevitable without it. Sir, if the North is true
to herself, the bill be defeated, if
Amendment irlost. An idle. pettifogging pre
tence is set up, by a portion of the press, with
the .• Union" at their head, that -my Amend
ment in some way will affect the terms of a
treaty with Mexico. That_ifit pass, - Mexico
will bare something to say about our domestic
affairs—that she would be called noon to ne
gotiate about slavery. Strohose who hohl out
such ideas to the public. know they are decep
tive and uncandid. The organ of the party
here at the Capital, ought at least to present
the issue fairly befrre the public. The north ,
ern Democracy may at least claim, net to be
misrepresented in the columns of a paper pro
fessing to speak fur, and r -present the whole
party. My amendment has nothing to do with
the terms of any treaty the Presulent may ne
gotiate ; and those, who hold out to the public
a different impression must know it. It does
not require him to say one word about slavery.
Ile would use the-money, and make die treaty.
precisely as he would if my AmendMent were
not there. It is a mere legislative declaration,
that any territory which we nay obtain, tin
der a treaty of limits and bournivies, shall re
main as we find it—free. It has nothing w hat
to du with the terms and Stipulation oldie
treaty.
Sir, an honorable gentleman from the South.
I believe the one at my side, (Mr. Burt.) made
the proud declaration a few days since on this
floor, Mat we have no traitors at the South.'
Would that !could throw hack the proud boast.
• we have no traitors in the North." It brew
ed to sue, sir at the time, as if the declaration
was made with that pride which a brave man
feels, when he knows that be is sot-rounded by
brave and firm associates. But if this mea
sure,.which only a few months since received
the ppurt of a large m.ijurity of this (louse
is to he smothered in committee; where no r#-
cord remains of men's votes—to be stilled. put
down ; if the men on whom we rely fur sup
port falter in the hour of need, I shall under
stand the proud boast of the South, as a %4 ith
erlog, burning sarcasm on • the North. The
cheek of a northern man should burn as a red
hut cinder under it.
Yes, sir, there are no traitors in the South."
The South is true to her supposed intrest on
this question. Once, sir. the Niuth. too, stood
true on this question. The State of Penn was
true to In -r character and her history. Every
Representative from PtMnsylvania who was
present voted at the last session in favor of the
Proviso 1 offered. I trust ii will be so again.
We, shalt see. • Why, sir. should we fear for
the action of northern men on this question
It is right,-sir ;it is'iusr ;it is tirneby. If ev
er a declaration against the extension of slave
ry over a free territory is to he effectual, it
meat be made now. • Wait ! Why, sir. while
we are waiting slavery is pushing onward.—
Already has tire southern slavery of this Union
been transplanted into New Mexico. The
fundamental law which General Kearny laid
down fur the government of that country bears
the impress and proves the existence of slave.
ry. Yes, sir, slavery is there, yet northern
men anvise delay ; sneer. sir, at this move
ment as • puerile and childish." The consti
tution, or fundamental law, which General
Kearny lays &own for the government of that
country, in prescribing the qualifications of
electors. says : ••‘Every FREE male" shall be
entitled to the right of suff:age. su. - Does this
not imply that there are males there not free ?
Already, sir, on the route of travel between
Missouri and New .Mexico slaves are found,
who are being removed thither. Slavery is
there, sir—there. in defiance of law. Slavery
does not watt for all the forms of annexation
to he consionated. It is on the move, sir., It
is in New Mexico. It is. in. Oregon. Yes,
sir. it is in Oregon : and this day, in that dis
tant territory of the Union, does the lash of ihe
:Missouri toaster drive his negro slave to the
field of labor. We passed - hut a lew days ago
through this House a Bill for the estahlishineht
of a territorial government in Oregon, in which
we excluded slavery from that territory. 'Die
slavery restriction has been struck out from
that Bill by the Senate committee, a ,majority
of whom are southern men, Ind clause i IRerted
establishing slavery. Yet, sir. in the face of
all of these facts, we are told-that our action is
premature. untimely. • Wait," save my col
league. (Mr. McClean.) until we get the skin
of the lion, before we Iliftpwe about his hide."
Sir, we have the skin, and slavery is already '
grappling for it. I ineeke my colleague to the
rescue. I repeat it, sir, now -is the time, anti
the only time. Sourthern men declare- that
they desire this question settled now. Nei
titer party should he deceived: The North
ought not to be betrayed wader the idea held
out, that slavery cannot, or will not,exist there.
Let not the South he deceived. Let no pros-
pect be held out to her that this 'war is to result
in strengthening and exteuding, this institution.
I
Now, sir, is the time, and the honest tins, to
meet this question.
arn'told., you are embarrassing the Ad
ministration by bringing forward this proposi
tion: We embarrassing it—the majority of
,Democrats on this floor ! Do gentleman re
['fleet who make this charge ? Does a derlara
non. that free territory shall remain free. em
harraas the Administration 1 Does it -thwart
its purposes and pcliry ? sir. those who unikc
this charge accuse the Administration of seek
ing the extension of slavery over territory now
free. Is this true ; or is it a gross slander up
on this Democratic Administration .1 We. sir.
accused of embarrassing the Adlbinistration !
The majority. sir—we who constitote - a ma
jority of the Republican party on this flonr—
mho carry nut its groat principles. and vindi
cate its faith and practice I The charge is idle.'
sir. unworthy of notice. We have voted
promptly. sir. for all the supplies of men trod
'money asked Carlo - tarry "op a vigorous prose
cution of this war. Yet we aro charged by
southern men with throwing, obstacles in the
way Odle war.. Sir, I hay; throira Ro mats .
c cs in its way, unless it is used for the eV
It - 112,1011 of slavery. if my Amendment embar
rasses the prosecution of the JYraf, then it is a
w 4. for slavery, which I atu.not prepared to be
,
Sir, my Ainvn.lotent can interfere with the
war cility in two respects, either bYlrostrating
its objects,' or weakening its support. The
first it doesi not do, unless slavery is its 'object;
n tr the second, unless for this cause the South
are driven from its support. If the South are
to driven. then it will be apparent to all that,
on the part of the South, the war was prosecu
ted fur the extension of slavery, and not the
vindication 01 the rights and honor of the coun
try., This is my ground. If the War is nut
for slavery, then I do nut embarrass it with my
Amendment. If it is for slavery, theta ant
dreeived as to its objects. The treasure and
blood of the North will not be poured out in
waging a war for die propagation of "slattery
over the North Atnericsn continent. I trust
that such is not its object ; yet the attitude of
the South on this question is susceptible of no
other construction.
My rol , eague. (Mr. C. J. InFerso sug
gests the propriety of waiting until the people
of those territories shall meet together to form
their own costitution, and then let them decide
for themselves whether slavery shall or shall
-pot be tolerated within their boundaries. Sir.
I sin satisfied with this ; it is all I ask. Idu
not, however, doubt the right of this Govern.
mend to prescribe binding. and lasting condi
tions upon new territory admitted into this
Union. It may- deelere that upon finch terms
and conditiens, under such and such restric
hone only. it shall be acquired. All I ask is.
that the people he left tree to choose fur them
selves between freedom and slavery. I only
ask that, while it is a territory. under Ogr coii
trol and guardianship, its tree character shall
be sacredly preserved. When it shall increase
in etrength and population, when it shall have
attained the stature and vigor of manhood.
when States are formed and admitted into the
Union, I am IA tiling they should be free to
adopt or reject the institution of domestic slave
ry.. Ido Hot wis4 to interfere either with the
sovereignty of existing Slates, or to cripple the
the sovereignty of new ones. I suppose Penn
sylvania could establish slavery to-day it she
chaos.• ; and so possibly might Ohio, in spite
of the Ordinance of 1787. All that we demand
is, that while the provinees chill constitute ■
part of the territory -of the Union. under the
control of this Government, slavery shall not
be permitted to gain a foot-hold in them. Free
th y now are, and free, with Coif's help. they
shall remain. Free territory shall not be fet
tered, it stall not be trampled Upon; it is ours.
and we will hold on to it with a grasp that
shall hid defiance to the slave power. When
territory presents itself for annexation ullaete
slavery is already established. Lstand ready
to take it, if national considerations require it.
as they did in the case of Texas. I will not
seek to change its institutions ; 1 will not first
ask to abolition of slavery. I make no war
upon the South. nor upon slavery iu the South.
1 have no'squeamish sensitiveness upon the
subject of slavery, or morbid sympathy for the
slave. - I plead the cause and the rights of
white'frecman. I would preserve to free white
labor a fair country, a rich inheritance, where
the sons of toil, of say own race and own co
lor, can live without the disgrace whiell asso
ciation with negro slavery hrings upon free
labor. I stand for the inviolability of free ter
ritorY. It shall remain free, so far as my
voice or vote can aid in the preservation of its
character.
This, sir. is what we ask, and all we ask.-
1 . Yet the majority of this idous'e, reflecting the
will of a vast majority 01-she freemen of this,
republic, a mvjority of the republicans of the
North. are called upon to yield—what To
make concession of things that ought to be con
eeded ? No ; they are required to surrender
the dearest rights, to violate the most sacred
obligations. Where is the northern man pre
pared to do ? lam a man of concession, of
comproMise ; but to compromise on this ques
tion is to surrender lie right and establish the
wrong. .It is to carry slavery where 'it does
not now exist, to subjugate free territory. If
lire refuse to convert free into slave territory,
is that an ittva.ton of the rights of the South ?
Oue would. intl. ed, suppose so. who had list
ened to all the I i•ilent declamation about the
constitutional rights of the t4outh, which has
been.heard in this debate. While I have, as I
before remarked, no morbid sensitiveness up
on this subject.l ain. uevertheless,one of those
who believe that the future greatness and glory
of this 'republic demands that the progress (10(
domestic slavery should be arrested now Lad
forever. Let it remain where it now is. slid
leave to time and a merciful Provitienesiits re-
Sir. tipOn this subject, the North has yield
ed until there is no more to give un. We have
gone on,'malting one acquisition after another.
until we have acquired and brought into the
Union every inch of slave territory that was to
he found upon this Continent. Now, sit, we
have passed beyond the boundaries of slavery
and reached free soil. Who is willing to Bur.
renderit 1 Men of the North—Representa
tives of northern freemen, will you enneumate
such a deed of infamy and shame 1 I trust in
Coil not. Oh ! for the honor of the North—
for the•fair fame of our gr en hill and valleys.
lie firm in this erisie—be true to your country
and your race. The white laborer of the
North claims your service ; he demands thai
you stand firm - to his interests and his rights :
that you preserve the future hones of his chit
dren, on the distant shores th e P ac ifi c . f ront
the degredation and l';ishonor or negro servi
tude. «`here• the ne g ro :slave labors, the freo
white man en:lnet labor by his 'iglu without
sharing, in Ids degradation and dishonor.
Doti sir. we are threatened with a viissolation
of t
,ne Union. It is an idle, harmless threat.
it has worked so well heretofore, however. that
I am not surprised it should be employed • cot
-this occasion. The North has eveeheen really
to Yield - Whin the South raised the cry of die
union. Sir, I have no, fears for the
. • . coscuirme OV y l•G
T1V.w.17.