Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume], March 21, 1850, Image 1

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

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BY E. P. WALTON & SON.
MONTPELIEK, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1850.
VOL. XLIV, NO. 19. WHOLE NO. 2266.
V.
llhitdjman & Stale Journal. i
riiiu.isnnii r.vr.nv tiicp.m)ay jiocmxc.
TT.KMs" 1 .'.Qni.ti in mlTum-i- ; $",(KHr pnyi fnt it ma
mli in Multure j iQlercl.klMC). cLamtd llim U.f end .f
Political.
SPEECH
OF TUB
HON. DANIEL VEBSTEE,
OX THE SUBJECT OF SLAVEUY.
Ddiccrc ! in the U. S. Senate, MarJt 7.
The Vice Prcsii)t:.T. The resolutions
submitted by ihe Senator from Kentucky
were made the special order of the day at
12 o'clock. On this subject the Senator
fro-n NVmusiti (Mr. Wa.ker) has the floor.
Mr. Walkce. Mr. President, this vist
audience Ins not assembled to hear me ;
and there is but one man, in my opinion,
w.io cm ,ii eiiibie such an ludicuce. They
expect to he ir liiiii, and 1 feel it to be my
duly, well as my pleasure, to give the
floor therefore to the Senator from AIaa
ciiiietii. I understand it is immaterial to
bun upon winch of these questions he
spe.ik", and therefore 1 will not move to
posi'i.ie t if; peci.ll order.
Mr. Wkbstek. I beg to express my oh
lig 'ti uis to on Iriend from Wi-con-on, (Mr.
W Iker.) is well as to my friend from New
Y nk, (.dr. Seward.) 1'ir their courtesy in
aborting me to address the Senate ibis
in 'ruing.
M . l're.de it, 1 wish to speak today, not
as i AI i.icuu-e-il m,tu, nor .is a N irihein
mm, hut .is .m A nt-ricm, .nid a member t
t ie Sen ite f the U Hied Stales. It Is fui
t i i tii a there ii i Se.i ite of the United
St I i Ii wl) m l vet hiuvmI from it pm
rn I., ,i .t lost lo ,i jlst m,c of Us i;vn
d. g i.:v . itnl Us o.vn high resoni lion,
ami i -ini'v i.i winch fie r.i.u itrv look wit i
c :i Ii-'n-t- fir -v -c. in it p :lri 'lie Mid
lie i, .I' 'i -!. It i- n i . lie denied
ihn we bve in li.i i ii1 i ,,f s'.n.ng agita
t tin! ire sii i "i.i. it., In .ii . isider-
a ie .I lo ;ers ti
infill. I'ln- .
The E isi. the
inir t it t uut i !i s . 1 g i Cru
,ins mod winds are .el li se.
V". el, the North, and the .
frtoriuv a mill, .ill combine In tlir.iw Hie
wli le oc m lot i co. urn. lion, t. l"ss Us bil
l.m lo l be -kie and to di-cb'se lis pro
lo i.i.li-sl dtyuis. 1 do not affect to regard
mvsfll, .Mr. I'rt-siiliMi, as lioldi.ig, or as fu
to i. I.i tin- Ik Iiii i.i tnis combat of tue
''"
Iiiicil element ; but I hive a duly to per
forin, and I me in lo perform it with fideli
ty nut wi It-mi t a sene of surroiindn.g dan
gers, hut ii it ; ii. lout hope I hive a pirt
to act, nut fur mv oivn security or salet),
f. r I a ti looking out for no fragment upon
nlix i t-i II at away from-the wreck, if
wreck tlie.e 111111 be, but for the go.id of tin
av hole and 1 he presrtv mm of the whole;
ami there is 1I1.1t ujnch will keep me to my
duly during fills struggle, vviietlier the sun
and the stars shall appear, or shall not ..i
pear, fir many day. I speak today for the
presL-M ation of tue Union. " Hear me lor
mv c.iu-e. I sje tk tod iy, out ol a solid-
tiou and anxious he.irl, for the restoration!
to tue country of that uuit-t and that bar, no-
ny vv Inch make the blessings of tin Union j
tk so rich and so dear to us all. These are;
ffj the I 'jiics that 1 propose to injsell to dis-
cuss; these are Hie motives, anil l e sole I
motive's, that influence me 111 the wib to;
communicate my opinions 10 ine oeuaie
and the country; and ill can do any thiii, 1
hotvever liltio lor the promotion of Uie.-e j
ends, I shall have accomplished all that 1
de-nre. j
Mr. President, it may not be amiss to re-1
cur very briefly to the events w'uen, equal
ly sudden a id extraordinary, have brought
the political condition of the country 10
what a int.v 1. In Miy, ISIO, the United
States deel .red war against Mexico. Her I
armies, then 011 the frontier, entered the
provinces ol that Republic; met and de
le ite.I all her troops; penetrated Her imiun-1
1 mi 11 isms, and occupied her capital, t'ne '
marine force of the United States took pns
tes.oii of her forts and her tmvns on the
All i.mc and on the Pacific. In les nun
two years a treaty wa negotiated by vvmcii
JI. Xic . cttled to the United Stales 'i v 1st
territory, exnodiug seven or eight bundled
ui.les along ihe shore of the Pacific; rea
ching Pack over toe inouuuiins, and across
the deseii and until 11 j uned Hie frontier ot
the Stale ol" Tex is. It so happened that,
in tue diiracu-d and leehle stale ol tin
jMeictn Government, before 'he declaia
tiou of iv ,r 11) tue U.uled States against
Aiexico had hcoiue known 111 Calili.ruia,
tue pe-ijile of C difiinm, under the lead ol
A-iieiicaii 1 Ihceis, overthrew the evisting
Pr.vi..ciu! (jon-ruinciit of Calif irnia in
.Mexican am. 1 r.ins and iuii up an nide
pe.nlc .1 ll ig. W i.i-u tiie news .11 rued -l
Sin Fi anci-ci tn .1 rt a uid ue.-u declared
ov 1 11c U .ue.i S. .' .ial..sl .Mexico, ttlis
Jndepfinle.it flag was pniied do.. 11 and tin;
stars and s r.p.-s of tt.i Uul n hoisU d In
its ste.d. S.., sir, before Ine war w.is.iver,
the powers of me United Si.ue.-, unlit ny
and naval, had possession of San Francisco
and U,iper California, aud a great rush ol j
eiiiir.iuts Irom various parts ol the world j
ii.k plai-e into Caliloriiia in IsJO.ind ltil7. !
liui 11 w, belli. !d anotucr wonder.
In Jauuarj ot IS4ri, the -Mormons, it is
said, or une of them, made a discovery of.
an txiraordinary rich mine of gold or,
ratlicr, of a very great quantity of gold, j
bandy tit 10 be called a mine, lor it was
preau near Ine surface on ine tower pan
ol the south or American branch ol the'
Sacramento. They si em to have attempt
ed I., conceal their discovery for some tune;
bui mhiii another discovery, perhaps of
greater importance, wis made of goid, 1:1
uiioiiier part of the Americaii branch ol the;
Sacramento, and near Suiter's fort, as it is
Callid. 'Ihe lame of these discoveries,
lpre..d far and wide. They excited more,
Sand worn the spirit of emigration towards
Ualilorinn, which hud already been excueu ;
feud persons crowded 111 hundreds, and
ll.r.keil towards Ihe bay of Sau Francisco. !
i.is, as I liave said, took place 111 me Win
er ai.u spring ol Ic-lS. The digging coin-.
iii-,.ctU 111 the spring of that year, and horn
at time to this, tlie vvorie 01 searciuug iui
no has been prosecuted with a success nut j
ret lore known in the nisiory 01 mis
ft. We all know, sir, how incredulous
i American public jvas at the account
which reached up at firj.1 of these discove
ries ; lint we all know now that these ac
counts receiveii, ami continue to. receive
daily confirmation, and down to the present
moment I suppose the assurances are as
strung, after the experience of these sever
al month, of mines of gold apparently in
exhaustible in the regions near San Fran-
Cisco, in Calilorm.1, as they were at any pe-Uhe first fountain ol all political anil all so
riod of the earlier dates of the accounts. jcial relations of the human race the indi
It so h ippened, sir, that, although in tl.e j vidua! heart and mind of man.
time of peace, it became a vcrv important i Now, sir, upon the general nature and
subject f r legislative consideration and le-'character and influence of slavery, there
gisl.itne decision to provide a proper Ter-( exists a wide difference, between the Norlh
ritorial Government for California, yet dif- lern portion of this country and the South
fereuccs of opinion in the counsels of the jern. It is said on the one side that, if not
Government prevented the establishment of j the subject of any injunction or direct pro-
auy such territorial Uoveriiuient lor Oali-
fi irnia, at the last session of Cougre.-s.
Under this state of thing,, the inhabitants
of San Francisco and California, then a
tnounting to a great number of people in
the summer oPhist year, thought it to be
their duty lo establish a local territorial slavery, in its nature, whatever may be said
Government. Under the proclamation ofj of it in the modifications which have taken
General Riley, the people choose delegates 'place, is not in fact according to the meek
to a Convention; that Convention met at ! spirit of the gospel. It is not kindly afFec-
Alonlerey. 1 hey formed a Constitution for
the Stale of C difornia, and it was adopted
by the people of California, in their prima
ry assemblages. Desirous of immediate
connection with the United Stales, its Sen
ators were appointed and Representatives
cho-cn, who came hither, bringing with
them the authentic constitution of the Slate
of California. It is said, and I suppose
trulv, that of the members who composed
that Convention some sixteen were natives
aml had been residents of the slaveholiliug
Slates, about twenlj-two were from the nou
blatelmlitiiiir States, and the remaining ten
member were either native Califoriiiaus or
old settlers in that country. l bis prolnbi -
turn against slavery, it is said, wa inserted
with entire unanimity
iwr. Walk. Will the Senator give way
until order is restored ?
The Vice I'residbxt. The Sergeaut-al-Arms
will sec that order is restored, and
no on re persons admitted to the floor.
Mr. C.iss. I trust tue scene ot this day
will not be repetted. The Serge-iiit-.it-
Arms niiit dipl iy m .re euery in suppress -
t:ig 1 i.s dis. rilt r.
Mr. II ux. The noise is oukiJe th
door.
is this ctrcuni -
Mr. Vi:r.STr.n. And it
stance, sir, the prohioition of slavery by j candor obliges me to say, that 1 believe
tint Convention, which has contributed to j they are just as conscientious, many of iliem,
nise I do imt say it lias wholly raised as they are in the North in holding difTer
the di-pule as to the propriety of the admis- ; ent opinions.
sion of C diform.i into the Union under this! Why. sir. ihe honorable Senator from S.
constitution. It is not to be denied, Mr.
President nobody thinks of denying that
whatever rcisons were a-stgned at the com
mencement of the late war vnih Mexrco, it
wa- pro?eciitcd for the purpose of the ac-qui-itioii
of territorv, and under the alleged
argument that the cession of territory was
the only form in which proper compensj-
lion could be made to the United States by
Mexico for the various claims and demands
which the peorde of this country had against
that government. At any rate it will be
found that President Polk's message at the
commencement of the session in December,
IS47. avowe d that the v ar was to be prose-l
cuted until some acquisition of territory was j have never yet been able Income to the j
made. And, as the acquisition was to be ' conclusion that there was any real ground ,
South of the line of the United States, in j for that separation. I must say 1 tlm.k 1
warm climates aud countries, it was natur-; there was some want of candor, and chart-1
ally, 1 -oppose, expected by the South that'ty. Sir, when a quesiiou of this kind lakesi
whatever acquisitions were made in that rc- hold of the religious sentiments of mankind
gion would be adde-d to the slaveholiliug ' and comes to be discussed in religious as-
portion of the Uuued State. Event have scmblies of ihe clergy and laity, there is!
turned out as was not expected, and that always lo he expected, or always to be fear
expeclatiou has not been realized; and ied, a great degree of excitement. It is in!
therefore some degree of disappointment'thc nature ol man, manifested by bis whole j
auu surprise lias resulted, i course, in History, that religious ill-pules aieapl to be
other word, it is obvious that the question come warm, and men's strength of convic
vv Inch h-'s so long hirrassed the country, tiou is proportionate to iheir views of the
aud at some times very seriou-ly alarmed magnitude of the questions, in all such
the minds of wise and good men, lus come disputes there will sometimes men be found
up 111 us for a fresh discussion the ones- with whom everything is absolute abso-
tion of slavery in these United States. lutely wrong or absolutely right. They see!
Now, sir, I propose perhaps at the ex- the right clearly ; they think others ought
pcnc of some detail and consequent deteu- , to see it, and ihey are disposed lo establish j
lion of the Senate lo review historically, a broad line of distinction between what is j
this q icstion of slavery, which, partly in right and what is wrong. And they are not ,
consequence of its own merits, and partly, seldom willing to establish that line upon j
perh ip mostly, in the manner it is discuss- their own convictions of the truth and thej
ed in one and the other portion cfihe couu- justice of their own opinions; and are wil
try, b.i been a s'-urce of so much alien .1- ling to mark and guard that line, by placing 1
tiou and unkind feeling between the differ- along it a series of dogmas, as lines of 1
em portions of the Union. We all know, ' boundary are marked by posts and stones.!
sir, tb.it slavery b is existed in the world Tnere are men who, with clearperceplions, I
fromtimeimmemorial. There was slavery as they think, of their own duty, do not
in the earliest periods of history, in the On- see how too hot a pursuit of one duty may '
ent.il naiMiis. There was slavery among involve them in the violation of others, or ,
the Jews; tue theocratic government
mi 01
instil,
that pei pit- made 110 intiniction again
There was si ivery among the Greeks, and
the ingenious philosophy of the Greeks strongly, not many days age), these persons
f Mind, or sought to find, a justification for are disposed to mount upon some particular
it exiclly upon the grounds which have duty as upon a war horse, and to drive fu
ln ei. assumed lor such a justification in this riously, on and upon, and over all other du
conntrv ; lint 1, a 11nnr.1l and original d.f- lies that may stand in the way. There are
tere.ice among tlie races of mankind: the men who, in times of thatsort, and disputes
inl't-riiirity of ilu lilac; or colored race, to of that sort, are of opinion that hum. .11 du
ih. (J.iek- j i-nfii'd their system ol" slavery tics may bo ascertained with the exactness
u; hi tint gri u. id precisely. They held the of mathematics. They deal w lib morals as
Airicau, and in some parts the Asiatic, with mathematics, and Ihey think what is
ln:..-.s to he inferior to the white race; hut right may be distinguished from what is
ihey did imt show, I think, by any close ' wrong with the precision of an algebraic
process of logic, that, if this were true, the equal. on. They have, therefore, none too
more iri'elligeut and the stronger had there- ' much charity towards others who differ from
fore a right to subjugate the weaker. j them. They are apt, too, to think that
Tlie more manly philosophy and juris- nothing is good but what is perlect, and
prudence of the Roiiuus placed the justtri- that there arc no compromises or inodifica
catiou of slavery 011 entirely different nous 10 be made in submission to difference
grounds. I of opinion, or in deference to other men's
The lioman jurists, from the first, and judgment. If their perspicacious vision
down to the fall ol'jhe empire, admitted that enables them to detect a spot on the face of
shivery was against the natural law, by the sun, they think that a good reasoii why
which, as they m untamed, all men of w hat- ' the sun should be struck down from heaven.
soever chine, color, or capacity, were equal ; Tlie-y prefer the chance of running into 111
but ihey justified slavery, first, upon the , ter darkness, to living 111 heavenly light, if
ground and authority 01 tue law oi nation. ,
arguing, and arguing truly, uiai ai mai
day the conventional law of nations admit
ted that captives in war, whose lives, ac
cording to the notion of the times, were at
the absolute disposal of the captors, might,
in exchange for exemption from death, be
made slaves for life, and that such servitude
might descend to their posterity. The ju
rists ot Rome also maintained that by the
civil law there might be servitude slavery,
personal and hereditary first, by the vol
untary act of au individual who might sell
himself into slavery ; second, by his being
received into a state of slavery by his credi
tors 111 satisfaction of a debt; and, thirdly,
by being pb.ced in a state of servitude or
slavery for crime. At the introduction ol
Christianity into the world, the Roman
world was full of slaves, aud I suppose there
is to be found no injunction against that
relation between man an man in the teach
ing of the Gnsnel of Jesus Christ, or of
any ofhis Apostle?. The object of the in
struction imparted to mankind by the foun
der of Christianity was to touch the heart,
purify the soul, and improve the lives of in
dividual men. That object went directly to
liilittionin the iveiv 1 eslaincnt, slavery is a
wrong; that it is founded merely in the
right of the strongest ; and that it is an op
pression, like all unjust wars, like all these
conflicts by which a mighty nation subjects
a weaker nation to their will: and that
I tinned, it does not " seek another s ami not
its own. It dues not " let the oppressed
go free," These are sentiments that are
cherished, and recently with greatly augmen
ted foice, among the people of the North
ern States. It has taken hold of the reli
gious sentiment of that part of the country,
as it has more or less taken hold of the reli-
j gious feelings of a considerable portion of
mankind. The South, upon the other side,
! have been accustomed to this relation be-
tween the two races all their lives, from their I
hirth ; having been taught in general to
i treat the subjects of their bondage with great
j care and kindness have vet m.l taken this
1 new of the subject which I have mentioned.
'1 here are thousand of religious men, with
consciences as tender as any of their breth
ren at the North, who do not see the un
law fulness of slivery; ami there are more
thousand perhaps, that, whatsoever tney may
think of it. origin, and as a matter depend
ing on natural right, vet take things as
they are, Mid, finding si tvery lo be an es
tablished relation ol the societv in which
j tney live, cm see 110 way 111 which let
I their opinions on the ab-!r.icl question be
'what thev may it is 111 t'ie power of the
Ipreseiit generation to relieve themselves
l Iroin this relation. And, 111 this respect.
Carolina, the other day, alluded lo the great
separation of that ureat religious communi
ty, the .Methodist Episcopal Church. Thai
reparation was brought about by differences ;
of opinion upon the peculiar subject of sla
very. I felt gre-it concern as that dispute
went on aboutthe result, and I was in hopes
that the difference of opinion might be
1 adjusted, because I looked upon that rcli-
j gious denomination as one of the great props
I of religion and morals throughout the
whole country from Maine to Georgia.
The result was against my wishes and a-gain-t
my hopes. 1 have read all their pro-
cecdui!:, aud all their arguments, but I
now too warm an emuracemeiii ot one iruin ,
may le id to a disregard of other truths e-
nuallv important. As I beard it stated
mat neavemy ngiu ue uoi ausonueiy wiiu
out any imperfection. There are impatient'
men too impatient always to give heed to;
the admonition of St. Paul, " that we are
nut to do evil that good may come" too!
impatient to wait for the slow progress of
moral causes 111 the improvement of man
kind. They do not remember, that the doc
trines and the miracles of Jesus Christ have
in eighteen hundred years, converted only
a small portion of the human race; and a
mong the nations that are converted to
Christianity they forget how many vices
and crimes, public and private, still prevail,
and that many of them, public crimes espe
cially, which are offences against the Chris
tian religion, pass without exciting particu
lar regret or indignation. Thus wars are
waged, aud unjust wars. I do not deny
that there may be just wars. There ccr-
tainly are; but it was the remark of an em
inent person, not many years ago, on the
other side of the Atlantic, ttiat it was one
of the greatest reproaches to human nature
that wars were sometimes necessary. The
defence of nations sometimes causes a war
against the injustice of other nations.
Now, sir, in this state of sentiment upon
the general nature of slavery lies the cause
of a great portion of those unhappy ditis-
ions, exasperations, and reproaches which
find vent and sunport in different parts of!
the Union. Slavery does exist in the United
States. It did exist in the States before the
adoption of this Constitution, and at that
time.
And now let ns consider, sir, for a mo
ment, what was the stateof sentimeut, North
and South, in regard to slavery at theiuiu
this Constitution jvas adopted. A remark
able change has taken place siuee, but what
did the wise and great men of all parts of
the country think of slavery .' in what es -
timation did they hold it then, when this j
Constitution was adopted? Now, it will be i
found, sir, if we will carry ourselves by!
histnrical research back to that day, and as
certain men's opinions by authentic records
still existing among us, that there was no
great diversity of op. nion between the North
and the South upon the subject of slavery,
and it will be found that both parts of the
country held it equally an evil, a moral and
political evil. It will not le found that
either at the North or at the South there
was much, though there was some, invec-
tue agamst slavery as inhuman and cruel.
i ue iiic.ii "lounu oi ouieuuuu m u ua wii -
litiral; that it weakened the social fabric ;
that, taking the place ol Iree labor, society
was less strong, and labor was less prcduc-
tive ; and therefore we find from all the em
inent men of the time the clearest express
ion of their opinion that slavery was an
evil. And they acribed its existence here,
not w ithout truth, and not without some as
ccrbity of temper and force of language, lo
the injurious policy of the mottitr country,
who, to favor the navigator, had entailed
these evils upon the colonies. I need hard
ly reler, sir, to the publications of ihe day.
They aru ni.itti rs of history on the record.
The eminent men, the most eminent men
ami uearlv all the couspicuuus politicians
of ihe South, held the s..me sentiment ;i my present purpose is only to say, Mr. Pres
th 11 slavery was an evil, a blight, a blast, a! ident, that it was done with the entire and
mildew, a s..ourgc, and a curse. There arc unanimous concurrence of the whole South,
no terms of reprobation of slavery so ve-Uviiy, there it stands ! The vote of every
hement 111 the North of ihat day as in tbelState in the Union was unanimous in fa;or
South. The North was not so much exct-jof the ordinance, with the exception of a
ted against it as the South, and the reason 'single individual vote, and that individual
is, 1 suppose, because there was much less
at the North, and the people did not see, or
flunk they saw, ihe evils .so prominently as
they were seen, or thought lo be seen, at the
South.
I hen, sir, when this Constitution was
framed, this was the light in which the Con
vention viewed it. The Convention r;d-:-ted
the judgment and sentiments of the
great men of the South. A member of die
other House, whom 1 have not the honor lo
know, in a recent speech, has collected ex
tracts from these public documents. They
prove the truth of what I am saying, and
the (l ies'. ion then was, how to deal with 11, 1 recognition of slavery as it ei-tcd in the
and bow to deal with it as an evil. Weil, States, and the establishment of the ordi
they came to this general tesult. They I nance piohibitiiig, to the full extent of all
thought that slavery could not be continued territory owned by the United States, the
in the country if the importation of slaves j introduction of slavery into those territo
were made to rease, and therefore they pro- ries, and the leaving lo the St-ites all power
vided that after a certain period, the in. pin-- over slavery, 111 their own limits. And here,
tation might be prevented by the act of the j sir, we may pause. We may reflect for a
new Government. Twenty years was pro-' moment upon the entire coincidence and
posed by some gentlemen, a Northern gen- concurreuceofsentimeiit between the North
tleman, I think, and many of the Southern and the South upon these que'stions at the
gentlemen opposed it as being too long. period of the adoption of the Constitution.
Mr. Madison especially was something warm j But opinions, sir, have clunged greatly
against it. He said it would bring too I changed changed North and changed
much of this mischief into the country lo , South. Slavery is not regarded 111 the
allow ihe importation of slaves for such a j South now as it was then. 1 sec an honor
period. Because we must lake along with I able member of this body paring me the
us, in the whole of this discussion, when honor of listening to my remarks; lie brings
we arc considering the sentiments and opui- j to me, sir, freshly and v ividly the sentiments
ions in which this constitutional provision of his great ancestor, so much distinguish
origiuated, that the conviction of all men . ed 111 his day and generation, so worthy to
was that if the importation of slaves ceased, be succeeded by so worthy a grandsou.wilh
the white race would multiply faster than ' all the sentiments he expressed in the Coll
ide black race, and that slavery would veution in Philadelphia,
therefore gradually wear out and expire. J Here we may pause. There was, if not
It may not be improper here to allude to an entire unanimity, a general concurrence
that, I had almost said, celebrated opinion of sentiment, running through the whole
of Air. Madison. You observe, sir, th.V. community, and especially entertained by
the term slave or slavery i not used in the the eminent men of all portions of the couu
Coiistitutiou. The Constitution does not try. But soon a change began at the
require that " fugitive slaves" shall be de- North and the South, and a severance of
liverod up. It requires that " persons bound opinion showed itself the North growing
to service in one Staie, and escaping into' much more warm and strong against slave
another, shall be delivered up." Air Aladi- rv. and the South crowiiiz much more warm
son opposed the introduction oi the term
slave or slavery into the Constitution; for!
he said that he did not wish to sec it recog-,
mzed tiy the Constitution ot the United euced by what appears to them to be their
States of America thatthere could be prop- present emergent ami exigent interest. I
erty in men. Now, sir, all this took place impute to the South no particularly selfish
st the Convention in I7S7; but connected ' view in the change which has come over
with 1 lus. concurrent and couteinporane-' her. I impute to her certainly no dishonest
oils is another important transaction not view. All that has happened has been
sufficiently attended to. The Convention natural. It his followed those causes which
for framing this constitution assembled in always influence the human mind and ope
Phd.idelphia in Alay, and sat until Septem- rate upon it. What, then, have been the
her, 17S7. During all that time the Con- causes which have created so new a feeling
gress of the United States was in session at in favor of -slavery in the South
New York. It was a matter of design, as' which has changed the whole nomenclature
we know, that the Conv ention should not of the South 011 the subject and from be
assemble in the same city where the Con- ing thought of and described in the terms
gress was holding its sessions. Almost all j I have mentioned and will not repeat, it has
the public men of the country, therefore, 1 now become an institution, a cherished iu
of distinction and eminence, were in one or . stitution in that quarter; no evil, no scourge,
the other of these two assemblies ; and I ' but a great religious, social and moral bles
think it happened in some instances that sing, as I think I have heard it latterly de
the same gentlemen were members of both. 1 scribed ? I suppose this, sir, is owing
If I mistake not, tuch was the case of Mr. to the sudnen uprising and rapid growth
Rufus King, then a member of Congress 'of the cotton plantations of the
from Massachusetts, aud at the same time, the South. So far as any motive of honor,
a member of the Convention to frame the ; justxe, and general judgment could act.it
Constitution, from that State. Now, it was! was the cotton interest that gave a new
in the summer of 1787, the very time when ( desire to promote slavery, to spread it and
the Convention in Philadelphia was framing 1 use its labor. I again say that that was
this Constitution, that the Congress in New
lork was framing the ordinance or li87.
They passed that ordinance on the 13th of
I B, at New York, the very mouth, per
haps the very day, on which these questions
about the importation of slaves and the
character of slavery were debated in the
Convention at Philadelphia. And so far as
we can now learn, there was a perfect con
currence of opinion between these respec
tive bodies; and it resulted in this ordin
ance of 1787, excluding slavery as applied
to all the territory over which the Congress
of the United States had jurisdiction, and
that was all the territory northwest of the
Ohio. Three years before, Virginia and
other States had made a cession of that
great territory to the United States. And
a most magnificent act it was. I never re
flect upon it without a disposition to do
honor and justice and justice would be
the highest honor to Virginia for that act
of cession of her northwestern territory.
I will say, sir, that it is one of her fairest
claims to the respect and gratitude of the
United States, and that perhaps it is only
second to that other claim which attaches
toher; that, from her counsels, and from
the intelligence and patriotism of her lead-
ing statesmen, proceeded the first idea put
into practice for the formation of a general
Constitution of the United Stales. Now,
sir, the ordinance of 1787 applied thus to
the whole territory over whieh the Congress
of the United States had jurisdiction. It
was adopted nearly three years befcre the
Constitution of the.United States went into
operation ; because the ordinance took ef
fect immediately on its passage, while the
Constitution of the United Stales, bavin"
jbeen framed, was to be sent to the States
to he adopted by their Conventions; and
then a Government had to be organized
under it. This ordinance, then, was in oo-
eraion and force when the Constitution
was adopted and this Government put in
mof.on, in April, 17i9.
Air. President, three things are quite
clear as historical truths. One is, that there
was an expectation that, on the ceasing of
the importation of slaves from Africa, slave
ry vould begin to run out. That was hoped
and expected. Another is, thai as far as
there was any power in Congress to prevent
tl.e spread of slavery in the United States,
1 mau power was cxecuieu in ine most auso-
bite manner and to the fullest extent. An
, honorable member whose health does not
alloir him to be here to day-
A StixATon. He is here. Referring to
Mr. Calhoun.)
.Mi. WEfiSTER. I am happy to hear
that lie is may he long be in health and
the enjoyment of it to serve his country
said the other day, that he considered this
ordinance as the first 111 the series of meas
ures calculated to enfeeble the South and
deprive them of their just participation in
the benefits and privileges of this Govern
ment. He sijs very properly that it was
done under the old confederation and be
fore tins) Constitution went into effect; but
vas a Northern man. Rut, sir, the ordiu-
ince abolishing, or rather prohibiting, sla
very northwest of the Ohio, has the hand
and seal of every Southern member in Con
gress. The other, and third clear histori
cal truth is, that the Convention meant to
leave slavery, in theStatesras they found it,
entirely under the authority and control of
the States.
This was the state of things, sir, and this
the slate of opinion, under which those
very important matters were arranged, and
those two important things done; that is,
the establishment of the Constitution with
and Mrong 111 its support,
Sir, there is no genen
leneration of mankind
whose opinions are not subject to be influ-
produced by the causes which we must al
ways expect to produce like effects; their
whole interests became connected with it.
If we look back to the history or the com
merce or this country at the eaily years or
Government, what wero our exports I
Cotton was hardly, or but to a very limited
extent, known. The tables will show that
the exports or cotton for the year 1790 and
'01 were not more than forty or fifty thou
sand dollars a year. It has gone on in
creasing rapidly until it may now perhaps,
in a season or great and productive high
prices amount to a hundred millions of dol
lars. In the years Ihav e mentioned there was
more or wax, more of indigo, more or rice,
more of almost every article or export from
the South than of cotton. I think I hare
heard it said, when Mr. Jay negotiated the
treaty of 1794 with England, he did not
know that cotton was exported at all from
the United States; and I hare heard it said
that, after the treaty which gave to the Uni
ted States the right to carry their own com
modities to England in their own ships,
the custom-house in London refused to ad
mit cotton, upon an allegation that it could
not be an American production, there be
ing as they supposed, no cutton raised in
America. They would hardly think so
now !
Well, sir, we know what followed. The
age of cotton became a golden age for our
I Southern brethren. It gratified their desire 1
lor improvement and accumulation at thecoma vveaKen the lorce of it ; because it
same lime it excited it. The desire grew j stands here on the ground of a contract, a
by what it fed upon, and there soon cairej thing done for a consideration. It is a law
lo be an eagerness for oilier territory, a new t founded oa a contract withTexas and design
area or new areas for the cultivation of the led to carry that contract into efTect. A rec
cotton crop, and measures leading to this j oguitiou founded not any consideration, or
result were brought about rapidly, one after ; any contract, would not be so strong as it
another, under the lead of Southern men at j now stands on the face of the resolution.
the head of the government, they having a Now I know no way, I candidly confess, in
majority in both branches to accomplish ; which this Government, acting in good faith
their ends. The honerable member from j as I trust it always will, can relieve itself
S. Carolina observed that there has been a ' from that stipulation and pledge, by any
majority all along in favor of the North. If honest course of legislation whatever. And
that be true, sir, the North has acted very i therefore, I say again, that, so far as Texas
liberally and kindly, or very weakly; for is concerned the whole of Texas south of
Ihey never exercised that majority live ; 36 deg. 30m., which I suppose embraces all
times in the history of the Government. 1 the slave territory there is no land, not an
Never. Whether they were outgcneralled, ! acre, the character of which is not estab
or whether it was owing to other causes, 1 lished by law, a law which cannot be re
shall not stop to consider, but no man ac-1 pealed without the violation of .1 contract,
quainicd with the history of the coun'ry can ; and plain disregard of the public faith,
deny, that the general lead 111 the politics ofj I Impa, sir, it h n-r appi-ent that my propo
tbe country for three fourths or the period . si,ion- s" 13 Tca is concerned, haa been
that has c-lap.-ed since the adoption or the ''""Gained ; and the provision 111 this article
, o .1 11 ! and it das been well suggested by my friend
Constitution, has been a Southern lead.-, ro,n RhoiIe IsIanJ nt tofTexL which
In Is32, 111 pursuit of the idea of opening a lies north or lliirty-four degrees of north Iati
new collon region, the United Stales ub-j tude may be formed into free States is (.'epfnd
taiued a cession from Georgia of the whole . ent in like manner, upon the consent of Tcsis,
of her Western Territory, now embracing herself a stave Stale.
the rich aud growing State of Alabama. In 1 V"e11. n"w' ilr' l'w C3me ll''3 ? IIoiT C3ra0
1S03 Louisiana was purchased from France, , !' "i'lll!n lhVe ?aU?h'n il by the
mil III which inu 01 a its in Louisiana, 11-
1 t .1 c?. .. 1
kansa3 and .Missouri have been formed,
as slaveholiliug States. In 1819 the ses
sion of Florida was made, bringing another
cession or slaveholding properly and terri
tory. Sir, the honorable member lrra
South Carolina thought he saw in
certain
r .1 f . 1 .1 " aa " Kt 3 " .Jvuiiiciii tutva. ill int. iiuuu
operations of he Government, such as the ! of Ut.preicmatives it st0,!dj , ,m.k, about eighty
manner of collecting the revenue and the Southern votes for the adimss on of Texas, and
tendency of those measures to promote about filly Northern votes for the eJ.nisaion of
emigration into the country, what accounts j Texas. In ihe Senate the vote stood for the ad
fiir the more rapid growth of the North than mission of Texas twenty-seven, and twenty fivo
the South. lie thinks that more rapid
growth not the operatiun of lime, but ofihej
system of Got eminent established under this
Constitution. That is a matter or opinion.
To a certain extent it may he so; but it
does seem to me that it' any operation of
the Government should be shown in any
degree to have promoted the population,
and growth, and wealth or the North, it is
much more sure that there are sundry im
portant and distinct operations of the Gov
erumeui, about which no man can doubt,
tenduig.to promote, and which absolutely
have promoted, the increase of the slave
interest and the slave territory ol the South,
,lt..,r . o 1.. ;, nut mi.. ,1,..,
brought in Louisiana; it was tl.e act of men. . " ' tr Houw, and oneilf hyc.
1 , 0 , : , . - r.1 -. "ere was one vote for it 111 Alaine, but I in
11 was not lime mat urougui 111 r loriua ; 11 hlp,y to say not ,hc votB 0flhe .r,l(lo m3;n.
was the act of men. And lastly, sir, to uer ,0 addr-ssed the Senate the day before
complete those actsor men which have con- vrsierday, (Mr. Hamlin,) and who was then a
trihuled so much to enlarge the area aud Repicsentiuve from Maine in the oilier House;
the sphere of the institution or slavery, lhpro was " te or two from Almnj aye,
Texas, great and vast and illimitable Texas, "d U'fe was one vote for it from Massichu
was added lo the Union as a slave State in 1 e"' ,he sent e.nan then reprwenunff, and now
, 1111 hung. 111 the district in vvlucn the prevalence e-t
la-lo; and, sir, pretty much closed the . Frec serill,IU!nt for a C0.J)le ot.elrs or ao
whole chapter and settled the whole ac- has defeated the choice or any ineufbs-r to rep
count. That closed the whole chapter resent it 111 Congress. Sir, that boily or North
that settled the whole account, because thej em and Eastern men, who pave those voles at
annexation or Texas upon the conditions ' t,iat lune, are nuw seen taking upon themselves,
and under the guaranties upon wind, she the nomenclature or polotics, the appellation
was admitted, .lid not leave an acre or land , ''"VX0"1"",. Thry undertook
, , , . ' ,. . , , 1 11 to wield the destinies or llns empir if I may
capable of being cultivated by shve labor, ,., repblc u ireand t, piJicy WJ,
between this capitol and the Rio Granne or anj t,ey pcra,,te(i ; t lo btj.r into this coun
the Nueces, or whatever is the proper j try all the territory they could." They did it un
boundary or Texas not an acre, not one. .der pledges absolute pledges to slave intcrrst
From that moment the whole country from f "' "'e case of Texas, and afterwards they lent
this place to the western boundary ofPexas, 1 ,'jel' alli '", bri"K'n2 " these new cor.rpieits.
was fixed, pledged, raslencd, decided, to Myj'norable friend Iron. Georgia, .11 March,
, , ! r 1.1 1 , l&l, moved ihe Senate lo declare Ihat the war
be slave territory rorever by the solemn 0UgU nol to be pro6eiUteiI for acquiiition, for
guaranties or law. And 1 now say, sir, a- cmlfmcsi, for the dismemberment ot Mexico.
the proposition upon which I stand this day 1 The same Northern Democracy entirely voted
and upo;i the truth and .irmncss or which I against i'. He did not get a vote from them. It
intend to act until it is overthrown, that suited the views, the patriotism, Ihe elevated sen
there is not at this moment wilhiu the Uni- Hmems of the Northern Democracy to bring ia
led Stales, a single foot oHa...!, the char- rld here, aniong the mountains -nJ vall.yj
,.'.., . . , . c of Lalilnrma and New Mexico, oranv othcrpart
acterol which, in regard to ls being free ,.f Mexico, and then quarrel about it -to bring
soil territory or slave territory, is not fixed in aild ,JPn endeavor to put upon it the sav
by some law, aud some irrepealable law u,s grace of the Wiln-.ot proviso. There were
beyond the power of the action or this Gov- two eminent and highly respectable gentlemen
eminent. Now, is it not so in respect to , rrom the Noith and East, then leading gcntle
Texas? Why, it is most manifestly so. lncn in l"'3 Senate I refer, and I do so with
The honorable member from Soutli Caroli- entire respect, for I entertain for both of those
. ., .- r ., 1 . r'p gentlemen in general high regard, to Mr UiX, of
na at the lime of the adm.ss on oT I exas, Vorfc Mf Kl.- 0fCu,;u0Ctltuctj w'fa3
held an important post 111 the Lxecutive voted fur tlm n.h.-ii.s.irm i.f Tra-j- Th-v would
.Department ir the Government ; he was ,
' c? . ..r o.-.., a 1...- . : 1
jecietaiy ui oiaic. .iiiioiitci ciiiuicui jici- j
son r great activity and adroitness, I mean
the late Secretary or the Treasury, (Air. I
Walker,) was a leading member or this !
bodv. and took the lead in the business of
'annexation; and I must say that they did
I their business faithfully and thoroughly ;
1 there was no hotcii left 111 it. They round
ed it off, and made as close joiner-work as
ever was put together. Resolutions or au-i "Core iliose gentlemen, and the Spcretary had
'nexatinn were brought into Congress fitly ,,,e uoldnesa and candor lo avow m that corres
1 joined together- compact, firm, efficient, r'"''ence the great object sought by the an.
1 .. ,t. . . i - . i- 1 1 nctation or I exas wps to strengthen the slave
conclusive
upon the great object winch
they have
111 view, and those resolutions
passed.
j
It is
Allow me to read the resolution.
the third clause of the second section of the
resolution of the 1st .March, 184o, Tor the
admission or Texas, which applies to this
partol the case,
words :
rli I . ,
1 he clause reads in these
"us
" New States of convenient size, not ex- upon itis ground: that" Great Britain had an
ceeding four in number, in addition to said nounced to this country, in so many word, that
Stateof Texas, and having sulEcient popu-
latum, may hereafter, by the consent or
said State, he formed out of the Territory
thereof, which shall be entitled to admission
under the provisions of the Federal Consti
tution. And such States as may be form
ed out or that portion or said Territory Iy
ing South or thirty-six degrees thirty min
utes north latitude, commonly known as
the Missouri compromise line, shall be ad
mitted into the Uuioii with or without slave
ry, as the people of each State asking ad
mission may desire; and in such Stale or
States as shall be formed out of said Terri
tory north of said Missouri compromise
line, slavery or involuntary servitude (ex
cept for crime) shall be prohibited."
Now what is here stipulated, enacted,
secured t It is, that all Texas south or 36
deg. 40m., which is nearly the whole of it,
shall be admitted into the Union as a slave
State. It was a slave State and therefore
camem asaelave State, and the guaranty
is that new sutes shall be made out or it, and
such states as are fbrraed out of that portion
of Texas lying south of 36 deg. 30m. may
come in as slave statesto the number of four,
in addition to the state then in existence, and
admitted at that time by these resolutions.
I know no form of legislation which can
strengthen it. I know nomodeof recogni
tion that can add a tittle of vvght toit. T
listened attentively to the resolutions of my
li,.,,rM--,l,U r.;.,.l r rp it-nn
... Muit. tiiu turn x ciujcsscc y,iiii uen.y
He proposed to recognize that stipuatlon
with Texas. But any additional recognition
1 iiuiiuiauiu ineiitutrr mini ouuiii iari:ina uiai uic
tree States have a inijority--lhu res.ihiiion or
annexation, such as I have described it, found a
majority in both Homes or Congress? Why,
sir, it found that majority by the great additiou
of Northern votes added to the en' ire Southern
vole, or at least nearly ihe whole of ihe Sauth-
ern toles- I'"31 m'jority was made up ofNartb-
ei 11 as wen as 01 ooumern vines, inineuouse
: and ot those twenty-seven votes.con-
stunting a majority for the admission ot lexis
m tins body, no less than thirteen ot thctn cams
from the free Slates four of them were from
New Eiiglrml. The wnole of thcie thirteen
S-nJtnrs from the free States within a fraction,
you see, of one half el all the votes in this bod
lor the cduiission of Texas, with us i:n Measura
ble extent of slave territory were sent here by
the votes of free States.
Sir, there is not so remarkable a chipter iu
our history or political events, political parties,
and political men, as is afforded by t.ns measure
(or the admission or Texas, with this iin.iien9i
territory, that a bird cannot fly over in a week.
Laughter. Sir, New England, wr.h gome or
Her vote?, supported this menure. 1 brec fourths
ni me voiesor iioerty-loviiig uonntci -ut went
not have that vote any other way lhan as it stood;
1.1 . . . 11 . . 1-
ami iney wouiu nave 11 as 11 uiu sianu. 1 speaK
of the vote' upon thu nnexation ol" Texai.
Those two gentlemen would have the resolution
",1 annexation jost as it w, nnd their eye weru
"?m " '"onoraDie MtnJ, ine
meuibcr who adJressed cs the other day, from
South Carolina, was then Secretary ol State.
His correspondence with Air Jlnrpliy.the chargo
d'affaires of the United States in Texas, bad
been published. That corrrsDoi.dei.ce v-as all
mteiest ot the Smth.
many irords
Why, sir, he said in so
Air CALHOUN. Will the honorable Sena'or
permit me to interrupt him for moment ?
Mr WEBSTER. Certainly.
Air CALHOUN. I am very reluctint to in
terrupt the honorable gentleman; but unau a
1. : ." t 1 . . . .
IMJllll Ul CU lllUl.ll llllLMJIlllUU, 1 Ofdn It Tr'nt 19
myself redul in f djJ B ft
l,er object was to nbolish slavery in Texas, and
through Texas to accomplish the abolishment of
shivery in the United Siaies and thu world.
The ground I put it on was, that ll would make
an exposed frontier, and, it" Greut Britain suc
ceeded in bcr object, it would be impo-sible tint
that fro.itier could be secured agau.it tlm ag
gression of the abolitionists; and tin t thu Guv
einment was bound, under gnarai.tiw of tha
Comtitutioii, lo protect us agaiiuil such a state of
tilings.
Air WEBSTER. Tint co-ne, I fuppose, sir,
to exactly the same thing. It wj, that Texis
uiuet be obtained for the security of ihoslave in.
terest or I ho Souih.
Mr CALHOUN. Another view ii very dis
tinctly given.
Air WEBSTER. Th&t was the object set
forth in the correspondence of a worthy gentle
man not now living, who preceded thoLonurablj
member Irom South Carolina in tint utSco.
TI ere repose on the riles of the Department of
State, ai 1 bare occasion to know, itrong letter