JUNE 18, 1850.
Yesterday Mr.
Webster made his last and special declaration. A motion was pending, that it
should be no objection to the admission of any State hereafter to be formed out
of the territory ceded by Mexico, that is, California, Utah, or New
Mexico,—that its constitution should recognize or provide for or establish
slavery. The present Congress, it is admitted on all hands, has no power to act
on that subject; but the movement was designed to give some moral power to the
claims of slavery hereafter, should such claims be made. Mr. Webster took a
retrospect of his whole course since the 7th
of March speech, his Newburyport letter, &c., and declared that he had
seen, heard, and reflected nothing which had not confirmed him in the soundness
of his opinion; and so, in the most solemn manner, he declared his purpose to
go for the bill. I think it will pass the Senate beyond all question. I fear it
will also pass the House. It is said that Mr. Clay put in the provision about
buying out the claims of Texas at some eight or ten or twelve millions of
dollars, for the very purpose of securing a sufficient number of votes to carry
it.
The Texan debt
consists of bonds or scrip, which, at the time the Compromise Bill was brought
in, was not worth more than four or five cents on the dollar: but the same
stock is said to be now worth fifty per cent; and, should the bill pass, the
stock will be worth a premium. Now, where so many persons are interested, will
they not influence members? May not members themselves be influenced by
becoming owners of this stock? It affords at least a chance for unrighteous
proceedings; and, should the bill pass, there are members who will not escape
imputation and suspicion.
A rumor has reached
us from New Mexico, that the people are taking steps there to call a convention
for the formation of a State Constitution. Should this prove authentic, as most
people here think it will, and should they put a proviso against slavery in
their constitution, would it not look like a godsend, like a special
providence, notwithstanding all we say about that class of events?
Oh, may it turn out
to be so!
SOURCE: Mary Tyler
Peabody Mann, Life of Horace Mann, p. 303-4
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