ILLINOIS.-Orlando B. Ficklin, Joseph P. Hoge, Robert | aforesaid was agreed to-Yeas, 118; Nuys, Smith-8. Total Democrats from Free States, 17. December 12th.-Mr. C. J. Ingersoll, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a Joint Resolution for annexing Texas to the Union, which was committed and discussed in Committee of the Whole from time to time, through the next month. January 7th.-Mr. J. P. Hale presented resolves of the Legislature of New-Hampshire, thoroughly in favor of Annexation, and silent on the subject of Slavery, except as follows: Resolved, That we agree with Mr. Clay, that the reannexation of Texas will add more Free than Slave States to the Union; and that it would be unwise to refuse a permanent acquisition, which will exist as long as the globe remains, on account of a temporary institution. January 13th.-Mr. Cave Johnson, of Tennessee, moved that all further debate on this subject be closed at 2 P.M. on Thursday next. Carried-Yeas, 136; Nays, 57; (nearly all the Nays from Slave States.) January 25th.-The debate, after an extension of time, was at length brought to a close, and the Joint Resolution taken out of Committee, and reported to the House in the following form; (that portion relating to Slavery, having been added in Committee, on motion of Mr. Milton Brown, (Whig) of Tennessee: Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representa tives in Congress assembled, That Congress doth consent that the Territory properly included within, and rightfully belonging to, the Republic of Texas, may be erected into a new State, to be called the State of Texas, with a republican form of Government, to be adopted by the people of said Republic, by deputies in Convention assembled, with the consent of the existing Government, in order that the same may be admitted as one of the States of this Union. 2. And be it further resolved, That the foregoing consent of Congress is given upon the following conditions, and with the following guaranties, to wit: First. Said State to be formed, subject to the adjustment by this Government of all questions of boundary that may arise with other governments; and the Constitution thereof, with the proper evidence of its adoption by the people of said Republic of Texas, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, to be laid before Congress for its final action, on or before the 1st day of January, 1846. Second. Said State, when admitted into the Union, after ceding to the United States all public edifices,fortifications, barracks, ports and harbors. navy and navyyards, docks, magazines, arms, armaments, and all other property and means pertaining to the public defense, belonging to the said Republic of Texas, shall retain all the public funds, debts, taxes, and dues of every kind which may belong to, or be due or owing said Republic; and shall also retain all the vacant and unappropriated lands lying within its limits, to be applied to the payment of debts and liabilities of said Republic of Texas; and the residue of said lands, after discharging said debts and liabilities, to be disposed of as said State may direct: but in no event are said debts and liabilities to become a charge upon the United States. 101. Yeas-114 Democrats, and Messrs. Milton and Duncan L. Clinch, and Alexander H Brown, of Tennessee; James Dellet, of Alabama; Stephens, of Georgia, (4) Southern Whigs. with all from Slave States, but the four just Nays-all the Whigs present from Free States named; with the following Democrats from Free States: MAINE.-Robert P. Dunlap, Hannibal Hamlin-2. NEW-YORK-Joseph H. Anderson, Charles S. Benton, ..23. MICHIGAN. James B. Hunt, Robert McClelland-2. and all the Democrats from Free States, except those from Slave States except as above; with Nays-all the Whigs from Free States; all 23 Democrats from Free States. So the resolve passed the House, and was sent to the Senate for concurrence. In Senate, several attempts to originate action in favor of Annexation were made at this session, but nothing came of them. February 24th.-The joint resolution aforesaid from the House was taken up for cousideration by 30 Yeas to 11 Nays (all Northern Whigs). On the 27th, Mr. Walker, of Wisconsin, moved to add an alternative proposition, effecting the meditated end. contemplating negotiation as the means of Mr. Foster, (Whig) of Tennessee, proposed be formed out of that portion of the present Territory of That the State of Texas, and such other States as may Texas, lying south of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, commonly known as the Missouri Compromise line, shall be admitted into the Union with or without Slavery, as the people of each State, so hereafter asking admission, may desire. On which the question was taken. Yeas, (all Whigs but 3) 18; Nays, 34. Various amendments were proposed and voted Third. New States of convenient size, not exceeding down. Among them, Mr. Foster, of Tenn., four in number, in addition to said State of Texas, and moved an express stipulation that Slavery should having sufficient population,may hereafter, by the consent be tolerated in all States formed out of the of said State, be formed out of the Territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions Territory of Texas, south of the Missouri line of the Federal Constitution. And such States as may be of 36° 30'. formed out of that portion of said Territory, lying south Whigs, and Sevier, of Arkansas); Nays, 33. Rejected-Yeas, 16 (Southern of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, commonly known as the Missouri Compromise line, shall be admitted into the Union, with, or without Slavery, as the people of each State asking admission may desire; and in such State or States as shall be formed out of said Territory, north of said Missouri Compromise line, Slavery or involuntary servitude (except for crime) shali be prohibited. Mr. Cave Johnson, of Tennessee, moved the previous question, which the House secondedYeas, 113; Nays, 106-and then the amendment Mr. Miller, of N. J., moved that the existence of Slavery be forever prohibited in the northern and northwestern part of said Territory, west of the 100th degree of latitude west from Greenwich, so as to divide, as equally as may be, the whole of the annexed country between Slaveholding and Non-Slaveholding States. Yeas, 11; all Northern Whigs, except Mr. Crittenden, Ky. Nays, 33. The vote in the Senate on the joint resolution for Annexation stood, Yeas, 26, all Demo. crats but 3; Nays, 25, (all Whigs). In the House, Yeas 134, all Democrats but 1: Nays, 77, (all Whigs). THE WILMOT PROVISO. And whereas, Congress, in the organization of a territory, established a principle worthy of imitation in all torial government, at an early period of our political hisfuture time, forbidding the existence of Slavery in free territory; Therefore, Resolved, That in any Territory, that may be acTexas having been annexed during the sum- quired from Mexico, over which shall be established mer of 1845, in pursuance of the joint resolu-tude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the territorial governments, Slavery, or involuntary servition of the two Houses of Congress, a portion party shall have been duly convicted, shall be forever of the United States Army, under Gen. Taylor, prohibited; and that in any act or resolution establishwas, early in the spring of 1846, moved down ing such governments, a fundamental provision ought to to the east bank of the Rio Grande del Norte, claimed by Texas as her western boundary, but not so regarded by Mexico. A hostile collision ensued, resulting in war between the United States and Mexico. It was early thereafter deemed advisable that a considerable sum should be placed by Congress at the President's disposal to negotiate an advantageous Treaty of Peace and Limits with the Mexican Government. A message to this effect was submitted by President Polk to Congress, August 8th, 1846, and a bill in accordance with its suggestions laid before the House, which proceded to consider the subject in Committee of the Whole. The bill appropriating $30,000 for immediate use in negotiations with Mexico, and placing $2,000,000 more at the disposal of the President, to be employed in making peace, Mr. David Wilmot, of Pa., after consultation with other Northern Democrats, offered the following Proviso, in addition to the first section of the bill: Provided, That as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said Territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall be first duly convicted. This proviso was carried in Committee, by the strong vote of eighty-three to sixty-four-only three Members (Democrats) from the FreeStates, it was said, opposing it. (No record is made of individual votes in Committee of the Whole.) The bill was then reported to the House, and Mr. Rathbun, of N. Y., moved the previous question on its engrossment. Mr. Tibbatts, of Ky., moved that it do lie on the table. Defeated-Yeas, 79; (Stephen A. Douglas, John A. McClernand, John Pettit, and Robert C. Schenck, voting with the South to lay on the table;) Nays 93; (Henry Grider and William P. Thomasson, of Ky. (Whigs) voting with the North against it. The bill was then engrossed for its third reading by Yeas 85, Nays, 80; and thus passed without further division. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table-Yeas, 71; Nays, 83. So the bill was passed and sent to the Senate, where Mr. Dixon H. Lewis, of Alabama, moved that the Proviso aboye cited be stricken out; on which debate arose, and Mr. John Davis of Mass., was speaking when, at noon of August 10th, the time fixed for adjournment having arrived, both Houses adjourned without day. The XXXth Congress assembled Dec. 6, 1847. Feb. 28th 1848, Mr. Putnam of New-York moved the following: Whereas, In the settlement of the difficulties pending between this country and Mexico, territory may be acquired in which Slavery does not now exist. be inserted to that effect. Mr. R. Brodhead, of Penn., moved that this resolution lie on the table. Carried: Yeas, 105; Nays, 93. Yeas-all the members from Slave States, but John W. Houston (Whig), of Delaware, with the following from Free States (all Democrats but Levin): MAINE.-Asa W. H. Clapp, Franklin Clark, Jas. S. Wiley, Hezekiah Williams-4. NEW-YORK-Ausburn Birdsall, David S. Jackson, Frederick W. Lord, William B. Maclay-4. PENNSYLVANIA.-Richard Brodhead, Charles Brown, Lewis C. Levin, Job Man-4. OHIO.-William Kennon, jr., John K. Miller, Thomas Richey, William Sawyer-4 INDIANA. Charles W. Cathcart, Thomas J. Henley, John Pettit, John L. Robinson, William W. Wick-5. ILLINOIS. Orlando B. Ficklin, John A. McCleruand, William A. Richardson, Robert Smith, Thomas J. Turner-5. Nays-all the Whigs and a large majority of the Democrats from Free States, with John W. Houston aforesaid. This vote terminated all direct action in favor of the Wilmot Proviso for that Session. July 18th.-In Senate, Mr. Clayton, of Del., from the Select Committee to which was referred, on the 12th inst., the bill providing a territorial government for Oregon, reported a bill to establish Territorial governments for Oregon, New Mexico, aud California, which was read. (It proposed to submit all questions as to the rightful existence or extent of Slavery in the Territories to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States.) July, 24th.-Second reading. Mr. Baldwin, of Conn., moved to strike out so much of said bill as relates to California and New Mexico. both parties); Nays, 37. Rejected Yeas, 17 (Northern Free Soil men of The bill was discussed through several succeeding days. On the 26th, Mr. Clarke, of R. I., moved to add to the 6th section: of the provisional government of said Territory permit Provided, however, That no law, regulation, or act ting Slavery or involuntary servitude therein shall be valid, until the same shall be approved by Congress." Rejected: Yeas, 19 [Col. Benton, and 18 Northern Freesoilers of both parties]; Nays, 33. Mr. Reverdy Johnson, of Md., moved amend the bill by inserting: to Except only, that in all cases of title to slaves, the said writs of error or appeals shall be allowed and decided by the said Supreme Court without regard to the and except, also, that a writ of error or appeal shall value of the matter, property, or title in controversy; also be allowed to the Supreme Court of the United States from the decision of the said Supreme Court created by this act, or of any judge thereof, or of the district Courts created by this act, or of any judge upon any writ of habeas corpus involving the question of per sonal freedom. Carried; Yeas, 31 (all sorts); Nays, 19 (all Southern, but Bright, Dickinson, and Hannegan). Mr. Baldwin, of Connecticut, moved an addi tional section, as follows: Sec. 37. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the attorneys for said Territories, respectively, on the complaint of any person held in involuntary servitude therein. to make application in his behalf in due form of law, to the court next thereafter to be holden in said Territory, for a writ of habeas corpus, to be directed to the person so holding such applicant in service as aforesaid, and to pursue all needful measures in his behalf; and if the decision of such court shall be adverse to the application, or if, on the return of the writ, relief shall be denied to the applicant, on the ground that he is a slave held in servitude in said Territory, said attorney shall cause an appeal to be taken therefrom, and the record of all the proceedings in the case to be transmitted to the Supreme Court of the United States as speedily as may be, and to give notice thereof to the Attorney General of the United States, who shall prosecute the same before said Court, who shall proceed to hear and determine the same at the first term thereof. Yeas, 15 (all Northern, except Benton); Nays, 31. Mr. Davis, of Mass., moved to strike out section 12, and insert as follows: Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That so much of the sixth section of the ordinance of the 13th July, 1787, as is contained in the following words; viz. There shall be neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted,' shall be and remain in force in the Territory of Oregon. This was defeated; Yeas, 21; Nays, 33. The bill was then engrossed for a third reading; Yeas, 33; Nays, 22; as follows: Yeas For Clayton's Compromise: So Mr. Clayton's project of Compromise vas defeated. The next session of the same Congress opened under very different auspices. The Mexican War had been terminated, so that none could longer be deterred from voting for Slavery Exclusion by a fear that the prosecution of hostilities would thereby be embarrassed. General Taylor had been elected President, receiving the votes of Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Florida-a moiety of the Slave States-over Gen. Cass, now the avowed opponent of Slavery Restriction. Many of the Northern Democrats considered themselves absolved by this vote from all extra-constitutional obligations to the South, and voted accordingly. Dec. 13.-Mr. J. M. Root, of Ohio, offered the following: Resolved, That the Committee on Territories be instructed to report to this House, with as little delay as practicable, a bill or bills providing a Territorial Government for each of the Territories of New Mexico and California, and excluding Slavery therefrom. A call of the House was had, and the previous question ordered. Mr. W. P. Hall, of Mo., moved that the same do lie on the table. Lost: Yeas, 80; Nays, 106. The resolve then passed: Yeas, 108; Nays, 80, viz.: Yeas-All the Whigs from Free States, and all the Democrats, but those noted as Nays below, including the following, who had voted against the same principle at the former session : MAINE.-Asa W. H. Clapp, James S. Wiley-2. OHIO.-Thomas Richey-1. INDIANA.-Charles W. Cathcart, Thomas J. Henley, John L. Robinson, William W. Wick-4. ILLINOIS.-Robert Smith-1. Messrs. Clark and H. Williams, of Maine, Birdsall and Maclay, of New-York, Brodhead and Mann, of Pa., Pettit, of Ind., Ficklin and McClelland, of Ill., who voted with the South at the former session-now failed to vote. Mr. Jackson, of N. Y, who then voted with the South, had been succeeded by Mr. H. Greeley, who voted with the North. Nays-All the Members voting from the Slave States, with the following from the Free States: NEW-YORK.-Henry C. Murphy-1. PENNSYLVANIA.-Charles Brown, Charles J. Ingersoll-2. OHIO.-William Kennon, jun., John K. Miller, William Sawyer-8. ILLINOIS.-William A. Richardson-1. Total Nays from Free States-8. Mr. Robinson, of Ind., moved a reconsideration of this vote, which motion (Dec. 18), on motion of Mr. Wentworth, of Ill., was laid on the table: Yeas, 105; Nays, 83. The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill having passed the House in the usual form, came up to the Senate, where it was debated several days. Feb. 21st.-Mr. Walker, of Wisc., moved an amendment, extending all the laws of the United States, so far as applicable, to the Territories acquired from Mexico. Mr. Bell, of Tenn., moved to add further sections organizing the State of California, to be admitted into the Union on the 1st of October next. This was rejected: Yeas, 4 (Bell, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Davis); Nays, 39. Feb. 26th.-Mr. Dayton, of N. J., moved that the President be vested with power to provide a suitable temporary government for the Territories. Rejected: Yeas, 8; Nays, 47. The question recurred on Mr. Walker's amendment, which was carried: Yeas, 29; Nays, 27. The bill being returned to the House, thus MAINE-Hezekiah Williams-1. PENNSYLVANIA-Samuel A. Bridges, Richard Brod OREGON. Aug. 6, 1846. Mr. Douglas, from the Committee on Territories, reported to the House a bill organizing the Territory of Oregon. Said bill was discussed in Committee of the Whole, and the following amendment agreed to: And neither Slavery, nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in said Territory, except for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. On coming out of Committee, this amendment was agreed to-Yeas, 108; Nays, 44. (The head, Charles Brown, Charles J. Ingersoll, Lewis C. Nays are all Southern, but Charles J. Ingersoll, Levin-5. Total, thirteen from Free States; eighty-eight from Slave States. (Only two from Slave States absent or silent.) Nays-all the Whigs from Free States, and all the Democrats from Free States, except those named above. So the House refused to concur in this amendment, and the bill was returned to the Senate accordingly. Orlando B. Ficklin, and possibly one or two On the 23d, Mr. Douglas again reported his This Congress reassembled, Dec. 7th, 1846. bill to provide a Territorial government for Oregon, which was read twice and committed: The Senate resolved to insist on its amend- Jan. 11th, 1847, was discussed in Committee, ment, and ask a conference, which was granted, as also on the 12th and 14th, when it was but resulted in nothing. Messrs. Atherton, of resolved, to close the debate. On the 15th, it N. H., Dickinson, of N. Y., and Berrien, of Ga., was taken out of Committee, when Gen. Burt, were managers on the part of the Senate, and of S. C., moved the following addition (already insisted on its amendment, organizing the Ter-moved, debated, and voted down in Committee) ritories without restriction as to Slavery; to the clause forbidding Slavery in said TerriMessrs. Vinton, of Ohio, Nicoll, of N. Y., and Morehead, of Ky., were appointed on the part of the House. These, after a long sitting, reported their inability to agree, and were discharged. The bill being now returned to the House, Mr. McClernand, of Ill., moved that the House do recede from its disagreement. Carried: Yeas, 111; Nays, 106. Mr. R. W. Thompson, of Ind., moved that the House concur with the Senate, with an amendment, which was a substitute, extending the laws of the United States over saiu Territories, but leaving them unorganized,—— And that, until the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and fifty, unless Congress shall sooner provide for the government of said Territories, the existing laws thereof shall be retained and observed. The question being reached on amending the Senate's proposition as proposed by Mr. Thompson, it was carried: Yeas, 111; Nays, 105. (All the Southern members in the negative, with Levin and a few of the Northern Democrat; the residue, with all the Northern Whigs, in the affirmative.) The House now proceeded to agree to the Senate's amendment, as amended: Yeas, 110; Nays, 103, (the same as before; the friends of the Senate's proposition voting against it, as amended, and vice versa, on the understanding that Mr. Thompson's amendment would exclude Slavery.) The bill as thus amended being returned to the Senate, it refused to agree to the House's amendment, and receded from its own proposition; so the bill was passed and the session closed, with no provision for the government of the newly-acquired Territories. tory: Inasmuch as the whole of said Territory lies north of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, known as the line of the Missouri Compromise. The purpose of this is clear enough. It was intended to recognize the Missouri line, not as limited to the Territories possessed by the United States at the time said line was established, but as extending to all that has since been, or hereafter should be, acquired, so as to legalize Slavery in any Territory henceforth to be acquired by us south of 36° 30'. Mr. Burt's amendment was negatived: Yeas, 82; Nays, 114. The vote was very nearly sectional; but the following members from Free States voted in the minority: PENNSYLVANIA-Charles J. Ingersoll-1. No member from a Slave State voted in the majority. The bill then passed: Yeas, 134; Nays, 35, (all Southern). Jan. 15.-The bill reached the Senate, and was sent to the Judiciary Committee, consisting of 19, (all Whigs but Calhoun, of S. C., and Yulee | Mr. Houston, of Delaware, voting in the majority of Florida); Nays, 26, (24 Dem., with Corwin as before: otherwise, members from the Free of Ohio, and Johnson of Louisiana.) States in the affirmative; those from the lave Mr.Westcott, of Fla., immediately moved that States in the negative.] the bill do lie on the table, which prevailed: Aug. 3.-This bill reached the Senate, when Yeas, 26; Nays, 18 (a mixed vote, evidently Mr. Badger, of N. C., moved its indefinite postgoverned by various motives); but the nega-ponement: negatived, 47 to 1, (Yulee). It was tives were all Democrats, but Corwin and John- then sent to the Committee on Territories. son aforesaid. This being the last day of the The Senate had had under consideration, session, it was evident that the bill, if opposed, from time to time through the Session, a bill as it was certain to be, could not get through, of its own, reported by Mr. Douglas, which was and it was, doubtless, in behalf of other press- finally referred to a select Committee-Mr. Claying business that many Senators voted to lay ton, of Delaware, Chairman-and by said com. this aside. It was, of course, dead for the ses-mittee reported some days before the reception sion. of the House bill. It was then dropped. Dec. 6, 1847.-The XXXth Congress assembled; Robert C. Winthrop (Whig) of Mass. was chosen Speaker of the House. President Polk, in his Annual Message, regretted that Oregon had not already been organized, and urged the necessity of action on the subject. Feb. 9.-Mr. Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana, reported to the House a bill to establish the territorial government of Oregon; which, by a vote of two-thirds, was made a special order for March 14th. It was postponed, however, to the 28th; when it was taken up and discussed, as on one or two subsequent days. May 29th, it was again made a special order next after the Appropriation bills. The President that day sent a special message, urging action on this subject. July 25th, it was taken up in earnest; Mr. Wentworth, of Illinois, moving that debate on it in Committee cease at two o'clock this day. Mr. Geo. S. Houston, of Ala., endeavored to put this motion on the table. Defeated: Yeas 85; Nays 89, (nearly, but not fully, a sectional division). Mr. Geo. W. Jones, of Tenn., moved a reconsideration, which was carried: Yeas, 100; Nays, 88; and the resolution laid on the table: Yeas, 96; Nays, 90. The bill continued to be discussed, and finally (Aug. 1) was got out of Committee; when Mr. C. B. Smith moved the Previous Question thereon, which was ordered. Aug. 2.-The House came to a vote on an amendment made in Committee, whereby the following provision of the original bill was stricken out : That the inhabitants of said Territory shall be entitled to enjoy all and singular, the rights, privileges, and advantages granted and secured to the people of the Territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio, by the articles of compact contained in the ordinance for the government of said Territory, passed the 18th day of July, seventeen hundred and eighty-seven; and shall be subject to all the conditions, and restrictions, and probibitions in said articles of compact imposed upon the people of said territory, and The House refused to agree to this amendment: Yeas, 88; Nays, 114. The Members from the Free States who voted with the South to strike out, were NEW YORK.-Ausburn Birdsall-1. OHIO.-William Kennon, jun., John K. Miller-2. ILLINOIS.-Orlando B. Ficklin, John A. McClernand, William A, Richardson-3. INDIANA.-John L. Robinson, William W. Wick-2. Mr. John W. Houston of Delaware voted in the majority. 71. The bill was then passed: Yeas, 128; Nays, Aug. 5.-Mr. Douglas reported the House bill, with amendments, which were printed. Aug. 10. After some days' debate, the Senate proceeded to vote. Mr. Foote, of Miss., moved that the bill do lie on the table. De feated: Yeas, 15 (Southern); Nays, 36. On the question of agreeing to this amend ment: Inasmuch as the said Territory is north of thirty-six deg. thirty min., usually known as the [line of the] Mis souri Compromise. It was rejected: Yeas, 2 (Bright and Dou glas); Nays, 52. Mr. Douglas moved to amend the bill, by inserting after the word "enacted:" That the line of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude, known as the Missouri Com promise line, as defined in the eighth section of an act entitled, "An Act to authorize the people of the Missouri Territory to form a Constitutional and State Govern ment, and for the admission of such State into the Unionhibit Slavery in certain Territories, approved March 6th, on an equal footing with the original States, and to pro1820," be, and the same is hereby, declared to extend to the Pacific Ocean; and the said eighth section, together and declared to be in full force and binding, for the with the compromise therein effected, is hereby revived, future organization of the Territories of the United States in the same sense, and with the same understanding with which it was originally adopted; and Which was carried: Yeas, 38; Nays, 21; as fol lows: [This vote was almost completely sectional.ing: Yeas, 33; Nays, 22; (nearly the same as |