Book Description

Excerpt from Speech of Hon. David S. Kaufman, of Texas, on the Slavery Question: Delivered in the House of Representatives, February 10, 1847 The following Bill, reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, being under consideration in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, viz: A Bill making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations. Whereas war exists between these United States and the Republic of Mexico, and assurances have been given to the Government of Mexico of the President's wish to settle all questions between the two countries on liberal and satisfactory terms to each, and their mutual interest and security; and the President may be able to conclude peace with the republic of Mexico prior to the next session of Congress, if means for that object are at his disposal: And whereas, in the adjustment of the many complicated questions between the two countries, it may happen that an expenditure of money will be called for by the stipulations of any treaty which may be entered into: Therefore, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the sum of thirty thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the President to enter upon negotiations for the restoration of peace with Mexico; and also the sum of three millions of dollars be hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the President to conclude a treaty of peace with the republic of Mexico, to be used by him in the event that said treaty, when duly ratified by Mexico, shall call for the expenditure of the same, or any part thereof: Provided, That full and accurate accounts of all these expenditures shall be by him transmitted to Congress as soon as practicable: The following was offered as an additional section to said bill, by Mr. Wilmot, of Pennsylvania: Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any Territory on the continent of America which shall hereafter be acquired by, or annexed to, the United States by virtue of this appropriation, or in any other manner whatever, except for crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted: Provided, always, That any person escaping into such territory from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in anyone of the United States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed out of said territory to the person claiming his or her labor or service: Mr. Kaufman rose and addressed the committee as follows: Mr. Chairman: In the remarks which I propose to submit to the consideration of this committee, it is not my intention to reply to the low abuse which was some time since uttered by a member from New York, (Mr. Culver.) I have too much respect for the State I in part represent here, for the Democratic party, and for myself, to do so. I honor and respect the great "Empire State" of this Union, and for many of her Representatives on this floor I entertain that regard which ability and integrity are always sure to engender. But, sir, when I see a Representative so far forget himself as to indulge in language unbecoming this great Council Chamber of the American Union, whether against the State I represent, or the party to which I have the honor to belong, the words of such a man "pass by me as the idle wind, which I regard not." Texas needs no eulogy from me, one of the humblest of her sons. Her history, though short, is brilliant, and her acts are at once the monument and vindication of her fame. Her daring resistance to Mexican oppression; her immortal victory achieved under the auspices of the lone star on the plains of San Jacinto, resulting as it did in the capture of the blood-stained tyrant who now "frets his hour"