Resolved. That our fathers ordained the Constitution of the United States, in order, among other great national objects, to establish justice, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty; but expressly denied to the Federal Government, which they created, all constitutional power to deprive any person of life liberty or property, without due legal process. Resolved, That in the judgment of this Convention, Congress has no more power to make a Slave than to make a King: no more power to institute or establish Slavery than to institute or establish a Monarchy: no such power can be found among those specifically conferred by the Constitution, or derived by just implication from them. Resolved, That it is the duty of the Federal Government to relieve itself from all responsibility for the existence or continuance of slavery wherever the government possesses constitutional authority to legislate on that subject, and it is thus responsible for its existence. Resolved, That the true, and in the judgment of this Convention, the only safe means of preventing the extension of Slavery into Territory now Free, is to prohibit its extension in all such Territory by au act of Congress. Resolved, That we accept the issue which the slave power has forced upon us; and to their demand for more Slave States, and more slave Territory, our calm but final answer is, no more Slave States and no more Slave Territory. Let the soil of our extensive domains be kept free for the hardy pioneers of our own land, and the oppressed and banished of other lands, seeking homes of comfort and fields of enterprise in the new world. Resolved, That the bill lately reported by the committee of eight in the Senate of the United States, was no compromise, but an absolute surrender of the rights of the Non-Slaveholders of all the States; and while we rejoice to know that a measure which, while opening the door for the introduction of Slavery into Territories now free, would also have opened the door to litigation and strife among the future inhabitants thereof, to the ruin of their peace and prosperity, was defeated in the House of Representatives, its passage, in hot haste, by a majority, embracing several Senators who voted in open violation of the known will of their constituents, should warn the people to see to it, that their representatives be not suffered to betray them. There must be no more Compromise with Slavery; if made they must be repealed. Resolved, That we demand freedom and established institutions for our brethren in Oregon, now exposed to hardships, peril and massacre by the reckless hostility of the Slave Power to the establishment of Free Government and Free Territories; and not only for them, but for our new brethren in California and New Mexico. Resolved, It is due not only to this occasion, but to the whole people of the United States, that we should also declare ourselves on certain other questions of National Policy; therefore, Resolved, That we demand Cheap Postage for the people; a retrenchment of the expenses and patronage of the Federal Government; the abolition of all unnecessary offices and salaries; and the election by the people of all civil officers in the service of the government, so far as the same may be practicable. Resolved, That River and Harbor improvements, when demanded by the safety and convenience of commerce with foreign nations, or among the several States, are objects of national concern, and that it is the duty of Congress, in the exercise of its constitutional power, to provide therefor. Resolved, That the free grant to actual settlers, in consideration of the expenses they incur in making settlements in the wilderness, which are usually fully equal to their actual cost, and of the public benefits resulting therefrom, of reasonable portions of the public lands, under suitable limitations, is a wise and just measure of public policy, which will promote in various ways the interests of all the States of this Union; and we therefore recommend it to the favorable consideration of the American people. Resolved, That the obligations of honor and patriotism require the earliest practical payment of the national debt, and we are therefore in favor of such a tariff of duties as will raise revenue adequate to defray the necessary expenses of the Federal Government, and to pay annual instalments of our debt and the interest thereon. Resolved, That we inscribe on our own banner, "Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men," and under it we will fight on, and fight ever, until a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions. The term "Hunkers" was used to designate the conservative wing of the Democratic party, while the word "Barnburners" was applied to the other wing in allusion to the thick-headed farmer who burned his barns in order to free them from rats and mice. The Liberty League, forming a split in the Liberty party, held a State Convention at Port Byron, N. Y., in June, 1845, in which an address setting forth the unconstitutionality of slavery was read and printed but not adopted. In June, 1847, another convention was assembled at Macedon, N. Y., by the men who accepted the sentiments of the rejected address, and nominated Gerrit Smith and Elihu Burritt as its nominees. It was then sought to gain the support of the "Liberty Party" or Buffalo Convention, (which was held in October following) for these candidates, but in vain. The motto of this little party was, "Duty is ours, results are God's." The League met again at Auburn, N. Y., in January, 1848, and called a National Convention to assemble at Buffalo in January following, and adopted two addresses, one to the colored people of the free States and the other to the people of the United States. Mr. Smith was renominated, and Elihu Burritt having declined the com pliment, C. C. Foot, of Michigan, was substituted. In a speech given by Mr. Smith, occurred these words: "God gave civil government, I had well nigh said, to be on terms of companionship with the poor. Certain it is that he gave it chiefly for the purpose of protecting the rights of those who are too poor, ignorant and weak to protect themselves." And in the following words, he magnified the occupation of assisting slaves to secure their freedom, when he said, "As I live and as God lives, there is not on earth a more honorable employment. There is not in all the world a more honorable tombstone than that on which the slaveholder would inscribe 'Here lies a slave-stealer."" On account of the extreme views which were entertained by the Liberty League it failed to develop any popular strength; but through the great ability of its leaders, by their power of voice and pen, it became very efficient in disseminating abolition sentiments and in exposing the horrors of that relic of barbarism-slavery. VIII. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The public debt was nearly doubled on account of the war, or more exactly, an increase of $23,778,691. "In levying a tariff of duties for the support of government, the raising of revenue should be the object, and protection the incident."-Polk's message. Year. Public Debt. Expenditures. Exports. Imports. IX. OUTLINE OF CONCURRENT EVENTS. England: Sir John Franklin, (with Captains Crozier and Fitzjames,) sailed in the Erebus and Terror on an Artic Expedition from which he never returned, May 24, 1845. Corn Laws repealed, June 26, 1846. A fund of $50,000,000 voted for the relief of Irish sufferers by the great famine, May 15, 1847. Smith O'Brien, with others, condemned to death for inciting the Irish to rebellion, Oct. 9, 1848, but sentence changed to transportation for life, July 9, 1849, and a full pardon granted, May 3, 1856. France: Lecompte attempted to kill Louis Philippe, April 16; Louis Napoleon escaped from the fortress of Ham, May 25; Louis Philippe's life attempted by Joseph Henri, July 29, 1846; commencement of Revolution and resignation of M. Guizot, Feb. 22; abdication of Louis Phillippe in favor of the Count de Paris (grandson) and escaped with his family, Feb. 24; the Republic proclaimed and a provisional government (composed of Dupont de l'Eure, Lamertine, Arago, Marie, Garnier Pagès, Leru Rollin, and Crémieux), established Feb. 26; perpetual banishment of Louis Philippe declared by the National Assembly, May 30; Louis Napoleon elected member of the Assembly, June 13; Gen. Cavaignac elected President of the Council, June 28; Louis Napoleon declared President elect of the Republic, Dec. 20, 1848. Rome: Cardinal Mastai Ferreti elected Pope under title of Pius IX, June 16, 1846; Roman Republic proclaimed Feb. 5, 1849. Insurrections in Spain, Sicily, Portugal and Venice, 1846-48. CHAPTER XI. THE ADMINISTRATION OF TAYLOR AND FILLMORE Whig, One Term, 1849 to 1853. I. CABINET. PRESIDENTS. 1849. Zachary Taylor, Louisiana. (Died July 1850.) 1850. Millard Fillmore, New York. VICE PRESIDENT. 1849. Millard Fillmore, New York. SECRETARIES OF STATE. 1849. John M. Clayton, Delaware. 1850. Daniel Webster, Massachusetts. 1852. Edward Everett, Massachusetts. SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY. 1849. William M. Meredith, Pennsylvania. 1850. Thomas Corwin, Ohio. SECRETARIES OF WAR. 1849. George W. Crawford, Georgia. 1850. Edmund Bates, (declined.) 1850. Charles M. Conrad, Louisiana. SECRETARIES OF THE NAVY. 1849. William B. Preston, Virginia. |