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Smart, Ephraim Knight : Free Territory. Speech of Mr. E. K. Smart, of Maine, on the Oregon Territorial Bill. Delivered in the House of Representatives, Tuesday, March 28, 1848

Printed at the Congressional Globe Office, Washington, D.C., 1848

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers. Text printed in black ink. 5 3/4" x 9." Eight pages, complete. Pages are clean and intact except for light age toning, small occasional spots of foxing or discoloration, a few faint dampstains limited to edges and spine, and slight chipping and splitting along spine. A Very Good copy. A speech that was originally delivered before the United States House of Representatives on March 28, 1848 by Ephraim Knight Smart (1813-1872), an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from Maine from 1847-1849 and 1851-1853. He was a Democrat. In this speech, Smart voices his support for legislation that will restrict or ban slavery in free territories. Smart states that he views himself as a representative of the people of Maine, thus he will act according to their beliefs about free and slave states. Smart reads "virtual instructions" from the Maine legislature to its delegation in Congress in which the people of Maine declared their pointed opposition to the expansion of slavery. Smart briefly discusses the Mexican-American War, the annexation of Texas, and the recent acquisitions of California and New Mexico. He disputes claims made by slaveholders that newly acquired territories resulting from the Mexican-American War are free and open to pro-slavery policies. He contends that if slavery were to be permitted in these new territories, it would only benefit slaveholders. In addition, he argues that if abolition were to prevail in these territories, it would benefit both abolitionists and slaveholders. Smart also contends that the spread of slavery must be culled as it has already reached into the North beyond the parallel laid out by the Missouri Compromise. One of his last arguments in favor of banning slavery in new U.S. territories is that slavery threatens the economy made by free laborers. Smart notes that most of the European immigrants who came to the U.S. recently have settled in free states. He contends that slavery drives away free laborers and thus ruins their employment and economic opportunities.. Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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