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Adams, Green : Speech of Green Adams, of Kentucky, on the Oregon Bill. Delivered in the House of Representatives, July 27, 1848

Printed by John T. Towers., Washington, D.C., 1848

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers. Text printed in black ink. 5 3/4" x 9." Sixteen pages, complete. Pages are very clean and intact except for light age toning, moderate foxing throughout, 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 July 27, 1848 by Green Adams (1812-1884), an American lawyer, politician, and slaveholder. He served as a U.S. Representative from Kentucky from 1847-1849 and 1859-1861. He was a Whig and later a member of the Opposition Party. In this speech, Adams briefly touches upon a number of subjects including the Wilmot Proviso, the Missouri Compromise, Zachary Taylor, and the constitutionality of Congress being able to legislate a ban or allowance of slavery in newly admitted U.S. territories. Adams begins by denouncing his Democratic colleagues for criticizing Taylor who is the Whig nominee for the 1848 presidential election. Much of the Democrats' criticism toward Taylor appeared to have originated from Taylor not giving his official political stance toward the Wilmot Proviso and other subjects of current debate. Adams states that Taylor has no obligation to tell the American people about his political opinions. Adams also argues against the Democrats' claim that Congress has no right to legislate on whether slavery is banned or admissible in newly admitted U.S. territories. He states, "And perhaps some of my Southern friends, both Whigs and Democrats, will think the position I assume upon this subject rather extraordinary for a man living in a slave State, representing a slave constituency, and owning slaves, when I tell them that I maintain Congress has the constitutional right to legislate upon the subject of slavery in the Territories; and further, I will not vote to strike out from this bill that section containing the provisions of the ordinance of '87." Much of Adams's reasoning behind backing Congressional authority to legislate on slavery is that the laws in a new territory do not infringe upon the laws of another state like at least one of his Democratic colleagues had contended. He goes so far as to say that if a slaveholder were to bring slaves into a free state, he should be rightfully punished because he violated the laws of that free state. However, Adams conversely states that he wishes Northerners would do more in their local laws to return fugitive slaves to the respective slave states. Adams also notes that Oregon is above the parallel drawn out by the Missouri Compromise and appears to suggest that any question of Oregon being a free or slave territory is thus settled (Louisiana Purchase lands over this parallel would be free not slave). Adams last argument in this speech is that slavery does not degrade white laborers as had been contended by one of his fellow Congressmen.. Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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