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Duer, William : Remarks of Mr. Duer of New York, on the Prohibition of Slavery in the Newly Acquired Territories of the United States. Delivered in the House of Representatives of the United States, July 29, 1848

Printed by J. and G. S. Gideon, Washington, D.C., 1848

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers. Text printed in black ink. 5 3/4" x 9." Fifteen pages, complete. Pages are clean and intact except for light age toning, light to moderate foxing (most noticeable on first page), slight offsetting from the printed text, 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 29, 1848 by William Duer (1805-1879), an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1847-1851 and U.S. Consul to Valparaiso, Chile. He was a Unionist and began his political career as a Whig but later changed to the Democratic Party after 1860. In this speech, Duer discusses the establishment of territorial governments in the newly acquired territories of California and New Mexico following the Mexican-American War. Duer addresses many subjects, among which are constitutional law and interpreting whether Congress can or cannot legislate in new territories such as California and New Mexico. His multifaceted answer points to a relatively ambiguous conclusion in which he acknowledges that while Congress does indeed have the power to legislate in new territories, it has limitations, but those limitations are not clearly defined. Some of his opponents argued that slavery could be extended throughout the Union, but Duer counters that there is no constitutional provision that states this. A fairly significant portion of Duer's speech is a heated exchange between him and a Democratic Congressman from Virginia, Thomas Bayly. Duer lambastes Bayly for his apparent change of political platform regarding a number of issues revolving around the Wilmot Proviso, the "Compromise Bill," and Lewis Cass. Duer's political views are that slavery must not spread and recommends that if the question of whether California and New Mexico should be free or slave is a threat to the Union, then they should be cast away and repatriated back to Mexico. Duer voices that he is glad the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed and brought the war to an end but contends that the acquisitions of California and New Mexico need not be part of the terms of peace. He criticizes why Democrats seem indecisive as to how to approach the governance of California and New Mexico given that the war was largely supported by them. He believes the Mexican-American War was a war of conquest and one that was prosecuted to expand slavery. Duer further defends his position of stopping the extension of slavery. He states, "It seems to me that Southern Democrats with an ill grace charge us with being inimical to the Union. We are not seeking to add to our power. We ask no new territory. They do. They have driven us into a war to obtain it. And now, this territory being free, they will dissolve the Union unless we give our votes to introduce into, it in whole or in part." Toward the end of his speech, Duer addresses presidential candidates for the 1848 election, namely, Zachary Taylor, Martin Van Buren, and Lewis Cass. Duer is vehemently opposed to Cass. As for Taylor and Van Buren, he compares their past statements and track records and states that he would prefer the presidency of Taylor over that of Van Buren. He argues, in part, that voting for Van Buren would only aid the election of Cass. Duer references Taylor's letter to Captain Allison, in which Taylor stated some of his political beliefs as a presidential hopeful, as well as his overall character and believes that Taylor is the best candidate for the Union and claims that Taylor's presidency will close the debate over territorial "conquest" and the extension of slavery.. Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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