Show I THE WILMOT PROVISO A Story of How the Famous Proviso Pro-viso Originated The Wilmot proviso which was destined des-tined to play important part in politics originated at the dinnertable of a political politi-cal club in the city of New York which met weekly It was composed of Democrats Demo-crats opposed to the extension of slavery and among those present on the days in question were John Van Buren Samuel J Tilden John A Kennedy Isaac Fowler Fowl-er Andrew II Green and other well known FreeSoil Democrats Mr Howe a Western member of Congress was a guest he having visited New York to confer with the Democratic Demo-cratic opponents of slavery During the consultation John Van Buren said that the protest against the extension of slavery slav-ery introduced into Congress was not worded right He suggested that the exact words of Jefferson in the famous ordinance of 1783 and 1787 should be used This was agreed to Mr Howe stated that it would be difficult to introduce intro-duce the proviso as the Speaker would not give the floor to any one favorable to freedom Mr Tilden as the chief organizer organ-izer of the movement about to be made proposed that a ruse should be played It was agreed that each man composing the little body of sixteen or eighteen Free Soilers in Congress should have a copy of the proviso in his pocket Each should spring to the floor at the first chance and shout Mr Speaker 1 It was thought that one of them would be recognized Mr Tilden with other members of the club went to Washington to aid in carrying carry-ing out the plan At a time agreed upon the Spartan band each with the proviso in his hand sprang to the floor and in concert shouted Mr Speaker The speaker was bewildered He could not ignore the whole crowd He selected Judge Wilmot as the most monerated of the party and so the Wilmot privoso passed into history |