The Wilmot Proviso (#28)

 

     The WIlmot Proviso is an amendment born on August 8th, 1846 created by Democrat David Wilmot. This amendment was added onto President Polk’s appropriation bill regarding the resolvement of the American- Mexican war. This amendment stipulated that slavery would be banned in all territories acquired from Mexico in the Mexican War or anytime in the future, including area that was later known as the Mexican Cession. The Wilmot Proviso also encompassed the prohibition against involuntary servitude in addition to slavery.

 

      The Wilmot Proviso faced quite a battle during Congress. The initial round of voting was required for the amendment to be approved for Polk’s appropriation bill. In the House of Representative, the amendment passed 80-64 with all slave states against and when voting for the entire package, the Wilmot Proviso barely passed at 85-80. However  the complete package was swiftly vetoed in the Senate, which contained greater South representation. It was reintroduced in February 1847 but history repeated itself -  it passed the House and failed in the Senate. On a similar note, the attempt to add the Wilmot Proviso to the Treaty of Guadalupe flunked in 1848.

 

     In the end, the WIlmot Proviso, in addition to the appropriation bill, was permanently defeated. Despite the efforts of the supporting senators, time expired and the Congress was forced to adjourn. The death of the bill was credited to the slavery supporters who wished to pass  the proposal after eliminating the Proviso while the anti-slavery Senators attempted to keep the entire bill alive, the appropriation bill and the Wilmot Proviso amendment. This strong political disagreement in the Senate cost time and effort over the issue of slavery.