The Portland gazette., 1820-02-29

re gard to the mixed population OF the southern
states This was intended and c. ns;dered as
equality. The limits of the then Uni'ed
ibe operation Of the principle, in respect to
new states 10 be iormed within those limits.
was understood and anticipated. But this
balance, ihi, equality, will be destroyed,
should HE same principle be extended bry yond
the Mississippi to all immense country beyond
the range ever in the contemplation OF HE
Convention. But without pursuing tbs ide a
any further, will here notice ar argument,
which. on a former OCCASION, has been u.ed Tor
admitting slaves into Missouri. 1t is said,
| that, By dl1u,ing them over larger surface
Than they now occupy. and transp'an'ing them
10 this new country, their condition viii be
essentially amcIora'ed: and. if there be dam
gers arising from their increase IN the Atlantic
states, the method proposed Will lessen or
remove that danger. lO answer 10 these rea
sops let il he observed that there is suf6cen
room in The states hevone lhe mountains, and
on this side Of The Mississippi. for the purpose
of dfusing The slaves; those states are rich 10
| lands suited Ter cultivation BY The labor OF
slaves. and furnish ample room for he surplus
| slave population of the old states. Tbis pro-
cess Off mo, a, and distribution would rUduce
| The intended amelioraiIon, and lessen or ban
sh The apprehension Of danger. wherever il
n ay exist. But, If we adopt and pr,ceed
upon The principle assumed by the opposers
Of the restriction and permit the vss, country
heyonJ the Mississippi to be peorlea by slaves
he II a ke, vii he supplied in mall proper
lion only by ibis increase Of the slave Iopu
Ia,ion of the existing states No SIR; Africa
will furnish mos, Of those supplies; and, in
defispce or evasion OF all our lsss, the wretch
ed victims of cruel anl unieeling svarce will
he Introduced by thousands and tens OF thou
sands, 10 dsiken this region, and live and die
~ slavery. And. even il this should not he
the case, the time must cor e. and will come,
when this species Of population will be 50 a.
bundanl tina, in al parts OF the country where
slavery shall be permitted to exist, by its
continual increase. it will produce the same
surplus and same danger which are seen and
sppreh. nded in particular sections Of the coun
Try According 10 this theory, therefore. Of
smeliorstlng the slaves by spreading them
over an extensive surface, the only effect is TO
postpone the evil day. How much better
will il be, sr. 10 pursue . course of restriction
and gradual emancipation, so that this evil day
may never arrive
| am sensible i j. often urged that the con-
slaves. and operate indirectly upon The rights
o tie proprielo ;, and 10 their pr Juice
Suppose this To he true: the answer appre-
hend. i as satisfactory as il is obvious. Sir, il
can never be wise ~ correct legislation 10 au
ihorize or pera II the e tension oi an acknowl.
edged public evii. for the sake of any private
individual advantages. This would be con
,ra'y to the very principles on which our gov
eminent. sni all 900 COVER men, are founded
that is. the welfare and happiness OF the
great whole. We are continually witnessing
The operation Of this principle. In how many
Instances during the operation of our embargo
laws, and the restrictive system TO which our
government thought it proper and necessary
10 resort. were the hopes, prospects, and
property of individuals. sacrificed for The
public good? How many hundreds nere re-
duced 10 penury by tie sudden arrangement
oi all their mercantile concerns, or the Per
plexi,irs in which they were involved Yet
such effects as these, though certainly fore
-een, never divert a government, from pursu
ing ITS proper course And what shall we
say Of War /? Congress has deemed il neces
sary, and may deem il SO again. Tor the pro-
lection Of eur couutry's rights and honor ; still
il is me anchoIy truth that private losses and
mistoriUnes are the certain consequences, and
countless miseries are ever found in IFS train.
All these. however. are deemed subordinate
con.iderat,ops, in the midst oi patriotic feel
ings. or are forgotten in The prospect OF vind-
Gated rights success and e'oo' And, while
we are sdmlrng the laorels Of the hero, we
ate unconscious that ihev may have been
earned at tn. expense oi he widow, the iah
ere-s and HE broken.he arled, by the ruin OF
all their hopes.
But. Mr. President. there is another argu-
nen entitled TO our respectful consideration.
because II results from the course of conduct
which Congress have pursued since 1909.
They passed laws prohibiting the importation
Of slaves, as som as the constitutional resirir-
'ion on ,hei, power was removed by lapse Of
time and since then there has been a laud
able. crstnued, and united exer,ion. 10 put an
end to ihi. internal traffic. which The President.
in his message. has described as a disgrace Ia
any civilized country. Laws have been mul
,iplied; penalties increased IN severity the
| Utmost vigilance enioiued on the officers of the