Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-01-08

spread over the whole union.
That the condition of slaves within the
United States has been improved, and
the rigors of slavery mitigated, by the
establishment and progress of our free
government, is fac, that imparts conso-
lation to all who have taken pains to in
quire concerning it. The disproportion-
ate increase of free persons of color, can
be explained only by the supposition that
the practice of emancipation is gaining
ground /; practice which there is reason
to believe would become more general,
if plan could be devised by which tire
comfort and morals OF the emancipated
slaves could be satisfactorily provided
for; for it is not to be doubted that pub
lie opinion every where, and especially
in the oldest states of the union, is less
favorable than formerly to the existence
of slavery. Generous and enlightened
men in the states where slavery exists,
have discovered much solicitude on the
subject: a desire has been manifested
that emancipation might be encouraged
by the establishment of a place, or colo
ny without the United States, to which
free persons Of color might be removed;
and great efforts for that purpose are
making, with corresponding anxiety
for their success. These persons, en-
lightened and humane as they are known
to be, surely will be unwilling to promote
the removal of the slaves from the old
states, to the new ones where their COM
forts will not be multiplied, and where
their letters may be riveted for ever.
Slavery cannot exist in Missouri With
out the consent of congress; the question
may therefore be considered, in certain
lights, as new one, it being the first in
stance in which an inquiry respecting
slavery, in a case so free from the influ-
cnce of the ancient laws, usages, and
manners of the country, has come before
the senate.
The territory of Missouri is beyond
our ancient limits, and the inquiry whcs
Their slavery shall exist there, is open to
many of the arguments that might be
employed, had slavery never existed
within the United States. 1t is qucs-
ton of no ordinary importance. Freedom
and slavery are the parties which stand
this day before the senate; and upon its
decision the empire Of the other will bo
established in the new state which we arc
about to admit into the union.
If slavery be permitted in Missouri,
with the climate, and soil, and in the cir
cumstances of this territory, what hope
can be entertained that it will ever be
prohibited in any of the new states thar
will be formed in the immense region
west of the Mississippi? Will the co.
extensive establishment of slavery and Of
new states throughout this region, lessen
the danger of domestic instruction, or
of foreign aggression9 Will this manner
OF executing the great trust of admitting
new states into the union, contribute to
assimilate our manners and usages, to
increase our mutual affection and conf
dence, and to establish that equality Of
benefits and burthens which constitutes
the true basis Of our strength and unions
Will the militia of the nation, which
must furnish our soldiers and seamen.
increase as slaves increase Will the
actual disproportion in the military seq
vice of the nation be thereby diminisheds
disproportion that will be, as it has
been, readily borne, as between the ORR
ginal states, because it arises out OF their
compact of union, but which may become
badge of inferiority, if required for the
protection of those who, being free to.
choose, persist in the establishment Of
maxims, the inevitable effect Of which
will deprive them of the power to contri-
butte to the common defence, and even
of the ability to protect themselves -
There are limits within which our fede-
raj system must stop; no one can sup
pose that it could be indefinitely extcnd-
ed-we are now about to pass our origi
nal boundary; if this can be done with
out affecting the principles of our govern
ment, it can be accomplished only by the
most vigilant attention to plant, cherish,
and sustain the principles of liberty in the
new states that may be formed beyond
our ancient limits: with our utmost cau-
ton in this respect, it may still be justly
unprecedented that the general govern
ment must be made stronger as We bea
come more extended.
But if, instead of freedom, slavery is
to prevail, and spread as we extend our
dominion, can any rejecting man fail to
see the necessity of giving to the general
government greater powers, to enable it
to afford the protection that will be de
manded of it; powers that will be diff
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