The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-02-22


Extract from Mr.. CUsHMANs observations. in
committee OF the whole, on the state of the
Union, on the bill, from the Senate, for the
admission OF Missouri into The Union, 10 the
House OF Representatives, Feb. 9, 1921.
But, though contend against the spread Of
slavery, on humane principles, yet never in
simulated, that these were my only motives.
have also strong reasons OF policy. tits not,
10 my opinion, wise or safe, to spread over a
Lew country, 4 population, which, instead Of
adding, must impair its physical strength A
slave is neither soldier, nor seaman. nor
an artisan except of The lowest kind. Many
of than are but mental servants, who do not
re produce the provisions which they consume.
The earth, 10 general is not so well cuItiva-
ted by slaves, nor made 10 exhibit those scenes
OF fertility and beauty, which are to be seen
where the owners are the cultvstors OF the
soil. Nor Gao section of country, where
the population consists, but in part, of slaves,
furnish such numbers, for common defence, as
can be spared in free state, where every a.
bic bodied man is soldier Ii is known.
that in all our wars, some of the slaves are too
much inclined to 60 over to the enemy This,
TO be sure, is wrong--but it Is in a degree.
natural. For, according to Mr.. Jefferson, if
slave has any country, u I, not that in which
he is holden IN bondage. Allured by the hope
held out by an insidious foe, they are ready
TO engage in some work of mischief or blood.
Hence, in times of danger or invasions, a
country so circumstanced, instead Of furnish
ing its fair proportion OF soldiers to oppose
public enemy, might retain somew hat OF liz
physical strength at home, for purposes Of SAFE
ty--to SUPPRESS domestic Insurrection--to
protect Their wives and children. their affairs
and their FIRE sides. Ii would be peculiarly
lmpolitic TO place our frontiers, those iniets OF
an invading foe, in such jeopardy.
The territories of the United States the
! common property oil the nation, are to become
constituent parts Of our republic Every por-
ton OF the Union. therefore. must feel deep
interest, that The population Of The states.
which are to be formed out OF these territories,
especially if the West IS destined to be the
seat OF the empire, should consist not Of slaves
who might occasionally endanger the public
safety, but of ctizens-ehighiene viriuous,
enterprizng citizens. able to contribute to
| The ornament ant defence Of our common
country.
Sir, the northern and eastern portions
of this Union, for the purpose of preserving
i entire, at the adoption of the federal
Constitution, submitted to an evil, for which
they could provide no speedy remedy
Our country was, then, bounded By the Mis-
~IssipPi AID little was 10 be unprecedented. as
the condition OF the states was at that period
from an oyergrown power derived from slave
| population. But could il have been fore seen,
that territory, west Of that river. larger than
the old thirteen United States, would have
been added TO our country, out OF which pew
states, almost TO inhDiIy, were 10 be formed,
with the privilege of holding slaves, am per-
suaded that neither Massachusetts,, nor any
part Of New England, aud perhaps, none oil
The now free states then extant, would have
consented. on such terms, to have cone into
ths Onion.
There was, sir, in the north al the adoption
of The federal constitution, much sensibility
on the score OF slavery. THIS was only aui-
eted by the belief then entertained, that,
, " though slavery was not smillen by an spo-
pIeSy, yet Il had received a mortal wound
and would die Of the consumption" II II,