The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-01-09

legislation and obiaino tie technical sanction Of
ne chief nasistrate il Is Sufficient to give il oh
= construction, as ra9 render il consistent with
constitutional principles.
II Is the more proper 70 ascertain the exact
meaning sud extent q the provision Of this at,
iuasmutL IS IL has been superhcislly supposed
>,l.at 4 guaranteed negro slavery over the whole
territory 10 tie fenih ~ 500 80, N !. while Il
x plain ihit nothing can tc mere eutirely found
"A on nisconception Ia the fret place, ii would
be aitrihuing % the legislature q competency,
which Il does not possess. % establish ge0grapI-
i.al division between right and wrong. ~ III
oufstion which could not without tie most tx
,rs,nc indecorum be attached 20 the moral sense
Il Congress, and whieh accordingly cannot he
considered - deserving The reproach Another
Injection III that beaidcs The unequal partition "
~ LOUISIANA purchase which Il iulpiiss il would
al.o IN effect include both the FLoRlDAs, lately
ACQUIRED hy treaty. the price OF which has been
Maid almost oxClutirely out 81 The commerce of
NV non.siave- holding states. aud The acceptance
~ ne Indemnity still involves great sacrIi of
eheir interest. IL would also secure 10 slavery
,he whole Of the immease region hanki8g the
Gulf II Mexico which nj ght De acquired ~ A
mere extensive expedition 81 me Louisiana Trea
=. IA enlargement ofthe purcEa.e or ~ couQ aest
While It leaves on the other side nothing bot
weary waste Of wilderness. sweeping 10 the base
oftho Rocky MoUErAIEs.
Il NAV also he agreeable 70 remember, thai
ths i the region q which the remarks 81 theHon.
CHARLrs PiNKNEY, one VI tho representatives.
from south Carolina, referred, IN a letter 70 one
II lis constituents. puhii-hea soon after the pas
,iuq ~ the act and which .e described a. . val
tract inhabited only by savagas and wild beasts,
in which not foot of the Indian title was sxtin
y5isheA and where, according TO the Impressions
prevailing at Washington, no land Office would
probably be opened for ages !-These aNs the
delicate tGts and romantic touches vila which
the landscape adorned IN the FIRST enchant-
msnt aud opening dawn Ct this new paradise 10
the aspirations II freedom and philanthropy. The
picture was also drawn con dhaore upon the spot
~ one Of those enlightened Legislators, which had
A share in securing 10 oppressed humanity this
elegant asylum ia the west. such an exquisite
establishment seems TO realize all the poetic Wis
ions aud slysian imaginstions that were ever en-
tertaned Of an Atlantis or ri Dorado m this Hes
perian hemisphere. La such charming scene it
might have seemed superorogation to suppos.
there could have been any necessity for negroes,
whom il might have been considered better ID
ocnsgn TO a climate rather more consouial to
their glandular secretoas-where the cane and
Tho cotton plant flourish under tbs more ardent
influence of the sun, and where their feet would
he more free from the frost ia the month of July
Those higher latitude. indeed are rather 100 Nv
perboresn for .he constitution of slaves; and ma
tare is a sufficient restriction Of slavery 10 the
northwsrd Of SO 80.
II might be afectation ret 10 understand, that
by an extraordinary figure Of speech this arrange.
.uent has been denominated q consprofntse tho
4 appears almost impossible to account for this
application Of the term upon any rational priuei-
pies. The use of it ia such signi6catisn is
perfect solecism. II is libel on language. an
inversion Of its idiom, and violates every maxim
# moral or political justice. Il may be pronoun-
ced SANDER Of the legi-lature-aua is most
unjustifistle calumnY upon the conduct az those
worthy and independent spirits who resisted at
every step all attempts 70 give counteDance 10
such reproach upon its character.-Ifto concede
every thing without an equivalent; to exchange
metal FOR mosnshine AID compound right for
wrong, be entitled 20 the appellation why so
be Il. But all have not 50 read the laws Of na-
ture and Of nations. On The contrary il produces
a total confusion of all moral distinctions, and
unsetties the foundations Of an constitutional
principles
Singular as il may seem, this strange anomaly
hss been christened a compact which ought not
IL he disturbed Vow there i bnt one compact
known between the United States aud that is
the constitution. The only compromise on the
subject Of slavery 10 that which IS contained by
implication in that instrument. Under the con
AeNaidtGoDs taxes were dppUfA4ohSN on popd4tiiN
universally without any discrimination while
representation was equa:zed among the several
states. The constitution recognizing species Of
population not reckaned a. citizens. reduces the
rate of taxation upon It ttro .fffhs and permits
right of representation to be predicated upon Il
IN the proportion of tree .ffhs But under the
practice Of the constitution, the mode of taxation
(direct there prescribed, being departed from. Il
leaves clear excess 10 faver Of the whole slave
representation while the equality Of state rep
rescntation is still retained ia the Senate. But
this was the compact entered into by the states
AZ the adoption Of the constitut and is there
fore not TO be disturbed. By the terms of the
same compact the right 10 augment the amount
OF that species of population indefinitely by I'M
Dortation was reserved TO such portions OF the
union, as might think proper to exercise il for
certain period Of years. after which Congress
was empowered TO prohibit either the importation
or the migration. That right, if such IT can be
called, was confined 5y the phrsseology Of the
provision 70 the then eTtstiHg stGtes; and it was
exercised 20 an extept hardly perhaps anteipa-
ted, up to the very vbrse of the limitation, ac-
corIng TO the authentic statement of Alr. Smith,
offs. Cat this point, with ratification Of what
had taken place, the compact may be said 70
have terminated; and so far il ought not TO be
disturbed. TIE sovereignty over the subjec re-
suited to Congress; and there slavery was left
within IFS existing limits. TO ertspd 81 beyond
hem ~ f. disturb the compact. The natural
incroase already overbalances emancipation.
Population, which AWAY. presses upon the means
Of subsistence. will expaad with any provision
thai may be made for il and IL might easily be
shown that the extension of slavery in the manner
proposed, not only VIII not relieve any portIen o.
the country from the evi, or reduce the amount