The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-07-11

These people were secured in their pro.
perty by solemn covenant with France
when the country was purchased from
that power. To prohibit the emigration
of citizens of the Southern States to that
part OF the country, the situation and eli
mate of which, was peculiarly suited to
them, would have been highly unjust, as
it had beeq purchased out Of the common
fund. Particularly, too, when it is recol.
lected that all the immense territory to the
Northwest Of the Ohio, had been ceded
by Virginia, ard that with an unexampled
liberality, she had herself proposed by ex-
GLIDING slavery from it, to secure it for the
emigration of those States which had no
slaves. Was it proper, then, when her
reserved territory was in great meas sure
filled up. to exclude her citizens from
every part Of the territory purchased out
Of the common fund! l was the first per.
son TO introduce into Congress the pro.
position that all the country above Mis-.
souri,, (which having no inhabitants, was
free from the objection made to Missouri
and Arkansas,) should never have slavery
admitted into il. l repeat what have
before said, that as our Union was only
effected by mutual concession, so only
can it be preserved.
"My vote against the restriction of Mis-.
souri, in forming her constitution, was not
a conclusive one; there would have been
time enough, had con tinued to be a
member, before The question was decided,
for my constituents to have instructed ME,
and should have rejoiccd in any oppnr-
tunity of sacrificing my seat to my prin-
ciples, if they had instructed me in oppo-
sition to my construction of the conslitu-
ton.
Like many other members from the non.
slaveholding States, of whom mention
Shaw, Holmes, Mason Of Massachusetts,
Lanman of Connecticut, and Baldwin Of
Pennsylvania, could see nothing in the
constitution which l had sworn to support,
to warrant such an interference with the
rights Of, the States, and which had never
before been attempted. And where is the
crime in one set Of men not being able to
interpret the constitution as other men in.
.erpret it. As We had all sworn to inter-
pret it, the crime would have been,in Civ.
ing it construction which our conscien.
ces would not sanction. And let me ask,
for what good is this question again
brought up? 1t has been settled as all our
amily differences have been settled, on
he firm basis of mutual compromise
4 nd patriotism, as well as prudence, de.
n ho off Of fnot I'll
% eternal oblivion. Is it not known that
rom that cause the great fabric of our
Union was shaken to its foundation? Is it
lot known that Missouri would not have
submitted to the restriction, and that the
'ther slaveholling States had determined
o support her! But for this compromise,
he probability is, that at this moment we
night look upon the opposite shore of
ohio, not for an alfeclionate sister
State, but an armed and implacable rival. !
What patriotic man would not join the
allant Eaton in execrating the head and
he hand that could devise and execute a
cheme productive Of calamity so aw-
ul!
"Upon the whole, fellow.citizens, our
ath is plain one; it is that marked out
S we'll by humanity as duty. We cannot /
mancipate. the slaves Of the other States
Without their consent, but by producing
onvulsion which would undo us, all. For
his much-to-be desired event, we must
'ait the slow but certain progress of those
ood principles which are every where
aiming ground, and which assuredly will !.
prevail.
y x
"WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON"