The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-30
Texas md SLAVERY.


The Richmond Wing holds on this subject, which
has of late been somewhat agitated, the following
language:
We give placc willingly to long, ami
mated article on the subject of Texas and
Slavery. a subject destined to occupy
much of the public mind, and to awaken
possibly the most excited passiong.
But the reasoning Of the author, spec-
Gus as il is does not reach our convc-
tons. We care no! ,Oho, whether Bril-
fish Philanlhropisis or American Fanat-
les, or both, are operating in Texas and
procuring the result of the eradication of
Slavery, which we believe about o en-
sue. We care not whether she is to con-
linue slaveholding, or to be made by Bril-
fish Abolition influence non-slave- holding.
In either case we are opposed to her an
nexalion to this country on constitutional
grounds, and grounds Of safety and self
defence to those who now form the I'M
ion.
We lay down this proposition in the
utmost confidence that it is conforming to
human nature, and that the event will
verify it. If Slavery is perpetua,ed in
Texas, the north will dissolve the Union,
before it will consent to the annexation
If Slavery is abolished there, as we feel
confident it will be, then the south will
dissolve the Union rather than submit to
such an overwhelming acquisition Of
strength TO the non-slave holding interest
in the federal government!
The horns Of the dilemma are equally
fatal. There is only one way to escape
this most menacng danger, and that is to
leave Texas to herself; and if we could
have any influence with our countrymen,
it should be devoted to beseech them TO
dismiss now and forever the thought Of in
cooperating her with this Union. She Is
an empire in territory-as large as Vir-
ginia, Pennsylvania, and New York uni
,ed-with a most delicious climate and
glorously lertIe-able to support popu-
lation Of thirty millions. and to defend her
liberties agains world at arms.
Let her take her own stand among the
nations of the earth, in any form and with
what institutions she pleases, but let her
not sink this Union and the splendid ex-
pertinent it is making for the promotion
of the happiness and liberty Of the world
Let all the advantage of our alliance, our
friendship and our trade be hers--a COM
muni,y of intercourse, of common parent
age and common prnciples-but let us
consider this union as something too sa-
cred to be riskcd by the indefinite expan-
sion of territory and incorporation of in
congruous elements.
For ourselves we regard the annexation
of Texas as so fraught with disaster to
thus country that we had rather the Anne
rican People had to encounter, in hostile
conflict, Bonaparte and the army of Italy.
The last would be but a temporary and
vanquishablc evil ! The first would be
one whose unhappy effects no sagaclly
could forsee, no wisdom guard against,
and no valor repe. 1t would literally be
embarklng on vast ocean of experiment,
without rudder to steer by, or COM
pass TO ascertain your position.
We have country enough and too much.
Our patriotic affections are already diii'us-
ed over too wide a surface. Sparta had
not a territory SO large as the county Of
Albemarle Nor Athens larger than the
notorious county of Madison Yet these
two little States, by intellectual SUPERIOR
ty and discipline, not merely held the
world in awe, but are transmitted to all
pos'erity as the brightest example OF
what man can achieve, when he is free
and enlightened.