Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1843-12-21

SOC. 900 sunaFe miles are known m slave States
What has been the history Of this slave instiiu.
toni Al one time, Il was common. 70 OIL the
colonies and Statee-but IN the course Of halfa
century. It has heen abolished in more than
!, one half of the States Of the Union. In what
direction has the current Of this slave popula-
dion fowed7 II has been from North % South.
In less than half century, Maryland, Virginia,
Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee, will proba-
bly have become Free States. What disposition
win be made of their slaves7 They will be- sold
tn the Southern States. What viii be the RESULT
As the slaves accumulate in the southern states,
the small farmers, must, of necessity sell tsair
i FARMS and move TO other territories; and in this
way the white population, in the southern states
will constantly decrease, whilst the slave will as
constantly increase. The white popplatiens IN
the slave states. shown by the last census, u
446s, 1856, the slave population, q Bis 957,--fhe
difference in favor of the white, being 2. 1927.
i Now, we will suppose no other Slaye State
should be added to this Union, after Florida we
ask, whatIwilI be the condition. and the relative
proportion of the slave and free population, in
i the slave states, at the end of half q cent0ry2
If the States, above enumerated, should, IN tins
time become free states, and no new slave ter
ritory should be opened, for the reception ofthis
slave population, II must necessarily be crowded
i intothe now Southern Statesi the small farmers
1 will sell and 90 to the new terFitories,-the cons
sequence of this will be. that the Southern States,
will become plantation country, with an i'm.
mense slave and very small white population.
| In 40 years, we have no doubt, from the pres>
ent indications, there will be in the slave states,
| at least four slaves TO free white person. If
this disproportion in slave and white population,
should take place as We conceive it must inevi-
| tably do--what resistance to England could we
make-were she to possess herself of Texas,
| with all the accruing advantages as above con-
tenn lated2 Our Northern States are opposed
4 f0 inst nd UO0Id
| lingly afford US any aid. England could then,
attack US, on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts;
| through Texas, and by the Lakes, and the wes-
| tern waters, from Canada. We ask, if against
SO great an odds, with four slaves to one white
citizen at home as enemies, we could make,
anything like a successful resistance? It would
be impossible. Suppose, however, England should
| take no interest in Texas, and she should be@
cone an integral portion Of the Mexican Repubs
lie, could she do SO with the slave feature Of her
government? Ifnot, what would be orr condi-
ton? Here is flee territory, bordering, the
west of Louisiana and the South of Arkansas.
What will be the consequence? So soon, as
Texas becomes free terrItCrysso soon will her
population, whether American or Mexican be-
como the waTmest oppDsers of slavery: because
they cannot successfully compete with the slave
population, in growing the same products from
the soil, for the same Market This will ofne-
cessity, influence them. to induce the. slaves Of
/
into theirEcountry, where they would be free. |
This would be source OF unceosing bT0ilss that |
would assuredly eyentnate in war between the |
countries. If then, the protection Of England, |
or the union of Texas with Mexico, would be |
attended with such an infinite prejudice TO the |
interest off our Republic--we are led to enquire /
by what means, these unhappy influences may /
be avoided; and whether any other arrangement |
could be made, by which the permanent interest |
of Texas, Mexico, and the United States can all |
be effected? If there be any measure, which I
would answer all these purposes, we would ask,
if that measure, be not the annexation Of Texas
to the United Statesi The great advantages.
which would result from such an association,
must be the preventing ofany other power from
possessing itself of this eExi0fy and thereby 10
command the Gulf Trade or this valuable ter
ritory; to avoid the foreign inteff6ronce with
the domestic institution of! our country; and the
establishment of such line Of division between
Mexico and the u. States, as might prove satis>
factory to that government, and most converts
emit TO this country. By commencing at some
point, In the Bay of Santu Espiritc; and passing
mp the Aransaso River, that emptes into that
Bay. to Meridian % West, and thence running
North; crossing the Rivers, San Antonio Gaud- ~
alouPe, Colorado and Brassos, and striking the q
Red river near the line, between the Mexican !
md United States Territories. a large State :
night be formed, which would include most OIL
he population from the United States; and [
would furnish to this State, (Texasl bordering
errit0rys which would be the home of Indians /
md wandering Mexicaus alone, for several Gems
urles to come. 1t is impossible for our slave s
population to be kept from ascending and obi i
aiming their freedom, while free white, or :
NexIcan population, adioins our territory; but
vhen we can procure an Indian frontier, the C
laves will never leave the white settlement, %
Or o, the Indian associations although they might
btain freedom by the change.
There is one reason for the annexation which v
We cannot pass over lightly, MS II is one of vast b
magnitude 70 our mind. It will furnish an ont.
q TO our slave population. In what way are the
tates OF this Union, ever 70 relieve themselves =
the slave institution. IL will probably, never =
done BY returning and coIonizing them, upor f.
ne shores of Africa. IF this cannot. or meyer .
MI be done; how shall We remove the eyil2 For :.
e esteem 1t an evil of the greatest magnitnde =
can pc dopes when their accumulation. In
le Southern States shall become threatenina:1
sending and ena bling them to colohfze lhen- Re
lives among the degenerate Mexicans and In. 1 N
ans On the territory that lies South and West E,
Texas. This will make home for them. q e
nloh would be well adapted 70 their nature and =
sposition; and they would be population. Isgo
nlcn would not In any respect be inferior toll So
al winch now occupies that territory, Belief -
e TINS % De the only outlet % the slaves OF
ANNEXED 70 this government permit fhis
Ature @ ner government 20 be changed This
0fse would, we. confess. appear arbitrary and CT
cf9f1rIai, since we have recognized her Inde> 81,
naence, asa nation; yet as we did this with - -
loWIedge Of this peculiar feature il her Cow "a
nment, we hold that We should no. be bssund err
any treaty, which by any changes. maaIe aIleg Ek
fecognitlon Of that Independence, would tend Iii!
aestF0y our own government holding a. We "a
that self preservation Is the FIRST law az ma o.
,e az Welt regard 10 nations as individuals is:'
n1.sses may De the advantages which would ofI