The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-31

| the Pacific ocean Will reap the benefit, aud future
generations will profit by the measure.
| You ask whether /" desire IL for the purpose OF
aiding the slave system" To this answer that the
''ssve system, as you term it, has not entered into
my calculations OF its benefits Confederation much
higher than this govern my opinion. Yet To lh. suk
Jec cannot be Indifferent, os this the only question
which threatens the bonds Of our Union. The an
ne aaton Of Texas will not increase the number Of
slaves, unless The human system of treatment which
prevails in all southern aud southw IN plaD,a
tons shall prove favorable To their increase by
generation than the treatment which they generally
receive under foreign domination. The annex alton
of Texas W i'll form boundary beyond which slavery
cannot exist Ii il shall remain foreign power Il
will be furnished with slaves from foreign countries
probably from Africa itself Ii il shall become
part Of the United States, slaves be imported
into il from foreign countries, that its
will tend prevent the increase OF the number Of
slaves. Nor is objected to by the fastidious
OF the aboitionsls, from an apprehension hat ii will
augment the number OF slaves, but from the political
apprehension that IL will tend to keep something Of
balance OF power between the slavehoding and the
other States This consideration, compared with
Others has no weight with me. have freely ex
pressed my sentiments in favor of the possession of
Oregon, where II is probable slavery will never exist;
and am now IN favor Of the annexation Of Texas
where the institution is too deeply rooted TO be- done
away al once, under any government. IL Is ques
ton which the General Government cannot conslitu-
tonally touch. The wise men who framed Con
ttuion carefully avoided the OF the word slavery
Each STATE reserved TO itself the right OF pursuing It's
own policy on that subject and the interference Of
the General Government would be regarded usur-
patton which would not be submitted to- Each
Stale in the Union is agreed on this point Those
which have abolished slavery would not permit the
General Government to institute among them,
would those who retain il permit the General Gov
eminent to do it away. The same independence will
they observe in relation societies and associations
Of individuals They will regard their movements
the madness Of lanatcism, tending to sap the
foundation Of union rather than promote the cause
of humanity.
With these views, you will perceive that regard
the remainder Of your questions irrelevant, and such
as man, in relation 10 his national character ought
not to answer. The question, whenever 1t presents
lis, bfore the General Government, resolves itself
into that Of union dissolution. Whenever the Ma
tonal Government shall Interfere, either to establish
slavery in the States where il does not exist or TO
abolish it where ii does exist (and their power ex
tends 10 the much TO the other } they
will ing the death knel OF our Union. The frenzy
Of .anatacism may sing It's requiem. Lut philanthropy
will weep over its tohb, and rivers of human blood
will nouiish its cypress while time sndures Such
evil will labor ~ avert while my life is spar, and
would rather die in obscurity than employ the priv
ege of the highest office in the world to rase the
element even by presenting petition on the subject
The principle was settled when our Constitution was.
framed that each State should regulate its own pol
icy. Let US act in good faith To the pledge gwen in
that Instrument, We snail forever continue
the Ieest, the most prosperous, and the happest
ton earth IL the institution fraught with hut
half the evils you apprehend let them alone, and
the progress OF Republican community, they will be
certain to correct themselves. Ii find its remedy
only IN the public sentiment of the community where
Il exists. That sentiment first truDphed where it
had least to encounter. The number of slaves was
but few in the Northern States, and there
difficulty in sbolshing the institution. The spirit of
emancipation naturally prog osses from North to
South. Fom the close Of the Revolutionary war; the
gence and importance: and all over the South, slav-
cry Is but shadow Of what il But the vio-
lent movements of Northern aboli,ionsts have given
check 10 that progress, and done tenfold more in
jury 10 the slave than to his MASTER Their unceasing
efforts bring the subject within the action of the
General Government, doing more 10 weaken the
bonds of Federal Union than all other excite
nenis isken together could possibly do, and without
the prospect of one solitary benefit TO that class whose
cause they Affect 10 advocate The peace of society
disturbed the har'nony Of different mt mbers of
national family is inierrupted the condition Of the
slave is ured aud If the frenzy sha eventuatc in
the dissolution Of The Union, | neither envy the
happiness of him who could wish 10 survive the shock,
nor participate with him in the awful respo nsiblny
which must fall upon him when beautiful land
scspes, smiling in plenty shail become fields Of
carnage and devastation.
Most respectful ly your obedient servant,
Ri. NJ. JOHNSON.
B. F. HoFrmAN, Eco.
Chairman of the Committee, &c.