The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-02
MR.. WALKER ON ANNEXATION.

MR.. WALKER ON ANNEXATION.
The following is that portion of Senator Walk
ers letter on the annexation of Texas which treats
of the question of
| a, SLAVERY.
The only remaining objection is the question Of
slavery And have we a question which is to cur
tail the limits of the republic-to threaten its ex-
istence-to aim deadly blow at all its great and
vital interests-to court alliance with foreign and
with hostile powers--to recall our commerce, and
expel our manufactures from bays and rivers that
once were all our own-to strike down the flag Of
the Union as it advances towards our ancient boun-
dary--to surrender mighty territory, and invite
to its occupancy the deadliest Tin truth the ony)
foes this government has ever encountered? Is
anti-savery to do all this' And is il so to endan-
ger New Orleans, and the valley and commerce
| and outlet of the west, that we would hold them,
not by our own strength but by the slender tenure
of the will and of the mercy Of Great Britain? If
anti-slavery can effect all this, may God, in his
infinite mercy, save and perpetuate this Union;
for the efforts of man would be feeble and impo-
tent. The avowed object of this party is the
immediate abolition Of slavery. For this, they
traverse sea and land; for this they hold conven-
tions in the capital Of England; and there they
brood over schemes of abolition, in association
with British societies; there they join in denun-
Citations of their countrymen, until their hearts
are filled with treason; and they return home,
Americans in name, but Englshmen in feelings
and principles. Let US all, then, feel and know,
whether we live north or south, that this party,
if not vanquished, must overthrow the govern
ment, and dissolve the Union. This party propose
the immediate abolition of slavery throughout the
Union. If this were practicable, let us look at
the consequences. By the returns Of the last
census the products of the slaveholding States, in
1910, amounted In value to $4o4 4,429,63S. These
products, then, of the soui, must have alone ena.
bled it to furnish home market for all the surplus
manufactures OF the north, as also a market
for the products Of its forests and fisheries;
and giving mighty impulse to all its commercial
and navigating interests Now, nearly all these
agricultural products Of the south, which accom-
plish all these great purposes, are the result Of slave
labor: and strike down these products by the inn
mediate abolition Of slavery, and the markets Of
the south, for want Of the means to purchase. win
be lost to the people Of the north, and north and
south will be involved in one common ruin. Yes,
in the harbors of the north, Cat Philadelphia, New
York, and Boston,) the vessels would rot at their
wharves, for want Of exchangeable products to
carry; the building Of ships would cease; and the
grass would grow in many street, now enlvened
by an active and progressive industry. In the
interior, the railroads, and canals would langulsh
for want of business; and the factories and manu-
featuring towns and Cities decaying and deserted,
would stand as blasted monuments of the folly of
man. One universal bankruptcy would overspread
the country, together with all the demoralization
and crime which ever accompany such a catastro-
phe; and the notices at every corner would point
only to sales on execution by the constable, the
sheriff, the marshal, and the auctoneer; weile the
beggars would ask us in the street, not for money,
but for bread Dark as the picture may be, it
could not exceed the gloomy reality Such would
be the effects in the north; while in the south, no
human heart can conceive, nor pen describe the
dreadful consequences Let US look at another
result to the north. The slaves, being emancipa-
ted, not by the south, but by the north would fly
there for safety and protection; and three millions
Of free blacks would be thrown at once, as If by
convulsion Of nature upon the States Of the north
They would come there to their friends of the
north, who had given them freedom, to give them
also babitation, food and clothing; and, not hav-
ing it to give, many Of them would perish from
want and exposure; whilst the wretched remainder
would be left to live as they could, by theft or
charity. They would still bea degraded caste,
free only in name, without the reality Of freedom.
A few might earn wretched and precarious sub
sistence by competing with the white laborers Of
the north, and reducing their wages to the lowest
point in the sliding scale Of starvation and misery;
whilst the poor house and the Jail. The asyIums of
the deaf and dumb, the blind, the idiot and insane,
would be filed to overiowmg; If, indeed, any
asylum could be afforded the negro race whom
wretchedness and crime would drive TO despair and
madness. ssss s AiesSss 4 |
That these are sad realities, is proved BY the
census Of 1910. annex in an appendix table,
atsffitr rs.