The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-11-16
.ThE EXTENSION OF SLAVERY"

"ThE EXTENSION OF SLAVERY"
Among the many absurd objections to The an
nexation of Texas, urged by Mr.. Webster, who
by the bye, when Secretary OF STATE, was IN Ia
vor of the annexation Of California, is thai
he is opposed to "the extension OF slavery" II
would seem that the "great Constitutional Er-
FOUNDER is not aware that Texas is already
slave State, and lies contiguous to slave States.
But such being the case, we have never YET
been able to see how the annexation OF Texas
TO the United States would be extending sia-
very" il cannot be that even the most ultra
Aboiitionists, or conscientious ph'lanthropists,
rs they term themselves, confne their principles
TO sectional limits, and 10 particular localities
for. il their efforts could be Of any avail, they
are as much bound TO effect the " alteration OF
enslayed man" in other countries as their own.
True Abolition philanthropy can make no dis
linc,ion between governments; but Is bound to
exercise its bene6cenl influence in the most com
prehensive manner, and 10 the utmost limits OF
ihe human race-for such was the doctrine pro-
claimed by the "World's Convention" over
which Prince Albert presided, the consort ofthe
Queen Of England. 1t is the doctrine preached
by Lord Aberdeen, one Of the Queens Minis
tiers, in the dispatch which asserts that the Bri-
tish Government has abolished slavery in the
British dominions, aud is determined to fuse
every means in its power 10 abolish it not only
in Texas, but throughout the world. In fact,
the British Government avows itself as much
opposed to slavery in principle, as the American
Governments TO MONARCHY; and We should
not be surprised TO see both Governments, some
day, engaged in a war of determination against
the evils which they respectively condemn
England against slavery wherever it exists Anne
RIGA against MONARCHY wherever IL exists.
Monarchy is just as repugnant TO Americans,
and rs offensive to our laws, as slavery can be
TO the British Government; and we have as
much right 10 make war against the Constitu-
tional institution of Monarchy in England, as
the British have TO oppose the Constitutional
existence Of the institution Of Slavery on this
Continent And when Lord Aberdeen is in
clined TO play game of that kind, we will wa
ger something that the Yankees beat him.
But the philanthropy of Abolitonisis cannot
be local virtue-a Republico-endemc moral
disease-for the reason, that such fanatics as
Messrs. Adams and Webster object to the re-
movaI Of slaves from the United States 10 Tex
as. II is true Texas will be one Of the men,
bers of the Union when annexed; but it is no
less certain, and quite as apparent that in the
same proportion as slavery should be increased
in the annexed territory, il would precisely in the
same proportion become abolished in the States
from which they would be removed. The
whole question, then, as to extension Of sla-
very" resolves itself into this problem ;-Whe-
fhpr so, shs nssreas taLsa fonn THE country |
would breed faster in Texas than in the States
where they now dwell. This problem mus, be
left to Messrs. Adams, Webster, &c. tos solve, and
until they can furnish an incontestable demon
straiion 10 the affirmative, they should not ven
ture to repeat the assertion that the annexation
will increase the evil of slavery.
1t would be altogether different matter, i'll
our Government should acquire new territory,
and authorize the capture of Africans to stock
ii with slaves. Ia that event Messrs. Adams,
Webster, &c. might justly invoke the God of
batues,r and we would enlist as soldier under
their banner.