The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-08-08

mnation of slavery by all legal, safe, and con-
slitutonal means, none could rejoice more heartily |
than nyseIflo see it thus ended the world over.
Lepi Hoodbpry'S letter on Annexation May
I'm, 1874.
1t (annexaiion us resisted bv many ioT the
reason that slavery exists in Texas, mat Is an
anslilution, to be sure, which most people, born at
the North, are, like myself, averse to-Levi
Woodbury's Speech in U. s. Senate June 4lh,
1914.
Crowd, then, your population into the southern
states as you may, rapidly and without fear,
Texas win open before it as an outlet, aud slavery
retiring from The middle and southern states OF the
present conledrracy, will fpd for time, resting
place there. But only for a time, for the ire
yersible law of population, which DEGREES that in
a densely peopled region slnsery snail cease To
exist, will emancipate Texas in her turn, and the
Negro will then pass to "A land of freedom and
social dignity under a genial sky. lie will pass
without civil convulsion, and leaving no domestic
ruin in his path: As his labor becomes less and
less valuable, Emancipation, gradual, progressive
at last uni, ersal, will pass over the southern
border to his more appropriate home in Mexico
and the states beyond democratic Review for
July 1874.
In arriving at the conclusion to support this
Gle, and this was the question of slavery, Whilst
ever have maintained, and ever shall maintain,
in their full force and vigor, the constitutional
rights of the southern States over their slave prop
erty, yet feel strong repugnance, by any act
of mine, to extend the present limits OF the Union
over new slaveholdins territory After mature
reflection, however, overcame these scruplesl
and now believe that the acquisition OF Texas will
be the means of limiting, not enlarglng the domln-
ion of slavery. In the government of the world
Providence generally produces great changes by
gradual means There is nothing rash IN The
counsels of the Almighty, May not, then, the
acquisition Of Texas be the means of gradually
drawing the slaves Car 10 the South, TO a climale
more cOngenial TO their nature and may they not
finally pass off into Mexico, and there ming with
race where no prejudice exists against their
color' The Mexican nation Is composed OF Span
iards, Indians, and negroes, blended together IN
every variety who would receive our slaves on
terms of perfect social equality. 10 this condition
they never can be admitted in the United States.
That the acquisition of TeXas would ere long
convert Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri,
and probably others of the more northern slave
States into free States, entertain not a doubt,
In fact, public opinion was gradually accomplish
Ing this happy result when the process was arrested
measure having directly in view the gradual alb
ollion Of slavery came within one vote, if my
memory serves me, of passing the House of Del
egaes of Virginia shortly before the abolition cy,
cllement commenced There was then in tina
State powerful, influential, and growing party
in favor If gradual emancipation, and they wer'
animated To eXerlion by the brightest hopes o
success; but the Interference of fanatics from
abroad has so eheclually turned back the tide o
public opinion that no individual would now ven
lure TO offer such il proposition IN the Virginia
legislature. The efforts of the nbollliohlSts
whether so intended or not, have long osponeC
the day of emancipation.
Blu, should Texas be annexed to the Union
causes will he broagh, into operation which mus
inevitably remove slavery FROM what may he called
the farming States, From the very best nroma
ton, it is no longer profitable 10 RAISE wheat, rye
and corn by slave labor. Where these article
are the only staples Of agriculture, in the pointed
and expressive language of Mr. Randolph, If the
slave don't run away from his master, the masle
must un away from the slave The slave vii
naturally be removed from such country, wher
his labor il scarcely adequate to his own supper
to.a region where he can not only maintain himself
bur yield large profits to his master. Texas wi
open such an outlet; and slavery itself may thu
finally pass the Del Norle, and he lost in Mexico
One Thing is certain. The present nunIbe! q
slaves cannot be increased by the annexation q
Texas.
have never apprchended the preponderonc
of the slave States in the Counses Of the nation
Such fear has always Appeared TO Ire to be Wis
II iOnaIy. But even hose who entertain such up
prehensions need not he alarmed by the acquiSi
ton Of Texas. More than the one half offs ter
ritory is wholly unfit for slave labor, aud therefore
in the nature Of things, mus, he free Mr. Clay
in his letter Of the l7Ih of April last on the sub
jecl of annexation, states that according 10 HI
/ information
"7hc territory of Texas is susceptible Of di
vision into five States Of convenient size and form
Of these, two only would be adapted to those Pc
cular institutions [Slavcry lowhch have referee
f and the other three, lying west and north OF IA
Antonio, being only adapted to farming and era
Zng purposes, from the nature of their soil, cllnal
and productions, would not admit Of those inst
iu,innS. IN the end, therefore, there would b
two slave and three free States probably ndde
, to the Union "--Spccch of Mr. Buchanan, IN Sen
ate June s, 1874.
The difficulty now is in the aspect which hi
been put upon it, (anneXalion) rs seclona
political and slave question; asa movement of III
South against the North. and oc the slave holdlr
States for political supremacy. This is as "
founded in the true nature of the question, ns
is unwiSe and unfortunate in the design whlc
prompted it, The question is more western tina
southern, and as much free ~ slave. The ter
tory to be recovered extends IN the latitude {
IS deg. in It's northeast corner, and 10 latitude !
deg in its northwest corner. One half OF It wi
lie in the region not adapted To slave labor, an
: Of course. when regnined. will be formed in,
non -snvchodng States. So far ~ slavery is con
cerned, then, the question il neutrallznd it ia a
much free a. slave; aud it is greatly to he rcgre
led-recreiiei By all the f,iends Of The Union
, that n different aspect has been given 10 il.
am Southern by my birth; Southern in my uIec
lions, interests, and connexions. and shall nbd
the fate of the South in every thing in which sh
has right upon her side | am stakeholder, an
= shall take the fate of other Shareholders in ever
aggression upon that species of property, and !
> every attempt TO excite II San Domingo Insured
, ton among Us. have my eyes wide open I
, that danger and fixed the laboratories OF insur
j reclion, both in Europe and america. but mus
see real case Of danger before take the alarm
am against the cry Of wolf, when there ia n
> wolf | will resist the intrusive efforts OF ihcs
whom il does not concern to abolish slavery anon
US; but shall moi engage in schemes for lis eS
u tension into regions where it was never known
= into the valley of the Rln del Norle, for example
: and along a river Of two thousand miles in extent
' where slaves face never was seem Speech
D Mr. Benton, in Senate Of L. s, May 10, is an
1871