Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-02-14

was worse than useless to offer compromises
which would rot probably be accepted oy lex
sible 10 arranqe 4 question of this sort to the
mutual satisfaction of all parties. by divisions
that were exactly equal in the quantity OF land
on each side of the line He hoped he had
lifted his mind up to the subject, and therefore
he had an eye not sngly to the acres OF fexas
on each side of the proposed line, but TO the
spirit of former compromises, and the pohftedl
bearing of the question. He confessed that
he had been solicitous to fix upon line which
he could recommend to the contented and
hearty assent of his own section, and yet he
| had not been able to perceive reason why 1t
should not be the limit of any demand by his
northern associates. The great and important
object, as it had been protested by them, (and
he did not mean to doubt their sincerity,) was
to fix now and immutably line above or be-
yond which the institutions of negro slavery
| should not go; and that for this there was apo
litical necessity without any special regard to
tie particular points at which the line itself
should run, provided it were not evaslVe and
illusory; and ifall that were true, their pur-
| pose would seem to have been accomplished
by accepting a line east and west along with
"a degrees north latitude, as proposed IN the
bill.
Again: it would be seen by reference to
the map, that by running the compromise line
as proposed by the bill, the Indian nations
sent thither from this side of the Mississippi
would have southern States upon their south
and east sides, and non-slaveholding Terrific
ries and States on the west side; and it would
thereafter cease to be the separate interest of
either so force them from their position; and #
I all the sympathy of this Christian land were
not to be concentrated or exhausted upon the
negro race, it might be we'll TO enlist aportion
4 of it, if possible. to direct counseIs In be-
half of the poor Indians whom we have push
ed off and transported, and whom interest will
again drive further and further, in dispi:e Of
paper promises. except it would be counter
acted by wise forecast and some kind pro-
vision of the law at this early day, for a sys-
! tenn that might probably postpone for long
} time all selfish efforts to dispossess them.-
That could not be effected without making il
the Interest of their neighbors to keep them
> where they are; or if that could not be done,
then why not avoid making it the policy of a
particular sectional interest in the Immediate
neighborhood to drive them off? Those who
believe thatth southern people were afflicted
with spirit Of slavery propagandism, delu-
ded as they were upon that point, might show
; their sincerity in removing the temptation that
! is constantly presented now to make room for
u, another slave State between the 34th degree
and 361 degrees north latitude by driving of
l the Indians; for, by the Missouri compromise,
; slavery had not been prohibited therein and
= in yielding 4heir claims down to the 34th de-
gree in Texas, the South would be accom-
t plishing by the arrangement something, if not
= a great deal, to secure the red man In his neU
: home forever. But he must not pursue this
: topic in detail, or he would consume too much
? time. One thing he would be permitted to
? say, and that was, that while he had never de-
tected in himself any temptation to yield to
, sickly sympathies in any the sterner duties OF
= his public station his heart always beat quick
at a sense of Indian wrongs. Yethe confess
ed it was not so much motive with him foT
proposing the line at the 34th degree of north
latitude as it was recommendation of its fit
ness, after he had fixed upon it, that perhaps
, it might be some secur ty to them. He would
r. take bond of fate to get protected, and to
] leave undsturbed, the Indian nations whom
t the United States had removed west of the
? Mississippi, under solemn vows before God
and the world, not to modest them forerer, and
he should rejoice to do it. But, alas, it was
impossible. Communities were governed by
their interest, and the interest of communities
was too strong for the counsels of man; but it
was submitted to those whose syrnpathies for
the red man, and whose love Of justice and
, mercy mi ght bring them to think with him upon
. Indian rights and Indian wrongs, to guard, if
they can do it, their future prospects In the
;: land where they were transplanted, and to de-
eide whether anything would be SO likely to
, secure the red men against future reluctant.
) involuntary removals $50 called) as the fixing
of this compromise line exactly at the points
t where these poor tribes will be surrounded,
one-half by non.slavery States, and one-half
by States where negro slavery was to be toll
: Grated. Then jealousy in one, at the increase
/ fpoltical power in the other class Of States,
, might check the enconragements of both up
) on the home of the Indians. Then the terrific
, ny south of "a degrees being open to emigra-
= ton from southern States, will at least post
5 pone-and it might be to a far distant day
any eager and irrepressible desire to occupy
the last territory that was left south of361 de-
grees, for southern emigration. Then the
communities neither side of these Indian
lands would have any exclusive right or pecu-
1 liar interest in the reversion, the enjoyment OF
] which was postponed by the occupation of the
= lndians-an interest which all experience had
shown makes men restless beyond endurance
<1o at PiCoCHI dGNtoCus n0 SiIOOfu U6 uuCdI-
did not to say that he believed the South had
: better take Texas with reasonable, but not an
evasive, capricious division, than to reject il
2 altogether! He was quite certain that the
southern people had rather have the Union and
l Texas, with such division line adopted in
> harmony and brothery love, thar to divide
the Union, in feeling or in fact, in the pursui,
of undivided Teas! At all events, he would
let the people answer that question for them.
5 seves.
He was not to be stopped in acquiring 7era,
for fear that some State might threaten to quit the
Union. If any was foolish enough to retire from