Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-01-09

according 70 me provisions OF the Cunst-
tuition, new States are to be admitted W.
on the same footing as the old States. Il
may be so; but it does not follow at all from
that provision that every territory or por-
ton OF country may at pleasure establish
slavery, and then say, we will become
] portion OF the Union, and will bring with
us the principles which we have thus
adopted, and must he received on the same
footing as the old States. II will always
be question whether the other States
/ have not right, land think they have
the clearest right to require that the State
coming into the Union should come in
upon an equality; and, if the existence of
slavery be an impeachment to coming in on
an equality, then the State proposing to
come IN should be required to remove that
inequality by abolishng slavery, or take
the alternative Of being excluded. Now,
do suppose that | should be very ssfe in
saying that If a proposition were made to
introduce from the North Or the Northwest
territories into this Union. under circum-
stances which wouid give them an eoui-
valent to that enjoyed by slave States
| advantage and inequality, that is to say,
over the South, such as this admission
gives 10 the South over the Morrill, take
it for granted that there is not gentleman
in this body from slavehoding State that
would listen for one moment to such a
proposition. therefore put my opposition,
as well as on other grounds, on the politi-
cal ground that il deranges the balance OF
the Constitution and creates inequality
and unjust advantages against the North,
and in favor of the slaveholding country
OF the South. Irepeat that if a ploposi-
ton were now made for annexations from
the North, and that proposition contained
such preterence-such manifest inc
quality as that now before us, no one could
hope that any gentleman from the South
ern States would hearken to it for mo.
ment.
1t is not a subject that mean to discuss
at large. | am quite aware that there are
in this chamber gentlemen representing
free States, gentlemen FROM the North anu
East, who have manifested disposition to
add Texas 10 the Union as slave State,
and with the common inequality belong
ing to slave States, This is matter Tor
their own discretion and judgment, and
responsibility; they are in no way response
ble TO me for the exercise Of the duties as
signed them here, but | must say that |
cannot but think that the time will come
when they will very much doubt both the
proprety and justice OF the present pro.
ceeding, cannot hut think that the time
will come when all will be convinced lhe,
there is no reason, political or moral, fol-
increasing the circle OF the States, inCreas-
ing at the same time the obvious inequali-
ty which does exist in the representation
of the people in Congress by extending
slavery and slave representation.
On looking at the proposition further,
find that it imposes restraints upon the
Legislature of the State as to the manner
in which it shall proceed, in case of a de-
sire to proceed at all, in order to The a'oi-
tol Of slavery, have perused that part
OF the Constitution ofTeXas, and, if | un-
derstand it, the Legislature is restrained
from abolish g slavery at any time, PX-
cept on two conditions, one the consent OF
every master, anG the other the payment
of compensation. Now, | think that a
Constitution thus formed does lie up the
hands Of the Legislature eff, actually against
any movement, under any state OF crCum-
stances, with view 10 abolish slavery;
because fany thing is to be done it must
be done within the State by general law,
and such thing as the consent Of every
master cannot be obtained; though do not
say that there may not be an inherent
power in the people of Texas to alter the
Constitution, if they should be inclined to
relieve themselves hereafter from the re-
straint under which they labor. But I
speak of the Constitution now presented
to us.
Mr. President, was not in the councils
Of the United States at the last session of
Congress, and Of course bad no opportu-
nifty to take part in The debates upon this
question; nor have before been called up.
on to discharge public trust in regard to
it. IcertainIy did, ,as private citizen, en-
| tnrtuit, faali,fr ihat iF ~ So,