Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-03-18
Slavery in New Territory.

There are some who maintain that the new do.
main which may be acquired from Mexico in con-
sequence Of the war, should be divided, equally
as may be, into territory into which slaves may be
introduced, and territory in which slavery shall be
prohibited Ii will be won, say they, at the e.
pense Of both Northern aud Southern States, and
therefore both the North and South should share
alike in the division.
Those who reason thus, forget that the war in
which we are now engaged with all its cost of life,
and all its demands the resources of the country
is waged for the sake Of the new State Of Texas
This war is the price we pay for Texas. Mr. Polk,
in his annual message, has made very able, and
TO most minds, we believe, very convincing argu-
meni, TO show that the moment adopted Texas
into the Union. our pacific relations with Mexico
ceased that the proceedings Of that government
became hostile and menacing its minister was
withdrawn from Washington IFS preparations for
war began; and it only waited convenient pre-
text and opportunity TO strike the blow which was
afterwards given on The banks Of the Rio Grande.
| When we were asked to annex Texas at the risk
of this war, where was that feeling Of justice and
equity which asks that the new territory, acquired
at the common expense. should be equally divided
between the slave and free States! Nothing was
| heard Of it, except from few northern men, who
were easily oyerborne by numbers. But if we &c.
cepi this idea OF equal division rule we call on
those who propose it, TO show their sincerity by i'm.
mediatey persnading Texas, for whose sake we are
fighting, for whose sake we are taxed and shot at,
to prohibit slavery in half her territory.
If this cannot be done, the very rule OF equal d.
vision will demand that the new territory, acquired
in consequence of the war, should be annexed in
such manner that il may be open to emigration
from the free States, under the condition that sa-
very shall never be introduced.
The scheme of equal division, however, iu that
commercial view of the subject which these reason.
ers take and setting aside all higher consldera
TONS is not Just one. II proceeds upon the idea
that all the inhabitants of the Southern States are
Shareholders which is something more than mis-
Z take. More than half the citizens Of the slave
e holding States are not shareholders. 1t is modest
certainly TO ask for the twentieth part or less than
= twentieth part one half Of every thing that is OBJ
: tanned at the common expense of all the population
4 Exempt the new territory that may be acquired
2 from the curse Of slavery, and you not only open .
10 emigration from the North, but you make it
: place TO which the citizens Of the South not owning
? slaves may emigrate, with the prospect of attaining
= that social equality which the laboring portion
n them do not possess at home. We all know ina
this class have greatly contributed to the population
rs of the western States. Go where you will alonI
70 the western rivers, IN Ohio Indiana, Illinois
'e or even in Iowa. and you meet settlers from Mort
c. Carolina from Virginia, from Kentucky from Ten
!, nessee, in some places forming The mass Of III
~ original population. The Hoosier race, pecu
liar class Of inhabitants Of the western States
Mt sometimes called, is entirely Of southern origin
ST 1t is grossly unjust therefore, TO claim Tor
handful Of Shareholders, to the prejudice of the
less opulent brethren among whom they dwell
half the territory for which the great mass OF III
y. community are obliged TO pay, come their none
I'D and others their lives. A iarer division would
e' a tenth or a twentieth. But the Shareholders ha'
e- already taken their share in the division Tex
~ is large enough for them 10 stretch themselves Il
century TO come, and the rest of the territory a
ga quired by The should be open to the great ma
i" Of the industrious population Of the United Stat
N. in general, in the South or the North the East
us the West who own no slaves
~ " Evening Pos
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