Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-19

to submit, as we have done 10 the u'lcohSH-
tutional acquisition of Texas, or Dissolve 'he
present Government. Now, sir, have no
disposition to press this subject to such a rear
fol issue. 1t strikes me that the true ground
for every man sincerely opposed to the further
extension of slavery is, 10 oppose the TURNER
acquisition of territory. And il we cannot
successfully take our stand here, then am l
prepared for %ulterior measures and, deplora-
BILE as | believe the consequences will be-
much prefer them to the extension Of slavery
But these gentlemen who are prosecuting
this war of conquest have not, by their action
either during this or the last session Of Con-
gress, evinced any very strong opposition to
the extension of slavery. AT the last Con-
gress, as | have already said, by the anneXa-
ton resolutions, declared to be the funda-
mental law of union, slavery WAS excluded
from all territory north Of SO 30. This IS
the language of the resolutions " And such
Estates as may be formed out of that portion
9 of said territory lying south of thirty-slX de-
{ grees and thirty minutes north latitude, COM
8 monty known as the Missouri compromise
line, shall be admitted into the Union with,
: or without slavery, as the people OF eacn
State asking admission may desire; ana
such State or States as shall be formed out
: of said territory north Of said Missouri com
: promise line. slavery and involuntary servl-
'tude, except for crime, shall be prohibited
Yet, when Texas came to be admitted as a
State into this Union, with a constitution eX-
tending slavery to all territory north of this
compromise line, these gentlemen gave it
their support. in violation OF the resolutions
which, by their terms, were declared to be
the fundamental law of annexation. How
this vote can be reconciled with the opposi-
ton to the extension of slavery, ] leave for
these gentlemen 10 settle. And, again, at
this session, these gentlemen are willing to
establish the western boundary of Texas at
the Rio Grande, where they know she has
no more title than TO the West Indies. Nc
one will pretend that the territory on the left
bank of the Rio Grande is now stained with
the footprint of Il slave. No letters now
clank upon that soil. Mexico, however, un-
enlightened in the theory of civil govern
ment, has manifested far more regard for the
principles of human liberty than the people
of this country. She acted consistently will
her republican professions, and, in 1929
abolished slavery upon that very soil wher'
you are now seeking to re-establish it. AM
yet gentleman tell us at the same time, the,
are opposed TO the extension of slavery. ]
You are willing to extend slavery to the Ri
''tNbNf uii ''iChS'phN - 'ii't ''oh tl'i'O
claimed by Texas lying between this rive
and the Nueces, | do not see why, upon thi
principle, you can object 10 the extension c
slave territory throughout all Mexico. 1t i
in vain to take shelter under the plea that tn
Rio Grande furnishes a natural boundary he
tween the two countries. 1t is not so. 1t
no boundary and never can be a boundar
between free and slave institutions. And
peace be concluded between the two govern
ments Tomorrow, fixing on the Rio Grand
as the boundary, it will be but an arme
peace, and a year would not pass away be
fore slavery would furnish new cause of wa
between the two governments. Here is
river, but about three hundred yards across
with a valley fifteen miles broad. Immed
ately on the right bank of that river, is or
of the principal cities in this part of Mexico
Now, how long will it be before your slave
will escape across that river ! And will tn
MeXicans surrender these ~slavesl No.
Their humanity will prompt them not to d
it. And can You make any treaty by whic
: they will oblige themselves 10 do this =
Never; for you cannot procure the ratified
ton of any such treaty even by your own G,
, vernment. Never will there be found,
trust, two-thirds Of the United States Sena
; willing to ratify such a treaty. No ma
representing the free States in that body wi
5 dare TO ratify a treaty that provides for tn
return of unolfending men into bondage
S And if these fugitives are not given up, wi
it not produce a border war between the il
h hahitants of the two governments? VIII,
here among ourselves, a people of the san
d origin governed by the same laws, and bour
t together by a thousand social, civil, and p
1t litical ties, it has gone near to produce tn
ue result. How certainly, then, would tn
" cause produce hostilities between a Peep
e differing in everything upon which our frien
n ly relations depend-in origin, manners, Gu
/ toms, religion, and even now already deep
l. exasperated toward each other?
$ Slave and free institutions can have no j
rs tercourse. They cannot exist together
e. safety and mountains as tall as the peaks
y Chimborazo, would hardly furnish a suffice
ut boundary between them. There is one bou
v, dairy which we may adopt with some prot
s. bility of a continued peace, and that is I
n desert to which | have referred. 1t separai
s. the habitable portions Of the territory bordt
Y ing upon the two rivers, by some hundr
of miles, and although not an adequate bound
at nv for slavery, it is the only one that pr
re misses even the hope of permanent tranquil
gu ty to the people of the two governments.
III NOW, eau any OlC DCliCNO h'"t bHN NbJS'
hit of this war-either the conquest Of mo
he Mexican territory, or the establishment
ry the Rio Grande as the boundary of Texas
AT will be secured without imminent danger
ad the interests of this country. / aver 1t as Z
ry solemn conviction, that if either were sec'
lis ed, it would be an event that every since
Ist friend of the country would deplore. Il
a. if we desire it, can these objects be secure
n | do not believe it. Mexico never'will &C
es clude a treaty with you upon these terms
lis This is a matter that involves her nation
We existence. You robbed her of one of herp
vn vinces-fcr it can be called by no other nan
cy You, without provocation, invaded Other
be and when she attempted to repel this uni
,e- invasion, our victorious armies butchered
be inhabitants upon their hearthstones and y
TO- now ask a surrender of more than one-th
1t OF the fairest portion Of her dominions.
We this he granted, what hope can she have t