The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-01-26

Union as a State, then the responsibility of
the Federal Government on the question Of
slavery for that territory and people, thus adj
mitted as State, ceases.
Then. say they who oppose the enact
ment of the Wilmot proviso. Why not let the
question alone, and leave it TO the States and
The people themselves TO determine whether
the State shall be free State or slave s,ate1
This inquiry and reasoning is specious and
plausible; but the simplest examination on
the principles of common sense will show that
IL is unsound and false. If left alone, slaves
more or less will be carried TO the new terri
tory. and if the country lille it remains ter
ritory should be settled by population hold
ing slaves. the new and additional question of
abolition is prese nted, and in order TO get
free State, slavery must first be abolished
This embarrassment in a new community.
without means to indemnify the owners, would
be an obstacle almost insurmountable. and
the new State would be very far from being
free to choose between becoming Il free
State and a Slave State. On the contrary, If
the country, while it remains a Territory
shall be settled by free population. from
wich slavery is excluded-lhen, when State
government is formed, the State and the peo-
pie would be uncmbarrassed by any pecuni-
airy interests Oh questions Of vested right, and
he free to decide whether the State should
be a free State or a slave State. In order.
then, to secure this freedom OF choice To the
State and TO The people, slavery must be ex-
cluded from the county while it is a Territory,
and until it shall become a State.
But | will not pursue the subject now II
must be obvious to all, as think il will be ac-
knowledged by all, that the character of the
population in the territory will determine the
character ofthe state. when that territory shall
be erected into state. If the territory has
slave population of only one fourth or one
filth Of the Whole nnmber, il will be slave
5 ate. liza free population while territory,
it will he a free SIate.-Erclude slavery from
all territory not within the limits Of a state.
and | am willing the territory shall determine
for itself when il becomes a State, what shall
he its character. Many ofrhe States in which
slavery existed when the Union was formed
have abolished the institution. No instance
piany one Of the states from which SLAYER,
has been excluded, can be found where the
state or the people have determined to intro
luce slaves. II Congress shall refuse at This
session, TO make his free principle Idu. the
INNS ofhe Republic rW conquer free Terri
'ory upon which Sldrery 'riHbe PlaHtrd. de-
Iire the adoption OF the free principle, because
| believe it TO be just to the free States, just
TO the white men who fight our battles. and
to constitute the strength Of the country in
peace or war; because believe it to be con-
sisten, with the principles ofour Government
md because believe it will tend to improve
The condition and character OF labor in the
whole country. And who will deny that, I'm
Republic, it should be one Of the chief cb-
Iects ofGovernment to elevate ard dignity the
condition and character Of laborl Unless
this msasure shall be brought before the
House by a committee, or in some other way
shall continue to urge the bill proposed
yesterday upon the attention Of the House