Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-10-05

making no extraordinary pubiie efforts;
and then, al the eleventh hour, quietely
steal march upon US, as they have done
in some other States, Our vigilence ought
to be constantly Outhe alert, until the
moment of victory.
The question Of slavery, in one of its
ancient aspects, has been recently reviv.
Cd and threatens to convulse the country.
HE Democratic party ofthe Union ought
70 prepare themselves in time for the ap
preaching storm. Their best security.
in The hour Of danger, is to cling fast to
their tImehonored principles. A. sacred
regard for the Federal constitution, and
for the reserved rights OF the States, is
the Immovable basis on which the party
can alone safely rest. This has saved us
from the inroads of abolition. Northern
Democrats are not expected TO approve
slavery in the abstract; but they owe it
to themselves, as they value the Union.
and all the political blessings which boun.
tltully flow from it, to abide by the com.
promises ofthe constitution, and leave
the question, where that instrument has
len 1t, TO the States wherein slavery ex.
LIST. Our fathers have made this agree.
ment with their brethren Of the South:
end It is not for the descendants ofeither
party, in the present generation, to can
Gel this solemn compact. The abolition.
lsts by their efforts to annul it, have arrest
ed the natural progress of emancipation.
and done great injury to the slaves them.
selves.
:. Alter Louisiana vas acquired from
France by Mr.. Jefferson, and when the
Dtate OF Missouri, which constituted
part Of it, was about to be admitted into
the Union the Missouri question arose,
and in its progress threatened the dissolu.
ten ofthe Union. This was settled by
the men ofthe last generation, as other
important and dangerous questions have
been settled, in spirit Of mutual conces.
sion. Under the Missouri compromise,
slavery was. ''forever prohibited" north of
the parallel of SO deg. Som. north Of this
parallel question was leR to be decided by
the people. Congress, in the admission
ofVexas, following in the footsteps of
their predecessors atoptedthe same rule;
add, in my opinion, tue hormony of the
states, and even security Of the Union
tself,Fequirsd that the line ofthe Missouri
compromise should be extended to any
new territory which we may acquire from
Mexico.
should entertain the same opinion,
even if it were certain that this would
6ecOme serious practical question; but
that II never can be thus considered, must
be evident TO ali who have attentively
examined the subject.
Neither the soil, the climate, nor the
productions ofthat portion of it Califor
MIA south of SO deg. 80 min., nor indeed
OF any portion oft, North or South; is a.
dapted to slave labor; and, besides, every
facility would be there affored to the slave
TO escape from his master. Such prop
erty would be utterly Insecure in any
part of California. It. is morally impos.
Sible, therefore, that majority of the
emigrants to that portion of the territory
south of So deg. 80 min, which will be
chiefly composed Of our fellow. citizens
rom the Eastern, Middle, and Western
States, will ever re.establish slavery
within its limils. In regard to New
Mexico, east ofthe Rio Grande, the ques.
ton has been already settled by the ad.
mission ofTexas into the Union.
Should we acquire territory beyond the
Rio Grande, and east of the the Rockey
Mountains, it is still more improbable
that majority of the people of that re-
gion would consent to re establish sla.
very.-They are, themselves, in a large
proportion, coioreC populations; and a.
mong them, the negro does not socially
bclongto a degraded people.
This question is. therefore, not one Of
practical importance. Its agitation, how.
ever honestly intended. can produce no
effect but to ALLEVIATE the people of differ.
eni portions ofthe Union from each other:
to excite sectional divisions and Jealous.
les; and to distract and possibly destroy
the Democratic party, on the ascendancy
Of whose principles and measures depends
ss firmly helievey the success of our grand
experiment ofself government.
Such have been my individual opinion,
openly and freely expressed, ever since
the commencement of the present unfor.
sunante agitation: and of all places IN the
wo rid, prefer to put them on record be.
bra me- incorruptable Democracy of Old
Bsrks, |, therefore, beg leave 10 offer you
the following sentiment.
The Missouri Comprouuise.-Its adop.
ton in 1920 saved the Union from threat.
ened convulsion. Its extension in 1918
% any new territory which we may &C.
quire, will secure the like happy result.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Charles Kessler, Esq, President, and
George +. Spayd and Jocob LiyehwoOd,
Esqpires, Secretaries. etc. etc.