Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-11
man of The South, and a STAKEHOLDER, tell you

man of the South, and STAKEHOLDER, tell you
| This.
The House OF Representatives, as early as the
middle Of January, had passed the bill 10 give
you Territorial Government, and in that bill
had sanctioned and legalzed your Provisional
Organic Act one Of The clauses OF which loley-
er prohibits The introduction Of slavery in Ore
gon. An amendment front he Senae's commit
lee, 10 which this bill was referred, proposed 10
abrogate that prohibition; and in the delays and
yexations 10 which that amendment gave rise, Inc
whole bill was laid before the table and lost for
The session. This will be great disappointment
TO you, and real calamity; already five years
without law, or legal institution for The protection
oil life, liberty and properly and now doomed 10
wait year longer.
This is strange and anomalous condition al
most incredible To contemplate, and most critical
TO endure colony OF trermen, 1000 miles from
the metropolitan government, aud without laws
or government 10 preserve lhcm But do mol be
alarmed or desperate; you will not BE- onllaweG
for not admitting slavery. Your fundamental ACT
against that institution, copied from The ordinance
OF l7oT-the work Of The great men OF the South,
in the great day Of the South, prohibiting slavery
in territory lar less northern than youIS)-w
mol be abroga,ed nor is that the intention OF The
prime mover OF the amendment. Upon the re.
cord, The Judiciary Committee of The Senate IS
The author oil that amendment bu, not so The TACT!
That committee is only midwife 10 il. is an.
thor is the same mind that generated the "iirc-
brand resolutions" of which | send you
copy, and OF which The amendment is the legili-
mate derivation. Oregon is not the Object
The most rabid propasandisl Of slavery cannot
expect IL plant il on The shores OF the Pacific in
the latitude OF Wisconsin and the Lake Of The
Woods. A home agitation, for election and dis
union purposes, is all that is intended BY thrust
ing This firebrand question into your bill and, al
the next session, when il is thrust in again, we
will scourge il ui!-and pass your bill as II
ought 10 be. promise Won This in The name oi
The South, as well as OF the North, and The event
will not deceive me. In The meantime The Pre-.
sident will give you all the protection which ex-
isting laws, and attachments OF the army ami ma
Wy, can enable him 10 extend 10 you; and, until
Congress has time 10 act your friends must rely
upon You 10 continue 10 govern yourselves, as
you have heretofore DONE under The provisions Of
your own voluntary compact, and with the luslice,
harmony and moderation which is due 10 your
own character and 10 The honor Of the American
name
send yon BY Mr.. Shiveiy copy Of The bill
OF the late session. both as it passed the House OF
Representatives, and as proposed 10 be amended
in The Senate, with The Senae's vote upon laying
il on The table and copy of Mr.. Calhoun's reso-
lulions-(poslerior in daie TO The amendment, but,
nevertheless, father TO iD-aso copy OF your
own Provisional Organic Act, as printed by The
order Of The Senate: all which will put you CON-
plelely in possession of the proceedings OF Con-
gress on your petition for Territorial Govern.
ment, and Tor the protection and security Of your
rights.
In conclusion, have 10 assure you Iha, the same
spirit which has made me The friend of Oregon
Tor thirty years-whch led me 10 denounce The
joint occupation treaty The day il was made, and
TO oppose its renewal in 1923, and 10 labor Tor its
abrogalion until twas terminated; The same spirit
which led me 10 reveal The grand destiny of Ore
gon, in articles written in 1913, and 10 support
every measure for her benefit since-this same
spirit still animates me, and will continue 10 do
so while live; which, hope, will be long enough
10 see an emporium of Asialc commerce al the
mouth OF your river and a stream OF Asialic
trade pouring inlo the valley OF The Mississippi
through The channel Of Oregon.
Your friend and fellow citizen,
THOMAS Fl. BENTON.