Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-10-06
COMPROMISE.

COMPROMISE.
A compromise, if we understand it, is mutual
concession OF conflicting claims or rights for mu-
tual benefit where both parties yield something
on one hand, that they may gain something on an
otIrr-y ielding rights, properties possessions,
or whatever it may be, for the sake of good will,
harmony, and peace. But where the concession is
all one side, and the gain is all on the other it
makes, to say the most very one-sided compro-
mise OF it; and such compromise, we consider,
would be the application of the Missouri line to
territory hereafter acquired
Slavery, it is we'll understood. can exist only bv
positive municipal law establishing it. 1t does not
belong to any territory as matter of course Four
| ilths yes nne-tenths of the civilized world have
outlawed it, and slave is not considered as proper
ty, or subject to the control of his master beyond
the boundaries where this particular law prevails.
If lose his horse, the laws Of all civilized ma
tons recognize the horse property, and afford IA
cilites for his recovery, wherever he may be found
But not so in respect to a slave. True, many of
our States, in obedience TO law of Congress- have
conceded to the South the right of claiming and
covering slaves who have fled from servitude but
let man voluntarily bring his slave on to free soil,
or soil where the positive laws creating the institu
ton do not prevail, and he is at once free He is
not, in the eye OF the law property and cannot as
can a horse, be claimed as such. Slavery, then,
or the right of property in man, exists where
a matter of course, but only by positive enactment
! all
it does not now exist, is positive gain to Slavery
ard positive loss to Freedom five acquire ter
ritory from Mexico by conquest or treaty. it is com
mon territory, subject to the disposition of Congress.
Slavery is rejected by nine-enths of the civilized
world By what rule, then, of compromise logic
should the north concede nine-tenths of this new
territory to this condemned institutions \ com
promise of this kind would be jug-handle affair
with a vengeance in which the North would lose
every thing and the South gain every thing.
Slavery is condemned in the North. 1t is tottcr
ing in Delaware and Maryland we'll other
southern States. None of the North, and but few
OF the South claim il as beneficial or right. Why
then should the North extend this evil over any do
main which we may acquirc-absolutely intlict it
upon territories where it has been rejected, and
where it does not now, and never will exist, unless
it be so established. 1t is not merely concession
on the part OF the North to the South but the North
is absolutely doing the work of the South work
which the South cannot do alone. Supposng the
Missouri compromise, or the slavery prohibition of
the Ordinance of 81 did not exist, and Congress
cIcJt ,bC
establish, slavery in Wisconsin? How would such
proposition be received? Would northern mem
bcTs listen to such a request Certainly not; and
yet such request is not different from the demands
OF the South at the present time.
But it will be asked, if slavery exists no where
as matter of course what is the use of the Wimot
provso? 1t cannot exist, unless positively cstah-
lished-therelore, the Wilmot proviso is aimed at
nothing, and accompIishes nothing If it had not
been for the concessions of the North on the ques-
ton when the annexation and admission of Texas
were under discussion, it would not perhaps have
been deemed necessary. The Wilmot proviso is a
mere declaration of principle, or rather of purpose
on the part of the majority. The South, and the
world at large are warned by not only what the
law is, but that it the intention of the majority TO
stand by it, so that the inhabitants of this ter
rtory may not hereafter when asking admission
into the Union, claim this institution as conceded to
them, and theirs of right This is the object of the
proviso. and in this light it is all important Yield
it, and the whole territory is yielded to the institu
ton-adhere to it, and 1t is declaration which no
Congress hereafter will desire to disregard when adj
uniting states formed of new territory. The South
will never be any stronger than she is today if this
proviso be passcd-consequeutly, she cannot repeal
it-but fail to pass it, and she has strength which
cannot be overthrown, except in dissolution of
the Union, some civil CONFUSION, which must
of necessity grow out of the establishment of
wrong such as slavery.
! Shall the North, then, make this miscalled COM
promise! Is she under any obligations whatever
TO do it! Would it not be a concession of right to
wrong OF virtue 10 evil, out of which possibly
grow no good TO either party; but which, from its
very nature must be productive of mutual mischief
and injury. Ay, will the North be so recTeant to
duty so far iorgetiu of what she owes 10 herself
to the union, and to the of right and freedom
throughout the world, as TO do it? We shall see.
/ u BY an eloquent writer, Science is defined to
be the mother of true Religion because she leads
us along brilliant highway, bordered with an in
fniy of refining oveliness and eIevating grandeur
up to the loftier realm where His eternal spirit