Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-03-19
THE SLAVERY QUESTION


We clip the following article from the
Journal OF Commerce, one of the ablest and
most discreet of the Northern papers. Wedo
SO for the purpose of shelving our readers
what the views and feelings Of our Northern
friends are on the subject OF tie Wlimot pro-
viso. According to the Journal OF Commerce,
the only reason that the Northern men per-
mitted the Three Million Bill TO pass into a
law without the clause prohibiting slavery in
any territory hereafter tic be acquired by the
U. S., was that they believed that it was not
the intention of the administration TO acquire
any territory South of the line OF the Missouri
Compromise; and that such being the case,
they had nothing to say. We copy the arti-
Gle for the purpose Of letting our readers see
the difficulties which the South will have to
meet at no very distant day. We ought and
must prepare for the crisis which awaits US
and the sooner we know what the determine
ton of the Northern people is, the better
We had hoped that there was sense and patrio-
: tism enough left in our Northern brethren,
to let US of the South alone; but we fear we
have been mistaken. From the tone of this
article, and it is only one OF number on the
same subject before us, we think that the
Northern people are determined to interfere
with our rights, and it is high time that we
were considering the matter and preparing oul
minds to meet the emergency in the proper
way The following is the article referred
"THE WILMoT PRoyEso.-Our understand
ing of this matter is, that, as the South does
not claim that any territory North of the Mis-.
souri, compromise line shall be open to slave
nv, and do not wish any should be acquired
South of it, that line will be substantially the
line upon which the President will endeavol
to establish the boundary Under these cir
cumstances the Northern members did no
deem it necessary or right to adhere to an alb.
stract decla :arion, to the embarrassment of al
important measure, with which the abstraction
has no special connection. So, having made
their declaration of opinion, and intended tc
be understood as abiding by it if the question
should ever become practical, they waive {
controversy now. Upon this plan it is, tina
the President seeks for peace, with the three
millions in his hands. This may be a very
different way OF restoring peace from the on'
contemplated by the President and the natior
at the commencement of the war. But it is {
great deal better than the prosecution of tn.
war Peace, like "pure and wholesome wa
ter,' is ''cheap at any price" The cours'
pursued by both the South and the North il
the emergency is patriotic and generous, ant
indicates, not dissolution of the Union, bu
a long continuance of fraternal relations
What great relief it is to us that fanatica
abolitonism has transferred it's fire and fur,
to England, where it may rage and burn GU
again, demolishing nothing but the Christian
Alliance.
1--WE have reason to think that the Mexi
can government, in conserving to relinqusl
any portion of its territory for suitable in
demnity, will endeavor to stipulate that it shall
be forever exempt from slavery Of cours
the stipulation will not be yielded in regar
10 Texas, but in regard to the territory Nortl
of So 80, there will be no difficulty in givin
the required assurance. Here is another ar
gument in favor of restricting our demands t
territory North of that latitude.