The national whig., 1847-06-29

people of the American States that can COM
psnsate for dissolution of the bond OF union
that now subsists between them. The blessings
of the union, in our view Of the subject, are
paramount to every other blessing which they
could enjoy in dsunited condition.
The founders Of the Union so regarded the
question when they made the charter Of union
| the Constitution OF the United States. There
was no evil, in their eyes, SO great as disunion
and in this spirit they made the heaviest sacri-
fees Of opinion 10 attain the grand object Of all
their earthly desires. The thirteen original
States diyested themselves of The highest and
most important attributes OF sovereignty, and
granted them 10 the new creation Of the Fede-
raj Government. They did it with the most
alarming fears for the future; but, happily,
the same people who conceived and established
the Constitution Of the United States, have
proved themselves 10 be capable OF preserving
and perpetua,ing that constitution and bond of
union.
Among the sacrifices made by the people in
1888, when the Constitution was framed and
perfected, was the disposition of the slave ques
lon. That question presented itself 10 the cons
vention in the most hideous Of phases. The
foreign and domestic slave trades both existed
at that time. How did that body meet il? Did
the free States declare that they would not
unite with the slave States, except upon the
basis of the abolition of both these systems of
slavery? Did the free white men insist upon
negro slaves in the slave States Was there
any of the violent, bitter feeling, now sought
to be engendered in the public mind upon this
slave question The convention met the ques-
tion as wise and good men, who had higher
object to attain than even the extirpation. of
slavery II was terrible evil in the midst of
the coun,Ty--lar more terrible than il is now.
They resolved to tolerate it, not TO cure il.
Who shall say they did not act wisely?
The foreign slave trade was abolished, and
each State was left perfect and absolute master
Of the institution within its bounds. Five negro
slaves were declared to be equal, politically, to
three white lreemen; and the black man, as
well as the white man, is now represented in
the Federal Government.
Glorious result! Glorious era!! Negro sla
very-horrible as the evil is, and always will
be, socially aud individually was not suffered
to be an obstacle in the way OF forming com
plete union Of the original States. This union
has been preserved Tor fifty eight years, and
negro slavery has not prevented the eagle Of
its power from spreading his broad wings over
sixteen other and new States. Nor has the
evil Of human bondage, present all this while,
increased in intensity or ferocity, notwithstand
ing the Constitution did not provide for its ex-
tinction. On the contrary, il has been daily
and hourly changing its character; and if left
TO the management Of the sovereignties in
which il exists, there is every indication that it
will be extirpa,ed at proper period.
In the face of these facts, shall it be said that
the question Of negro slavery shall dissolve this
Union? Shall il be said that this Union shall
not be extended, so as TO embrace any new
slave State, on pain Of dissolution Of the Union?
Would not the evil Of dissolution be ten thou
sand fold greater than the evil Of the admission
OF hundred slave States7 .sThe Union--it
must and shall be prcservedW With this phi
mary and eternal sentiment in the mind OF the
country, it will be fully competent to the task
Of disposing Of the question OF admitting future
slave States. Let the same spirit animate fu-
ture Congresses and future Presidents, as that
which animated the Convention OF 1889, and
all will go right, and the blessings Of American
liberty will never fail. They will even reach
the negro slave, in due time. Let no opponent
Of slavery say, that negro siaoery shall never be
ertended under any circumstances. Such SEN
timent is not worthy Of any man who loves the
Union. Rather let him say--the Union first,
the Union last, the Union forever. Let him
leave the question Of slavery to the wisdom OF
the Federal Government, to be settled with
reference to the preservation Of the Union.
Cursed be that mans hand which shall be lifted
up against the Federal Union! Anathema,
maranatha 7!
What will be the fate of Mexico, il is no,
for man to foreknow though judging from
past experience, we think that large portion
of her territory-if not all Of it's destined 10
be surrendered to the United States. We do
not believe that il will be in the power Of the
Wing party to prevent such result, even if
i should get the ascendancy in the mex, House.
Of Congress. Ii we are right, what is to be
done with that territory? II is not vacant ter