Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-24
The wiImot Proyi.o.

The WilmOt PrOviso.
The meeting held in this city last Saturday evening to
give expression to public sentiment regard this noto-
rous measure less attended than ought
TO have becn though doubles, many were kept away by
the neomeney Of the weather The resolutions adopted.
however and which may be found in another column, may
be regarded embodying sBbfsnualy the sentiment not
only Of this community but Of the entire South In the
Of the evening, brief and interesting speeches were
made by Robert G. Scott John NJ. Patton, John H. Gil
mer of Albemarle, and others.
1t is impossible the importance of the great
question involved in the Wmo proviso-a question once
vcted had hoped forever, by the celebrated Ms
Comp romise which the Mexican war is destined
reopen, without the faniest prospect far as we are
authorized TO form opinion from the and avow
ais OF Northern men, OF similar propious adjustment
We this language advisedly and with full knowedg
that ever the Presidential campaign of ls4O il has
been quite a habi, with school Of polt-
cans complain of the Of the Missouri compromise
by the South, both injurious and humi
her part That it upon its surface the aspect Of
concession, free admit; because while by a
negative pregnant" it comedies the South the right
10 occupy savehoding region all that part OF the
rory then belonging the United States south OF the line
90 deg 81 nterdcts slavery in that portion of its
territory situated north OF that line This incrdct is the
concession" referred to-which practically, contend
was in fact the REIMBURSEMENT only OF a barren right
because such high Latitude slavery prottably
exist aud il would therefore have been introduced
had such compromise been made. The Union
therefore, preserved aud its tranquility secured by
arrangement which, while 1t does seemingly deny To the
South equal right carry its slaves any portion Of
the common territory Of the Union only adds the sanction
Of law the rigorous decree OF Providence. Slave
labor would be Improbable in almost the entire region
from which, by that compromise it excluded, is
IN the New England and Middle States Consequently
Shareholders would have cmgraed with their pro-
perry hs; regon-pariculay when the Great Valley
the Mississippi much better adapted by It's climate and
the character OF lite products, to the profitable employment
Of that class Of population remained open their
terpzs. The Missouri Compromise too. emphaticaly
= SoHiAerH and We pay but poor compliment
the sagaciy and patriotism OF the by whom
sanctioned, and who, in all the qualities of states
manshp may dread comparison, even with the
wisest Of day, characterize
It, sometimes done, a. an inequabe, injurious and
Illuminating surrender OF Southern rights TO the demands
g. Northern cuPdiy, ambition and ianaucsm. By that
compromise, great danger ayer;ed-a danger the i'm
minency Of which wildly characterised by Mr. Jefer
son. when he declared that had fallen upon his ear like
the sound Of bell at midnight" Was the adjust
OF controversy Of such fearful import cheaply pur.
chased by the CONCESSION" Of right which, even had II
been pernacousy maintained could have enured in
the slightest degree the benefit the people OF the South
For reason doubtless many OF the Syutbern
members Of Congress at the present session. Tor
Oregon bull containing similar prohbitOry cause-thoVgh
in that bill Rrauiious insult 10 the South
OF the citizens OF which, imagine would ever
have dreamed Of taking his slaves that bleak region
legal barrier existed their removal rhither-
And hence too the practical unimporsnce OF extending
principle the ssour compromise to such territory
as may acquired from Mexico by way OF INpENSryr
for spoaoRs upon and tor the expenses OF the
proiessedy waged 10 avenge them-hOugh for one,
believing that any such Territory beyond the Rio Granje,
will be evil rather than a benefit source oil
additional expense rather than source Of revenue
that will be IN every Of the word a curse
and in point Of whatever indemniiy-we shall
be satisfied II the be terminated without any
enlargement OF boundaries beyond perhaps acqui-
Of port the Paeihc-and that deemed BY
many persons better qualified than ourselves express
opinion, to be OF comparatively trivial importance.
The Wilmot proviso however it apparent Is IN drec
contravenon OF the Missouri compromise Instead Of con-
ung inefdcuon OF slavery that portion OF the com
territory the Union, which, from geographical po
suon be profaby cultivated by slave labor, ant
the REIMBURSEMENT by Shareholders Of the right to occu
by which therefore is "concesson" only in terms ano
notn fact the OF that proyiso the whole ground
by declaring that in territory ha may be acquired from
Mexico, IN whatever degree OF latitude, shall involuntary
servude be permitted To this bold and arrogant assump-
ton, the South will submit. Pickering Ourselves "a
this controversy and its probable result the destruction
of the glorious fabric Of Unon confess neverthe.
less that the further of our boun.
danes grows mainly Of other considerations Of scarce
y inferior importance. and which, without going into de-
tall vii! naturally the minds Of our reader- Ger
t'nit s, however, that, II limits shall be enlarged b,
the cesou Of territory south oi the line Of the Missour
compromise 'he South will be restrained by Congres
sI1na ntcrdci from occupying and IT, when Il shall
future day, apply for admission saveholding States
into the Union, that right be withheld from them by
Northern majority vii! novertheless be asserted an,
maintained at all hazards-"pesceaby If can, iofcibl
u we must" The voice Of the citizens Of Richmond, a
enbuded IN their resolutions, Is the voice Of the unani
nous South.