The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-10
From the New York Express.
Traitors to the Soil.

The office holding and office hunting portion
~of the Northern SOi-diSdnt democratic press
who have been traitors TO the soil of ;hejr
birth, in the matter of the Wilmot ProViso,
ask us Northern Wings, why we don't lee
tire Southern Wings, who voted with their
Cnsses and Dickiusons, as we do them? Why
not, say they, direct your batteries against
Criltenden, Berrien, and others, ms well us IT.
gainst us?
We will answer. They were not traitors
~ the soil of their birth, as you are. They
were not bora in, and surrounded by tie dai-
ly demonstrating evidence ofthe invigorating
influence of free institutions, as you were,
bur in and among slaves, and they honestly
believe, many of theuG, that slavery has its
blessings, as well ~ its curses, and that the
curse in it, is not so much upon she African,
rs lIpon the master, who owns ham, and who
knows not how humanely TO be rid OF him.
You own slavery 10 lee a curse every where
upon black as well as upon white, and yet
YOU suffer its extension from the Atlantic 81
the Pacific Oceans, by resisting the Nllmet
Proviso This is not their confession.
But if Southern Wings err, it is an error IN
behalf of the land ofther birth, and Of their
.birthrights.-an error to be pardoned by the
genius of the society that envelopes them,
while YOU are traitors to the soil whore you
drew yeur breath,-to every free institution
about yoU,-to every voice that whispers III
YOUR ear, and to the irrepressibic impulses
nrcoNsCIExCE that beat in your bosom.
To escape the slings OF this conscience, the
Hunker portion ofthe Democratic Press in
1kis State, such as the Albany Argus, and
The New York Globe, tell us, 'he question
is not settled yet,'-that the principlesof the
Yimot Proviso can be established when the
Treaty for the annexation Of California comes
Al , hut hn
time to Ueto the extension of slavery to the
Pacitco This with all duo Difference, we
must add, is adding subterfuge and false
hood to treason. The trailer to the soil thus
tries to conce;d his shame, and to calm his
conscience.
Let us strip the,gauze from this falsehood.
II is conceded by Mr. Dix and others, and it
is almost Il settled principle in this country,
that States claiming to be admitted into the
Union, must come in with the institutions
they have, ana the government they choose
10 frame, provided it be Republican. The
Wilmot Proviso now not being passed, Cali
fornia can be settled, and will DE, by slave
holding emigration from Missouri, Tennes-
see, Arkansas, or Kentucky,-and when or
shareholders are there, as in Texas, so in Cal
ifornia, they viii keep their property, that is
established slavery. When askingfor admis-
sion into the Union, then, they ask to come
in, and do come in, rs slaveholding States.
II is as impossible to resist them, as it WAS G.
ven Missouri, Florida, Arkansas, Or Lauisa-
ma.
But, say these Nerthern Traitors to their
soil-"we can resist in the Senate, where ii
takes two thirds TO make II treaty, and where
we have the one third and more, from the
free States that can he relied upon" Mis-
.erable subterfuge! Was Texas annexed by
Treaty, or by Joint Resolutions? Did NOT 4
mere Resolve of Congress, passed by bare
majority, annex Texas, with the elements of
six Slave States ia her soil, and that in def
ance of the Treaty shaking power ofthe Con
s,itutiop?
When Mr. Polk makes his Treaty, he will
not stipulate that slavery shall, or shall not,
exist in California. The Treaty will be as
silent as death ON the subject. 1t will then
b, urged by these Northern traitors to their
soil, that as slavery does not exist there now
Mexico forbidding it, it is not necessary to
stipulate mpon the subject. ut will be pre-
mature" "Tbe sine is not come" "Why
say there shall be no slavery. where
no slavery is'' &c. &c. Such will be
the sophistries with which they will
lull their dupes i'm the free States, while they
will sell themselves for offices in Washing
ton" Meanwhile the Wings of the South,
true to their soil, cannot resist Treaty of
Peace with Mexico upon slavery grounds a.
lone. and the rwo thirds will be found 10 rat
ify it,-or if not found then, the columns of
slaveholding emigration will soon pour in
through Missouri or Arkansas, and of them
selves, claim annexation by joint Resolution,