Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-03

if this is TO be the fixed policy of the Govern.
ment, Iask what will be our situation hereat-
ter.
Sir there is ample space for rtwelye Or fifteen
of the largest description of States in the terri
tories belonging to the United States. Already
q law is in course Of passage though the other
House creating one north of Wisconsin,
There is ample room for another north oil To-
Wa aud another north of that; and then tnat
large region extending on this side OF the Rocky
Mountains, from 49 degrees, down to the Tex
IN line, which may be set down ialriy as an
area of twelve and half degrees OF latitude
that extended region Of itsel is susceptible OF
bayin-six, seven, or eight large States. 10
this, add Oregon. which extends from ~ 70 4s
degrees, which will give four more, and make
very moderate calculation when l say 'hat,
in addition to Iowa and Wisconsin, twelve
more States upon the territory already ours
without reference to any acquisitions from
Mexico-may be, and will be, shortly added
10 these United Suits. How will we then
.stanJ There will be but fourteen on the
part of the .5ou;h--we are to be fixed, limited.
and forever-and twenty eight on the part Of
.the non.saveholdins States Twenty eight!
Double our number! And with the same dis
proportion in the other House and in the cleo.
torai college! The Government, sir. will be
entirely in the hands Of the non-Slaveholdlng
States-overwhelminsly.
Sir, if.this state Of thlngsi is to so on; II this
determination, 80 soelnnly made, is to be per.
sisted in, where shall I'VE stand, as far as this
Federal Government of ours is concerned 2
What, then, must we do2 We must look TO
.,ustce-lo our own inlerests-to the Constl
tuition. We will have no longer shield even
lin equality here Now can we rely upon the
sense of Justice OF this body Ought we to
.reIy upou this These are the solemn ques.
tions which put on all sides.
Sir, look to the past. II we ale TO look to
that will not 80 into the detalls-we will
see from the beginning of this Government TO
the present day, as far as pecuniary resources
are concerned-as far as the disbursement OF
revenue is involved, il will be found that we
have been portion Of the community which
has substantially supported this Government
without receiving anything like tanIamount
support fiom il. But why should 60 beyond
this very measure itself? Why go beyond
this determination on the part Of The non slave
holding States, that there can be no further
addition to the slaveholding States, to prove
what our condition is
Sir, what is the entire amount Of this pncy1
/ will no. suy that it iss designed. will not
say from what cause it originated. will not
say whether blind fanaticism on one side, whe-
ther hostile feeling to slavery entertained by
many not fanatical Oh the other, has produced
it or whether It has been the work Of men,,
who looking to political power, have coasid-
cred the agitation of this question as the most
etiec,ual mode Of obtaining the spois Of this
government. look TO the facttselC 1t is q
policy now openly avowed to be persisted in.
IT is policy, MIR. President, which aims TO
monopo!ize the powers oflhis government aud
10 obtain sole possession Of its patronage.
Now,,I ask, is there any remedy? Does
,!he Constitution afford any remedy Aud if
not, rs there any hope3 Those, Mr.. Ptcsl-
dent, are solemn questions--not only to US.
hut, let me say. to gentlemen from the non-
sIayeholding States, to them. Sir, the day
that the ba!lnce between the two sections Of
the Countryside slavelioldiug States and the
non slaveholding Slates-'s destroyed, is day
that will not be far removed.from political rev.
olution, anarchy, civil war, aud wide spread
disaster. The balance Of this system is in the
Slavehs!ding States. Ehey are the conservu.
tive porlion-always have been the conserva-
tive porton-always will be the conservative
portion and with due balance on their part
may, for generations to come, uphold this glor
be carried out--if we are to be reduced to
: handfuIl-if we are to become mere ballto
play the Presidential game with-to count
something in the Baltimore caucus-if this is
TO be the resllt-wo'! wo [ say to this Union.
Now, sir,1 put again the solemn question =
does the Consultation afford any remedy? Is
there any provision in it by which this aggres.
sive pucy-boldiy avowea, as it perfectly
consistent with our Institutions and the safety
aud prosperity of the United States, may be
confronted Is this policy consistent with
the Constitution No, Mr.. President, no -.
It is. in alits features, daringly opposed to the
Constitution. What is it Cars is federal
Constitution. The States are its constituents,
and no. the people. The twenty eight States
the twenty-niae States--( (inclodlng luwa.)
stand under this government as twenty.n'ne
individuals would stand to consolidated
power. 1t was not made for the mere individ.
nj pio.p, ri,Y Of the Stat as individuals. No.
sir, il was made for higher ends. twas formed
tina, every S;aie constituting portion of this
great Union ofours should enjoy all its nd.
vant.ges, natural and acquired. with greater
securiiy. an: enjoy them more perfectly. The
whole system is based Oh ustice and equality
perfect equality between the members of this
republic. Nor can thnt he consistent with
equality which will make this public domain
i monopoly OH one side-whch, in its conse.
-quences, woald place the whole powerin one
section Of The Union TO be welded against the
other portion Of the Union lsthat equality
How do we stand in reference TO this terri
torial question-tllis public domain of Ours
Why, sir. what is il? 1t is the common prop
crty Of the States Of this Uuion. They are
called "the territories of the United States"
D L.. stl,o
united Sir. these territories are the properly
of the States united held jointly for their com
mon use And is it consistent with juslice-is
!, consistent with equality, that any portion Of
the partners, oufnum5ering another portion,
shall Gust them in this common property Of
,heirs-shall pass any law which shall pro-
scribe the ctzeu us Of other portions oi the Union
from elniera.ing with their property to the ter
li,ories of the United States Would that be
consistenl-can it be consistent with the idea
Of u common property, held jointly for the