Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-10
THE THIRTIBTH CONGRESS.
Questions 10 be considered.

Ul what is due from the Representatives
To- the People, and what should be done. The
Slavery question is the all absorbing topic Of de-
bale,--and in the Judgment Of many, will create
a fusion Of parties, with an annihIlatIon Of old
parry principles, or the establishment Of new
parties based upon sectional divisions Of Terrific
~. faluing The Union as We do. and fearing lis
dissolution, as almost the greatest possible calam-
ity which can ailct the people and the country,
we should be sorry TO see any party lines drawn
BY sections Of country. There is already a sad
want Of unity Of purpose and feeling among the
American Smtes,-bul no more so, perhaps than
ought to be expected from such i dssmilarity Of
Institutions, connected with Slavery. and the dil-
lcrcnccs of climate and occupation. Much has
been conceded by the Free States. to maintain
harmony among all the States, aud to preserve
the Union. but concessions should not be all up
on one side, nor should they be made at all,
when the moral sense Of the country and man
kind proves them 10 be wrong.
This question OF Slavery is one of momentous
concern To the Union as il is and 10 poslerily.
1t cannot safely be left an open question, aud
ought to be sclted, Que way or the other, before
a foot of additional territory is admitted into the
Union. Leave il as il is, and the effect will be
the Texas game over agan,-new States and
now Slave States. Lave il 10 the people Of the
new territory to decide, aud such influences will
be- brought 10 bear upon them as will place the
Slave party in the usccndancy. Congress left
the Slave question an open one in regard 10 Tex
as and the people Of this new State adopted
Constitution which goes so far in It's practical OPP
GRAFTON as to perpeluale that institution there for
ever. Nothing short Of revolution can remove
the evil.
Now, we wish to remind Congress, and all per.
sons in the Free States, Of fact which seems 10
be forgotten by many,--and thai IS, that S'ares
are aiready Carried into California. and uHdcr
The protection (acquicscd in il not eXpressed,) Of
the Government Of the United States. They are
there with their masters. and they are there as
the attendants of some OF our Military leaders.
Now, suppose We admit California as it is, and
leave the Slave question an open one, every man
must see, that to be consistent with the Govern
mcnt relations to Slavery elsewhere. we shall be
bound to protect the Slave owner in his right Of
mastery over his Slaves. We become parukers
with him in the wrong intended, and in the wrong
done, and are respouSible,--lhe Free States Just
as much as the Slave Slates,--lor all the cousc.
quences of the wrong.
Ii is a most important event for Congress tc
be convened in IA time of War. and that war witt
0 ncghbSring Republic. aud with which qucs
IiolS are associated lhrraening the Peace Of ;ht
I mon itself 1t will require "lhe wisdom OF Tho
Serpent and the harmIcssness of the Dove" tC
meet all these issues. II is not for this hour, moi
The present year, nor even the present generation
that Congress is to decide, but for all mc,--fol
our children and for postcrity. Many Of us curse
England for having introduced Slavery to our
shores. and millions in time to come will pile
mountains OF curses upon US for Il like calamity
The extension of the evil but adds to the Difficult
ty of its removal, and what would be easy now
may be impossible Il score of years hence. We
may cyade the issue for the time, but it is mean
and cowardIy to hand down 10 a coming genera
ton a question of so lnuch magnitude.
While we neither dcSpond for the future, MOI
despair of the Republic, we feel that the time ha:
come for the wisesl deIiberation and the natures
action. lfthere was any hearty, honest unity 0
purpose among the Free States, their triumph
would be become, either in defence of the ISSUE
of ''no territory won by conquest" or "none a
ALL unless it be Free" That the People Of tht
Norh and West may not be altogether unhcart
and unadviScd, we look 10 their Peace-oyinj
and Slavery y-haling Representatives, and 10 lhci
own action. Public opinion upon this question
; should be heard At the Capitol, and upon tn
wings of the wind it should be borne upon ever,
, breeze, and by every avenue, until the Amns
I tration of the Government are made 10 rGSpeC
and fear the common and honest sentiment Q
r the Nation,
The expenses of the present war will also de
mand some revision OF the Tariff at the hands O
Congress- unless the Administration intends to g
t on increasing The public debt, without anv Prov
sion for its payment. We hope, too that Wes
ern members of Congress will make such a de
monslration in behalf of Internal Improvement:
us will compel Congress TO pay some heed 10 III
necessities of the Rivers and llarbors Of III
West. The War with Mexico has cost a SUI
5 already which would have given free and sal
/, egress from the greatest rivers TO the OCEAN,
Q enough, indeed, TO light up every harbor on th
+ Lakes, and 10 remove every thing obsructng III
way, cher to the harborS of the Atlantic OF {
our inland seas, winch are equally entitled I
" public consideration. Free Schools, TOO, coul
have been erected in every village of the We
:, with the money expended in this war, and aIon
Il with them, q church Of God for every deSlitur
parish in the land.
= These are all questions proper TO discuss
" home, to Petition Congress upon, and We hoI
;, that the people will demand and compel hea
ing in their PiHsbmgk Gaz.
The Cost Of the Mexican War.
e When we reflect that interest is the prevailr
o motive which influences the great mass of MAJ
u kind, W. are surprised that any ono can be oun
70 willing TO favor the further prosecution OF I'll
Mexican war. The annexation ofterrlIory wouI
Y not enhance the national wealth, and the roub
81 and expense Of holding it would more than coun
l. terbaance any of It's probable benefits in pecI
mary point Of view, to say nothing of the loss
S national repntauon in acquiring territory an III
r lust and rrcebootng war. The President in th
s; treaty proposed to The Mexican Government n r.
I'd Gently by Mr. Tris, asked Texas to the Ri
5 Grandp. New Mexico, andthe greater part Of III