The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-10-02
The AcouigitIOn Of Territory.

$50 IL
cent victories, let US for a moment, turn our at :
tention to a subject which seems TO be Of para 9
mount importance. A few days since, we re-
marked that the South should make it a part !
Of her policy to oppose, through her Senator's
any treaty Of peace with Mexico which does s
not preclude the possibility Of the recurrence
Of the difficulties heretofore adjusted by the
Missouri Compromise. But here we are at
once met with the necessity for details. How
can this be done? If we oppose the Wilmot
PrOviso upon the ground that Congress has no
right to interfere with the principles therein
involved, we at once admit that the question
Of slavery CannOt BE- prospectivsiy settled BY
treaty stipulations, or otherwise, as regards
any territory which may hereafter be acquired.
That is, we are driven to the doctrine that
States seeking admission into the Union have
a perfect control, by their own constitutions.
over their own institutions. If w oppose the
question taken by northern politicians, that
Congress has the power to refuse admission to
q territory which acknowledges slavery within
her borders-we must maintain consistency in
our opposition to such doctrine, and in so do
ing it is necessary to take the broad ground
that all territory acquired from Mexico has a
right to come into the Union without ~restric-
ton or compromise; so far, at least, as the
question of slavery is concerned. This is the
true republican doctrine. Bui will the North
agree to it? " believe not, Her firm adhe-
D renee to the Wilmot Proviso warrants the be-
lief that she will use her balance Of power in
Congress to prevent the admission Of another
D slave State into the Union. No matter If this
8 power be unconstitutional-she cares not, and
9 will not scruple 10 use it, We are therefore
/, powerless; we have no means to prevent the
" South from being surrounded by free States,
only by using every exertion to prevent any
y further acquisition Of territory.
n Mr.. Buchanan has lately written q letter upon
1t this subject, which has been highly applauded
4 by Southern Democrats. We will make one
or two quotations from it:
"The question Of slavery, in one Of its an
q cient aspects, has been recently revived, and
threatens to ~convulse the country. The demo-
cratic party of the Union ought to prepare
u themselves in time for the approaching storm.
Their best security, in the hour Of danger, is
to cling fast TO their time-honored principles.
10 A sacred regard for the federal constitution,
q and forthe reserved rights Of the States, is the
as immovable basis on which the party can alone
% safely rest. This has saved US from the inroadi
Of abolition. Northern democrats are not ex'
n, pected to approve slavery in the abstract; bul
they owe it to themselves, as they value the
* Union, and all the political blessings which
beautifully flow from it, to abide by the com.
ps promises Of the constitution, and leave the
10 question where that instrument has left it--tC
40 the States wherein slavery exists. Our fathers
ne have made this agreement with their brethren
of the South; and it is not for the descendant
M Of either party, in the present generation, Il
ng cancel this solemn compact. The abolitionist
ne by their efforts to annul il, have arrested tn
natural progress of emancipation, and don
great injury to the slaves themselves.
at! "After Louisiana was acquired from Franc
by Mr.. Jefferson, and when the State Of Mis-
Ie' souri,, which constituted a part Of it, wa
nj, about to be admitted into the Union, the Mil
ePt souri, question arose, and in its progress thre'
tened the dissolution Of the Union. This We
are settled by the men Of the last generation,
Pc other important and dangerous questions haV
been settled, in q spirit of mutual concession
Ver Under the Missouri compromise, slavery WI
lar n.L:k:AoJ na.tI &c tka nOvollal If z
deg. 30 min; and south Of this parallel II
tel question was left to be decided by the peOpl
lch Congress, in the admission Of Texas, folIowir
in the footsteps Of their predecessors, adopt'
mp the same rule; and, in my opinion, the harm,
nv Of the States, and even the security Of Il
Union itself, require that the line Of the Mi
sour compromise should be extended to ar
new territory which we may acquire fro
Mexico.n
me- That will do t~olerably well--the Nilsson
on compromise is better than the Wilmot ProVis
,ec- But before these opinions Of Mr.. Buchant
airy accomplish the object for which they were i
APP tended, the South should fully understand Il
on significance Of the following extract, from d
itch same letter;
cry sI should entertain the same reasons, even
use il we're certain that this would become a SCI
GUS practical question; but that it never can
thus considered, must be evident to all w
SSAs have attentively examined the subject.
~ "Neither the soil, the climate, nor the pl
:.h- ductions Of that portion Of California south
SO deg. 80 min, nor indeed Of any portion
~; it, North. or South, is adapted % SLAVE l16orj an
besides, every facility would be there offered
~. the slave to escape from his master. Such p
perty scould be utterly insecure IN any part
California. tits morally impossible, therefor
that a majority Of Me cmigrants to That port