The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-25
Gev. smith, OF virginia.

This gentleman takes strong ground against
the Wilmot PrOviso doctrine, regarding the new
territory proposed to be taken from Mexico by
way Of indemnity, a natural outlet for the
suPerabundant slave population of Virginia and
the other States of the South. He says:
at is unquesiiOnably true, that if our slaves
were TO be restricted to their present limits they
would greatly diminish in value, and thus Sc
riously impair the fortunes Of the owners; but,
at the same time, humanity must mourn the
diminutiOn of those comforts and that regard for
the health of the slave, which has characterized
slavery in the South, and made II the most
cheerful and happy mental labor TO be found in
the world. 1t is well known, that as the profits
of labor diminish, so do its comforts. Many
melancholy examples of this truth are TO be
found in the histories of the old world; and
when the negro population multiplies in num-
Der and sinks in value, whatever may be the hui
manity of the master, necessity will compel him
to restrict the comforts Of the slave, and reduce
them to the smallest pittsnce upon which il is
possible TO live.
"The South never can consent TO be confined
to prescribed limits. She wants and must have
space, IL consistent with honor and propriety.
Ii is due TO the happiness and interests Of her
population, and TO no portion of it more than to
the slave himself Confne her to prescribed
limits, allow emigration to the white man and
forbid it TO the slave, and the consequence is OBJ
vious. Her slaves will rapidly accumulate; the
white man must emigrate; and finally, the slave
will become the owner Of the slave shielding
States"
We protest against this view We protest
against it in the name of the South, and in the
name of humanity. What! are Southern men.
are Shareholders 10 be held up as forever calcula-
ting what slavery costs, without regard to JUS
tice, right, law, religiOn3 "To limit slavery
And, therefore, slavery must be continued,
slavery must be extended! This is the argu-
ment. This is Gov. Smiths great logical basis.
For money, for the sake of the fortunes Of
small class of men, free territory is to be- cursed
with slavery. We do not know how the old
Carolina planters, now, would regard this state
ment; but in other days, they would have spurn-
ed it from them as alike coarse and base. 1t
cannot be true. We know that shareholders Go
not maintain SO cold blooded view as this. They
may, and do wish, in large sections of the South,
to possess territory to which they may send
slaves, either to get rid of the institution, for
their own safety; ibut we have yet to meet any
number among them so sordid or means so ut
terly regardless of human right or human feeling,
to say, OF intimate, that dollars and cents en-
tered thus theirplans and controlled their cal
culatiOns. The honor Ofthediscovery belongs to
Gov Smith. Few, we think, will desire to share
with him in tho present or future, the glory Of
its paternity.
We protest, also, against the cloak with which
the Governor has endsayored to wrap around
his bantling, SO as TO give It decent appear
ance. 'But at the same time," as If he felt IL
necessary to make excuse humanity must
mourn" For What Why, for the des,itutioa
Of the poor slave in consequence Of having