The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-03-11


provides fr the admission of new States into The
Union. The third clause of the second section of
the first article decares,s" that representatives
and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the
several States which may he included within this
Union. according 10 their respective numbers,
which shall be determined by adding 10 the whole
number ct free persons. including those bnund TO
service for term Of years. excluding Indians no,
taxed, three fihhs Of all other persons"
Here we find that representation of slaves is
expressly provided for in new States to be admit
ted into the Union. This proves conclusivelv
that the trainers of the constitution contemplated
the future admission If slave States. The new
States to be admitted, which were more partcu.
larly in the mind Of the convention were und,ubt.
edly those which il was contemplated would he
carved out of the Territories which we then nos
sessed, and which il was daily expected we would
acquire by the cession of the States II was
known TO the trainers of the constitution that
Territorial governments would, from necessity.
precede the organization Of States. Can any one
at all conversant with the history of the cons,itu
tim for moment believe that il would have been
adopted. if il had been understood that Congress
might prohibit slavery in the territories Sir, if
there was one feeling which more than any other
characterized the proceedings of the convention il
wac settled disrust the part of the southern
States Of the northern and eastern States ON The
subject of slavery The constitution itself shows
WIS l'"oh at tue guarantees and satepuard S con-
tanned in il, which were insisted upon by the
south as "sine qua nons.'' With these notorious
facts staring us in the face, can any one believe
that this means of war upon savery--the rich,
OF legislation for the territories upon the subject
of slavery. more dangerous than any other, would
have been quietly conceded by the south. Sir, il
is impossible. Who, at all acquainted with the
history OF those times, believes for moment tina,
the constitution ever would have been adopted. if
it had been understood that it conferred such a
power upon Congress- When the south insisted
upon safeguards and guarantees in one part of the
constitution as a condition of their ADOPTING it
can any one believe that they would have conced :
ed IN other parts powers which would make them
all nugatoryf There is one who believes this 2
Then the solemn question arises which beg gen.
tleInen TO consider calmly, can this constitution
last, IT powers exercised in violation of it, the
grant of which would have prevented lis adop
tion?
The proposition TO exclude slavery from all The
territories hereafter 10 be acquired without any
reference to lis geographical position evinces bad
faith upon the part of the slaveholding States
1t is not only palpable violation of The consi.u
ton, but also Of the spirit of the Missouri com
promise That compromise, as have already
said' was forced upon us by The north. For the
sake OF peace we have been willing to acquiesce
IN It, But the very portion of the country which
forced II upon us. now insist upon disregardinq il
against remonsrance
To be concluded in our next1