The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-13

ea'ho' oe avoided III VIII be sustained with greater
uuahnniV; Tor those who now hesitate on the point OF
tne or from natural desire TO postpone the settlement
81 embarrassing issues, will be found in its favor
Whaever doubt may have been entertained heretofore
WIN regard to the necessity Of making the declaration
contained IN the proyso, think there can be
y distinctly assumed that there no power under the
tls commended that there power under the constitution
opcgure slave territory, and to introduce slave States
nto the Union is denied that there is any authority to
restrain prohibit slavery in free territory We have gone
on and introduced into the Union all the slave territory
oAihis continents and when reach free territory we
pld that the extension OF the provisions OF the con-
sthton to IL renders it, pso taeo, by virtue of the
promlses OF the constitution, open to slavery Accord
ing to this construction the extension Of constitution
ana laws to any portion OF the Mexican territory, either
W conquest or peaceful acquisition. oyerturns the local
hw oyerturns the provisions of the constitution OF
Mexico which declares slavery to be forever prohibited
Mr. President, is this the true Interpretation Of the
constitution under which we liver Is il armed with full
power to bring slave territory into the Union, but void OF
jail power to bring free territory, and maintain it free
les the government to use the language OF Jefferson
would establish fundamental provision of the acqu
ston Of new territory that it shall be open to slavery
even though free when acquired Sir, have not tme
this late period OF the sessions to discuss this question
with the delberaon and care its importance demands
But future occasion may come, and will not shrink
from the discussion.
/ have heard with great regret the dissolution of the
Union spoken of in connexion with this measure. can
hardly think those who connect the two subjects
of the position in which they place themselves. 1t is
virtually declaring, that Unless we will consent to bring
free territory into the Union and leave tope to the extern
sion Of slavery the Union shall be dissolved Our south
friends have heretofore stood upon the ground of de-
fence--of maintaining slavery within their limits
against interference from without The ground of ex-
tension is now taken, and OF extending slavery upon free
territory cannot believe this position will be sustained
by the southern States 1t is ground, and il is taken
with avowals which calculated to spread surprise and
alarm throughout the non slaveholdng States.
The OF the slaveholdng States under these
new developments will, doubt not, be steady and firm
No State will stand by the Union with nexible
determination to maintain It than New York-none will
adhere more tenaclousy TO all the obligations OF the con-
stution And yet, sir, could hope for higher
career of prosperity the States to be discovered
In eighteen years her entire debt under the provisions OF
her constitution will be paid and she will be left
with annual surplus income OF at least three millions
of dollars from her internal improvements after dery
ing all the expenses OF her government Standing as she
does, the line of commercial intercourse between the
Atlantic and the great lakes with the rich and productive
States bordering them, the addition of the custom
house to her internal channels of communication would
make her the wealthest community, in proportion to
her population, within the pale of civilization. She
would be empire in herself But she scorns to enter
cuate the value of the Union She prefers stand,
she does the same footing with the smallest OF the
States, herself the most popuous and powerful, rather
than stand foremost and eminent in the field of dis
union In whatever manner this question shall be de-
cded she will be found the side OF the Union, not to
resist foce-or disunon is better than
intestine war-but to contribute by her influence and her
counses uphold the fabric OF the federave system
Mr. President, regret to hear either dsunion or civil
war spoken of in connexon with this measure. But,
repeat the former to be preferred to the latter lnwars
waged with foreign countries deploabe they always
are there moral fruits which atone, in slight
degree for their accompanying evils There IS the sense
of national honor, the parent of high achievement the
sentiment OF patriotic devotion to the country, which
shrnks from labor sacrifice in the public cause;
and the feeling of mutual sympathy and dependence,
which pervades and unes all classes in the hour of adj
versity and peril Far they are overbaanced by the
domestic bereavement and the public evil which war
always brings in its train, they serve to purify the
thoughts of something OF their selshness, by turning
them away from the sordd channels in which they are
too apt to rum But civil war has ameioratons. 1t
onal and domestic ties. 1t renders seishness more
odous, by wedding it to hatred and cruelty The after
neraon which reaps the bitter harvest OF intestine
war, is scarcely less to be commserated than that by
whose hands the poisonous seed Less far less
than these would be the evils of disunon.
But, sir, shall have neither The interests, the
feelings, the good sense of the country all revolt at IN,
erna dissension in every FORM If this question shall
be decided against the savehodng States II their
voice shall be unheeded; New York will not tor that
reason listen 10 any suicidal project of dismembermen
No. sir BY no agency OF hers shall the fraerna
bonds which unite her to her sisters be rent asunder
Their DESTINY whatever may be, shall be also hers BE
for evil for good, she will cling to them to the last
But say for her, and in her and believe do not
misunderstood her resolutions, that she never con-
sent to become party to the extension OF slavery to free
territory on this continent If it to be extended to new
areas-areas consecrated to free laborthe work
must be done by other hands than hers; and she must
leave it to time and to the order of Providence to deter
mine what shall be the legitimate fruits OF measures
which she believes TO be wrong, and TO which she can
never yield her assent.
DERsONs at a distance ordering tickets In this
great lottery to be particular IN directing
their letters to JAMES FLETCHER & CO.,