New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-03
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
.oYo.y M0aNING. JANUARY ,.



o.. Cas- In favor Of the Exten''o" OF
we trust no one il surprised ey 'ne aPre~.. 80
of a letter from Gen. Cas- advocating ".
ouslifed submssion by the Free o's'.' =" '"'
tension of Slavery through territory !" oe ''fDo'
from Mexico. To be taken abecs oy 'n's PI'"1"'
c.on,ento would simply argue ignorance OF Gen
Cas-. and espcciay ofhis Senatorial career "nen
=. rrstended TO be In favor Of the Free Territory
ndnciple, he meant simply that be supposed those
80 whose votes he hopes 10 attain the Presidency
would not tolerate q contrary avowal when, In
voting against the Wimot Proviso last Session, ne
took care TO declare himself Ia favor Of the PrincPe
but adverse to its adoption then by Congress as I'M
timely, we knew he was acting the part OF dis
senbler and dcceiver; ana 1t il only now when ne
throws off the mask and avows himself opposed IN
reservedy and ardently TO the exclusion oi avery
In any form and at any time from the present OF
prospective territories Of the Union that we see the
man Lewis Cass standing forth in his true coiors
the ,eryile pimp Of Slavery for the expected hire
of IL. Presidential favor and the deadly enemy oil
fmpartial Justice and Universal Freedom
7, would De a waste Of room 70 pub,h Gen. Cs
Latte, since il would eDgross two or three columns
9TH a mere repetition Of what has been quite as
veil urged by Messn Buchanan Dallas, Dickin-
.on and other spologsts for stripes and chains.
Really. it seems absurd TO argue the question az
all for its decision must depend at last on the
state of the moral consciousness, the innate per
oeoton Of the nature Of Slavery and the obligations
of Justice and Humanity. We may not, perhaps,
object tina, this consciousness this perception,
seem entirely wanting in Gen. Csss; bat when
ne pretends in one breath 10 regret though as
family as possible, that Slavery exists among u.s.
aud 10 the next proceeds TO argue tnat Congress
cannot forbid the introduction Of slavery INTO Free
Territory because it could 10. properly dissolve the
o relation of husband and wife OF parent and child
nor Of any other condition which onr Institutions
and he HABITS of orr society recognize" he exhibits
a fair specimen of that confusion Of ideas-thst
inter obliyiousness to the eternal distinction OF
right and wrong-which is the fatal defect OF the
argument for Slave Extension. The relations OF
parent aud child, husband aud wife. involve duties
and obligations which never originated in 90 oar
institutions and habits Of society but in the be
nescent Law Of God, and the uncf angling nature Of
Man and be who classes these among those iDsti
tons and social habits like Slavery, which may
be intermitted or changed OF the pleasure OF Con
crosses or communities, does not so much ortly
bis logic as expose bis own weakness
Gen Cass strongly insists On the acquisition oil
territory from Mexico-w not consent TO close the
War without it-srgoes that Slavery will never
cross the Rio Grsnde though no obstacle be inter
pose9-aad yet urges that il il be legally excluded
from our conquests the Union will be shaken if not
shattered, while the mere CONNECTION that such
- a Ia,Jya \.
atex,fhhold,ng Of the supplies and thus to dishon
orable termination of the War.'-That is to say
although Slavery never can nor will in fact be plant
ed on the conquered soil yet the South stands
ready to stop all supplies endanger the safety and
cut OF the subsistence Of our Army IN Mexico,
forcing our Government to Peace deemed dshon-
orable--all for shsdowy abstraction from which
no practical result is anticipated II the South
can do and dare all this for Slavery may not the
North say something for Freedom
Gen. Cass is forced to assume that the provision
of our ederal Constitution which says,
Congress shall have the power dispose Of and make
all needfol rules and regulations respecting the territory
and other property belonging TO the uniteo states,
though very loose if fairly construed confers
right Of property only and is not general grant
legislative power to protect personal rights rs well
Hence il follows that the glorious ordinance Of l7s1.
excluding Slavery from the territory northwest OF
the Ohio is unconstitutional; even the Missouri
Compromise, so far as it stpuates the exclusion of
Slavery from territory north Of lat 5000 is uncon
stitutionsl in short, whatever lavors Freedom and
gives power to limit Slavery is unconstitutional
True. "itis morally impossible" says Mr. Walker,
and after him Messrs. Buchanan, Cass, Sc. "that
Slavery erer should reestablish itself on this Mex
can territory we intend to acquire at peace But
the desperate resolution Of the Slave Power to
maintain TIE right OF extending il there, proves
this an empty pretence; and we every day meet
assertions that SIarery now crisis throughout
Mexico-of peculiar kind indeed pconagel but
not the less Savery-and we shall see this ground
taken by the Honorables before the struggle is at
an end This is but one of dozen hiding places
that they will be chased into and out of.
The main dodge, Just a, present, however, is the
plea that he people OF the new territory should
be left 70 establish whatever institutions they may
choose Gen. Cass says the people and aiterward
uses the inhabitants as synonymous herewith -
Now we dare him and his confederates TO act in
good faith on the principle they here proclaim. We
will meet them on their own chosen ground If they
faithfully to abide the issue. Slavery is coniessedly
no natural condition but the result OF positive esis
laton See any number of Judicial decisions to this
effect II you can possibly doub, about it, UewW
be content rih clear, wnequir0cdl provision By
Congress that the natural lac cf UairersG' Freedom
shall prrraI an any territory ce may acquire al
Peace until The People, the inhabitants thereof
shall BY direct obrmatire roe Of majority Of all
tie adult male residents formally establish and
isgalsse Slarey. What say you Messrs. Calhoun
Polk, Buchanan, Cass Richie h Co. to this pro
position Are you ready to leave the decision Of
this great question to direct vote OF the iuhabit
ants Of the New Territory, upon due legal notice
and time for thorough discussion Ifyou will bu,
signify such willingness. We are confident that all
agitation irritation and apprehension may at once
be dispeed forever Is not ths as tsir to your side
~ you can reasonably ask
Buchanan and Dallas.
Oar Washington Correspondent asks, what will
n.l., tho Nics prasidant ID On being