Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-08-18

allA a. VIII iHHtes anu WtuIu every h mere else
on the face Of the earth, where am not forbid.
den, aud whore my power might extend. And
here, sir, ask, what has been your practice q.
a Government on this subject If at any time
in your progress since 1893. you have acquire
territory where Slavery existed insuch form and
consistency as 10 make il now difficult 10 over.
throw il, it has been permitted, only permitted.
to remain where by law il did exist; as in the
Northwestern Territory before l78q, but had not
taken deep root. II was expelled; and as in the
Missouri compromise. excluding it 10 all terrific
ry north Of latitude SO deg. 80 min. after 7G9.
When Louisiana was acquired, such was the
tone Of public opinion then against Slavery, that
| am sure the men Of that dav would have abol.
ished it there, but for the supposed evil OF dis.
placing system long established, ,on which, and
by which the social and political systems Of the
country were necessarily formed. Perhaps, al.
so, the terms Of the treaty were with some on
obstacle. The same men who directed public
opinion in 1887 in a great measure controlled il
/ in 1904. Jefferson, who was the author Of the
Ordinance of 1887, was President in 8O4, when
Louisiana was acquired. By his influence, the
Ordinance Of 1887 made five free States in The
4 Northwest, and | doubt not Louisiana would
have been also freed from Slavery too, but lor
the reasons | have assigned. Such were the
views ol The men who directed public opinion
then; would to God they, or such as they, had
more TO do with public opinion nop.
/ When the ample palrimony of Virginia was
transferred to the COnlederacy, Jefferson, aud
those Of his school, who made this noble dona.
ton, at once declared that Slavery should not
poIute the soil of five rich aud powerful new
States. Such was Virginia, such was American
opinion then. cannot suppose the opinions
of these men were so changed between 1887
and 1904 that Slavery at the latter period would
be spared by them, except for the reasons
have assigned already. Liberty, perfect free
dom 10 all men, of all coors and nations, was
the doctrine of Jefferson then, and am told
he is now the authoritative eXpounder Of free
principles to the school calling itself 'Eirgni.
an" as well as "Democralic."
Why, there is scarcely a Vrginan who VEN
lures 10 have an opinion contrary to The light
est thought that he ever expressed. And is i
so. that we are now required, for the sake Of
some imaginary balance Of power, to carry Sa.
very into Il country where it does not now ex.
lS! That sir, is the question propoundcd by
this bill The Senator from Vermont is satsfi-
ed that Slavery cannot be cxlendedto these Ter
rilories. believe, if his confidence in the ia.
dicial tribunals of the country were well found.
ed, that Slavery could not possibly 90 into these
Territories, provided the Senate is right both as
to law and the facts. ask every member Of
the Senate-perhaps may be less informed
than any-whether Slavery does not exist by
some Mexican law, This hour, in California;!
Mr. HANNEGAN in his seat 1t does exist:
Peon Slavery exists there.
Mr.. CORwIN. | would thank the Senator
from Indiana if he will inform me what Peon
Slavery is and really ask the question for the
purpose of Obtaining information. | desire to
know its conditions. Is it transmissibIe by in.
hcritance! Does the marvellous doctrine of
which the honorable Senator from Virginia
spoke as being part and parcel of the law adop.
led IN Nirglnla-PdriHS Seguiiur ueRtrCm-pre.
vail! Is that holy ordinance, that the Offspring
of the womb of her who is a slave must neces-
sarily be slaves also, there recognised.
Mr.. HANNEGAN. As | understand, Slavery
exists in California and New Mexico, as it does
throughout the Republic Of Mexico, and is
termed Peon SIavory-Slavery for debt, by
which the creditor has right to hold the debt
or through all time in a far more absolute bon.
dage than that by which any Southern planter
holds his slaves here.
Mr.. CoRwlN So it has been described to
me. | have not seen the Mexican laws upon
the subject, but the statement Just made agrees
with that Of many gentlemen who profess to
know something on the subject, and therefore
am inclined to think that it is so and that these
people are the subjects Of that internal law
The Senator from Delaware, the other day, in
formed US that the Committee have not given to
the people of California and New Mexico the
right Of suffrage, because they were incapable
Of exercising lt-because a large portion Of
them were of the colored races. Now, suppo-
sing that 10 be the case, and supposng the pro-
position 10 be submitted TO the Supreme Court
of the United States-was Slavery an inslu-
ZION Of New Mexicol-what would be tho an
swer? If the Senator from Indiana were there
to make response, he would reply in the affir-
NATIVE; he would say that the institution of SIa-
very was there-that 10 be sure il had its mUdi.
ficaons and lis peculiarties, but that il was still
Slavery, though there might moi have existed a
law as strong us that glorious principle of free
Government spoken Of by the Senator from Vir-
glnla--partuS SequttW rentrem. If, sir, these
three Latin words can condemn to everlasting
Slavery the posterity of woman who is
slave, may not that municipal regulation of
which we are now speaking in California and
New Mexico, with equal proprely, be denom-
mated Slavery! find, then, Slavery, as it is
called, existing here 10 degree, and to all prac
tical purposes as lasting and inexorabIe as in the
State Of Virginia; and therefore the whole Of
the hypothesis Of the gentleman from Vermont
falls 10 the ground as matter of fact, mas
much as the Supreme Court will decide that
Slavery existed there, and that therefore the
whole slave population of the United States
may be transferred 10 that country.
Mr.. PHELPS. The gentleman will excuse
me, spoke of African Slavery.
Mr. CORwIN. OF that am aware speak
now of the general proposition. Now, this is
very curious spectacle presented this day and
for weeks nast in the American Conuress and