Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-12-14

whole people Of the United States and of every
State contributed to dCffay the expenses of the
war; and it would not be Just for any one Sec
ton to exclude another from all participation in
the acquired territory This would not be in
consonance with the Just system of government
which the trainers of the constitution adopted.
The question is believed to be rather abstract
than practical, whether slavery ever can Or would
exist in any portion of the acquired territory,
even if were left to the option ofthe Slavehold-
inc States themselves. From the nature of the
climate and productions in much the larger por-
ton of it, it is certain it could never exist; and
in the remainder the probabilities are it would
not. But however this may be, the question, IN
volymg as it does, principle of equal rights Of
the separate and several states as equal co-part-
ners in the confederacy should not be disregard
ed.
In organizing governments over these terrific
ries, no duty imposed on Congress by the Con-
stitution requires that they should legislate on
the subject of slavery, while their power to do so
is not only seriously questioned, but denied by
many of the soundest expounders of that instru-
ment. Whether Congress snail legislate or not
the people of the acquired territories, when as
sembed in convention to form State COnstitu-
tons, will possess the sole and exclusive power
to determine for themselves whether slavery shall
shall abstain FROM interfering with the question,
the people of these territories will be left free to
adjust as they may think proper when they ap-
py for admission as States into the Union. No
enactment of Congress could restrain the people
of any sovereign states of the Union, old or new,
north or south, sluveholding or noll-saveholding,
from determining the character of thoii own do
nestle institutions as thoy may deem wise and
proper Any and all the States possess this
light, and Congress cannot deprive them Of it.
The people of Georgia might, if they chose,
so alter their constitution as to abolish slavery
within its limits; and the people of Vermont
might so alter their constitution as to admit slav-
cry within its limits. Both States would possess
the right; though, all know, it is not probable
that either would exert it.
It is fortunate for the peace and harmony Of
the Union that this question is in its nature tenn
porary and can only continue for the brief peri
cd which will intervene before California and
New Mexico may be admitted as states into the
Union. From the tide of population now flowing
into them, it is highly probable that this will
soon occur.
Considering the several States and the citizens
of the several States as equals, and entitled to
equal rights under the constitution, if this we've
an original question, it might well be insisted on
that the principle of non-interferenco is the true
doctrine, and that Congress could not, in the alb
sence of any express grant of power, interfere
with their right. Upon'a great emergency, how
ever. ander menacing dangers to the Union, the
Missouri compromise line in respect to slavery
was adopted. The same line was extended far
ther west in the acquisition of Texas.
After all acquescence of nearly thirty years
in the principle of compromise recognized and
established by these acts, and to avoid the dam
ger of the union that might follow if it were now
dlsregarded have heretofore expressed the opin-
ion that the line of compromise should be extern
ded on the PARALLEL of thirty six degrees thirty
minutes from the western boundary Of Texas,
where it now terminates, to tho Pacific ocean,
This is the middle ground of compromise, upon
which the different sections OF the Union may
meet, as they have heretofore met. If this be
DONE it is confidently believed large majority
of the people of every section of the country
however widely their abstract opinions on the
subject of slavery may differ, would cheerfully
and patrioticallv acquiesce in it, and peace and
harmony would again I'LL our borders.
The restriction north of the line was only
Welded to in the case of Missouri and Texas
upon principle of compromise, made necessa-
~ for the sake of preserving the harmony, and
possibly the existence of the Union.
1t was upon these considerations that at the
close of your last session, gave my sanction to
the principle of the Missouri compromise line,
by approving and signing the bill to establish
''the Territorial government OF Oregon From
a sincere desire to preserve the harmony Of the
Union, and in Difference for the acts of my pred.
ecessors, felt constrained to yield my acquies-
cence to the extent to which they had gone in
compromising this delicate and dangerous ques
ton. But if Congress shall now reverse the dc.
ci5on by which the Missouri compromise was
effected, and shall propose to extend the restric-
ton over the whole territory, south as well as
north of the parallel of thrty-six deg. thirty mn
it will cease to be compromise, and must be
regarded as an original question.
If Congress, instead of observing the course
of non-interierence, leaving the adoption of their
own domestic institutions to the people who may
nhabit these territories or if, instead of extend
ing the Missouri compromise line to the Pacific
shall prefer to submit the legal and constitution
al questions which may arise, to the decision of
the judicial tribunals us was proposed in a bill
which passed the Senate Mt your last Session, an
adjustment may be effected in this mode. If the
whole subject be referred to the judiciary, all
parts Of the Union should cheerfuHy acquiesce
in the final decision Of the tribunal created by
the Constitution for the settlement of all ques-
tons which may arise under the Constitution,
treaties and laws of the United States
Congress is earnestly invoked, for the sake of
the Union, its harmony, and our continued pros.
perity as a nation, to adjust at its present SEES.
sion, this, the only dangerous question that lies
in our path if not in some one of the modes
suggested, in some other which may be satisfac-
tory.
In anticipation of the establishment Of regular
governments over the acquired territories, joint
commission Of officers of the army and navy has
been ordered to proceed to the coast Of Calitor-
MIA and Oregon, for the purpose of making re-
ConnOiSanceS and report as TO the proper sites
for the erection of Notifications or other defen-
siye works on land and Of suitable situations fol
naval stations. The information which may be
expected from a scientific and skillful eXamina-
ii on of the whole face of the coast, will be emf
nently useful to Congress- when they come tC
consider the propriety of making appropriation;
for these great national objects. Proper defen
ces on land will be necessary for the security anC
protection Of our possessions; and the establish
ment of navy-yards, and a dock for the repai
and construction of vessels, will be importan
alike to our navy and commercial marine. With
ont such establishments, every vessel, whethe
of the navy or merchant service, requiring re
pair, must, at great expense, come round Capt
Horn to one of our Atlantic yards for that pur
pose. With such establishments, vessels, It il
believed, may be built or repaired as cheaply il
California as upon the Atlantic Coast. The,
would give employment to many of our enter
prising ship-huildGrs and mechanics, and greatl
facilitate and enlarge our commerce in the Pa