New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-07-03
The Whig Party and the Principle of No IA
tension of slavery.

of Slavery Extension is that which the entire
South affirmed and strenuously insisted on down
u tho commencement Of the Mexican War. It's
that which all the apologists Of Slavery throughout
the Free States vehemently procaimed-namely
that the Federal Government Of tbs Union has
rghtiuly nothing wkaicrer 10 do arHh Siqrerg
beyond the execution Of those clauses Of the Con-
stitution which stipulate that the Foreign Slave
Trade might be prohibited after lsi5, and that
persons held 10 labor or service ia one State who
should escape thence into another should be sur
rendered on due proof Of the relation asserted.
Over and again has the doctrine Of noH-inicrfcrmce
with Slavery by the Government or the Free
States been asserted in the most positive terms
From 1920 to ls45 tins was the common platform
Of all bat the ultra Aboiionists-of nineteen-tweu
tieths Of the Freemen Of this Country.
We stand there still. We contend that the
Federal Government can rghtfully neither abol-
ish Slavery in the Slave States. nor establish it
anywhere else. The Constitutional porer 70 estab-
lsh it in the Territories may exist, for the power
Of Congress over those Territories is exceedingly
foil and comprehensive but there is no more righf
10 legalize Slavery there than Poygamy Dueling
Counteheitng, Cannibslsm or any other iuquity
condemned by and gradually receding before the
moral and religious sentiment Of the civilized and
Christian world. Hands of e No Interference
Leave things as they are - is the extent OF our
present demand. Why is not this truly Conserva-
tive ground, on which great National party may
stand together The demand that Slavery shall
be extended to New Territory is indeed foremost
among the novelties that disturb our peace
There was never before anything like it. The
Ordinance Of l7s7 restricted Slavery. The Fed
eral Constitution lin the matter of the Slave Trade
also looked to and provided for its restriction.
The Missouri Compromise, though generally rep
rotated at the North likewise closed against
Slavery an extensive region wherein 1t had
long previously had a legal right to exist Even
an the Annexation Of Texas show was made Of
abridging the domain Of Slavery. The present is
the first instance in the history Of our country of
serious attempt TO extend Slavery into Territory
previously Free. Ought not all who love Free
dom and loathe Bondage to resist it to the utmost
And if excitement and i'll feeling shall RESULT
'sccf,oaoi teciiAg' shall be aroused and one sec
tion Of our common country arrayed in angry hos
tility against another will not the blame rest on
the encroaching rather than the defending party
Does not Washngtons warning against sectional
issues and cries speak for us and against the Elk
tensionsts
The Courier and Enquirer argues, at great
expense of words, that Gen Tay Tor stands pledged
(by his Allison letter. to leave this whole subject
10 the uncontrolled discretion OF Congress, himself
faithfully executing whatever Congress shall 10y /
law prescribe We hope such is the fact, and if |
So it is all we ask Yet the evidence is by no
means so clear as we could wish and there are
many thousands yet unconyinced by it. Gen |
Taylor has advanced some good Wing doctrine !
with regard to the Veto Power to the effect that
ii should be exercs ed only in case OF manifest
error through inconsiderate haste or OF palpablc
excess of Constitutional power 10y Congress. Now
who will assure that he does not consider an |
act essentially similar TO the Ordinance Of ~ but
applying to the New Territory 'palpably uncon /
sttutonal 2 Mr.. Calhoun proclaims il. so in /
effect does Gen. Cass. Who can say that Gen
Taylor does not The glaring absardity OF the I.
proposition, we have seen has not prevented its
affirmation by men as eminent as no is Is 1t too
much TO ask that Gen Taylor should let us clearly
understand HIM on this point
The Courier of course, thinks all Wings may
safely and properly vote for him-that Wing
President will have nothing to do with the settle
ment of questions essentially Legisla,ive-and |
that " this question Of extending Slavery TO Free |
Territory is one which properly belongs to Con
gressiORai elections" Then what did the Courier /
mean when it first formally presented Gen. Tay |
Tor Tor President, in procaiming him an adversary
of the Wilmot Proviso However right he may /
be, he has surely bunglng and mischievous ad- |
vocate in the Courier and Enquirer.
All we ask of Gen. Taylor is some assurance Of
perfect Impartiahty-that he will IN very truth /
leave the whole subject OF Slavery Extension TO |
the unbiased action of Congress But OF the |
Wing party throughout the Free States aud es-
Pecially in our own State, we demand that they |
stand fairly aud fully in the election of Congress
men, on the ground uniformly maintained bv their /
fathers, oonspcuously asserted at the time of the
Missouri CONFUSION, reaiiirmed with entire una
nimity in the votes on the Wilmot Provso in re- /
peated resolves OF our own and nearly all the |
Free State Legislatures, in the resolutions of
last Wing State Convention, sc &c Let any one /
compare these resolutions with that drawn by an /
Editor OF the Courier and Enquirer and declared |
to have been passed at the Cana.street Meeting /
and he cannot fail to perceive their radical antago
nism. Just consider
iaa.i-ss Rs'elrs e hs as Rs declared ya''ed Of tAs
Hhs Niafs CeHrCsfifaf CaHGlff. Ncsias.
Resalrcd That while the ResolroS. Ths depre /
Whg freemen OF New orb cate sectional issues Ma