The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-07-26

rIes of the present day in support Of, and as
the author of, a proviso which would give
indefinite and universal extension to this ia
tai question to all the territories! 1t was
compromised the next year by The adoption
of the line 10 which have referred. Mr.
Holmes of Maine, long member of this
body, who voted fer the measure, addressed
a letter TO Mr.. Jefferson, inclosing copy oi
his speech on the occasion. 1t drew out an
answer from him which ought to be trea.
sured up in The heart of every man who
loves the country and its institutions. IT is
brief | will send it to the Secretary to be
read. The time Of the Senate cannot be
better occupied than in listening To it:
TO JOHN HOLMES.
MONTICELLO, April %, 1920.
thank you. dear sir. for the copy you have
been so kind as to send me OF the letter to your
constituents on the Missouri question. 1t is a
perfect justification 10 them. had for long
time ceased to read newspapers, or pay any at
tenf"n to public affairs confident they were in
good hands, and content TO he passenger in our
harque to the shore from which am not dis.
tant. But this momenious question. like fire
bell in the night. awakened and filled me with
terror. considered il al once the knell of the
Union. 1t is hushcd, indeed, for the moment.
But this is reprieve onIy-not final sentence.
A geographical line, coinciding with marked
principle, moral and political, once conceived
and held up to the angry passions Of men, will
never he obliterated; and everr new irritation
will make it deeper and deeper. ] can say,
with conscious truth. that there is not man on
earth, who would not sacrifice more than |
would to relieve US from this heavy reproach,
IN any practical way. The cesson Of that kind
Of property (for go it is misnamed) is baga-
telle, which would not cost me a second thought,
If in that way general emancipation and er.
patriation could be effected; and gradually, and
with due sacrifices think i, might be. But as
It is. we have the wolf by the ears: and we can
neither hold him nor let him 60. Justice is in
one scale, and self:preservation in the other.
or one thing am certain, that as the passage
of free slaves from ne State to another would
NOT make slave of a single human being who
would not be so without it, so their diffusion over
a greater surface would make them individually
happier, and proportionallv facilitate the accom-.
pshment Of their emancipation, by dividing the
burden on greater number Of coadjutors. An
abstinence. too, from this act Of power, would
remove the jealousy excited by the undertaking
Of Congress to regulate the condition Of the
different descriptions oi men composing State.
This certainly is the exclusive right Of every
State which nothing in The constitution has Ia.
ken from them and given to the general govern
ment. Could Congress, for example, say that
the non freemen of Connecticut shall I've free.
men, or that they shall not emigrate into any
other State?
regret that am now TO die in the belief
that the useless sacrifice of themselves by the
generation of l776, to acquire self government
and happiness 10 their country, is to be thrown
away by the unwise and unworthy passions of
their sons, and that my ony consolation is to be,
that live no, to weep over it. If they would
weigh The blessings they will
throw away, against any abstract principle,
more likely To be effected by union than by
session. they would pause before they would
perpe,rate this act Of suicide upon themselves,
and of treason against the hopes Of the world.
TO yourself as the faithful advocate ofthe Union,
tender the Offering of my high esteem and
respect, THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Mark his prophetic words! Mark his pro.
found reasoning!
81, 1.-THE question: is hushed for the moment.
But this is a reprieue only-not a final sentence.
A geographical line conciding with marked
principle, moral and political, once conceired
and held up to the angry passions of men ,cal
nerer be obliteruied; and euery neU irritation
,cM mark It deep and DEEPER"
Twenty eight years have passed since these
remarkable words were penned, and there is
not thought which time has not thus far veri.
fed; and il is to he feared will continue to yer.
ily until the whole will be fulfilled. Certain it
is ,ha, he regarded the compromise line as ut.
terly inadequate TO arrest that fatal course OF
events which his keen sagacity anticipated from
the question. 1t was hut "reprieve." Mark
the deeply melancholy impression which it
made on his mind:
IL regret that am to die in the belief, that
the useless sacrifice of themselves 10y The gene.
ration of l776, to acquire selfgovernment and
happiness for themselves is 20 be thrown away
by the unwse and unworthy passion Of their
sons, and that my only consolation is 10 be, that
shall live not 10 weep over it,"
Can any one believe, after listening to this
letter, that Jefferson is the author of the so CAL
led WiImot Proviso, or ever favored III And
vet there are at this time strenuous efforts ma
king in the North TO form a purely sec,ona
party on it, and that too, under the sanction o
those who profess the highest venera,ion for his
character and principles! But must speak the
truth; while vindcate the memory of Jetfer
son from so foul charge, | hold be is moi
blameless in reference to this subject. He
committed great error in inserting the prov
sion he did, in the plan he reported Tor the go
vernrnent Of the territory, as much modified al
il was. II was the first blow-lhe first essay
"to draw geographical line coincidins with 6
ina rked DrinciDIe moral and political" IL Ori