Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-12-22

\ portion of this documhct we gave in our last
and the balance we give this week. Many wondc-
red what Mr. Polk would find to say on the occasion
of this his final address 10 the people and Congress
Of the nation. 1t win be seen he has found great
deal to say, and most OF it, of an instructive and in
tercstng character. 1t contains a brief history Of
the country, at the present time, as well as some
excellent suggestions by which the country may be
kept in its march in the path of prosperity. What
is good i'll it, we have no doubt the people will heed
and profit by, and what is bad we trust they will
not be slow to condemn and reject.
With reference to the great question of slavery
extension, which now agitatcs the country, the po-
ston Of Nh. Polk is of course, not different from
what was anticipated. He recommends the CONT
of the Missouri compromise line to the Pac-
fc, south of which slavery may exist north ofwhich
il shall be prohibited. The tone and spirit in which
this is urged cannot fail to strike every rejecting
mind and benevolent heart. The President does
not seem to entertain conception that there is
any question OF human ri Ihs involved in this mat
ter does not seem to consider whether the princ-
pie involved be good or a bad one, and whether
its establishments from its own nature, will work to
lis good or evil results. No; a person might inIe
that he conceivcs we have, in all these qucstonsr
our destiny i'll our own hands. What we choose to
establish is Of necessity right in itself, and what
choose to reject is OF course, wrong, and cores
pondng results will flow from them. That there is
ruler above all and controlling all, who has csta-
blshcd law Of eternal truth and justice, immu a
bic and not to be changed affected by the DEGREES
of men. Mr. Poll, either does not know or does not
considers AT least the spirit in which the subject is
discussed, would so indicate.
This compromise, it is called, is claimed out of
consideration for the interests of the SOUTH and lift
be rejected it is considered as a wat upon these in
tegcsts, No rejecting mind and no good heart will
in this light. 1t is not question between the
North and the south it is question between right
and wrong, aud question OF this kind knows 10
G geographical ines nor sectional interests. Talk
SIM the throne of God to the service of the devil.
No il this slavery extension were, instead OF being
claimed ba, as an implied compromise, written in
the constitution, in letters plain and distinct as sun
light, we should yet resist il while the power of re-
sslaNcc was left for we deny the right of our an
ces;oIs to either compromise sci las to the power
Of evil. This yenerauon for compromises or written
constitutions either. above die principles Of right is
OF no good 10 us 1t is neither compromises or con-
>utionS that viii make great, exalted, prosperous
and happy nation Of us. Its regard for the prn-
.ipcs Of right and justice only that viii do it, and
permit the former to stand in the way of the lat
forfeit the substance and realty of good for
4 shadow.
Bat admitting these compromises to be Of full
force and effect we believe there never was. in the
tormat on Of our government, any compromise look
ng to the extension Of slavery. The south. at the
time the Union was formed, asked nothing further
than to be permitted 10 enjoy their institution among
themselves The wish to extend it did not exist at
that time, is sufficiently manifest by the acqui-
escence Of Virginia its abolition in her territory oil
the northwest. This extension principle is fun
Lus generated the dung hli of the evil itself and
If growth subsequent to the formation OF the Tn
on and the constitution. 1t attained Sow OF
sanction by the enactment of the Missouri line. aud
now entitled to our consideration precisely as the
claim OF an individual to your coat on The ground
nat he has stolen your panaloons. But in another
aspect, what sort of compromise is it? A com
promise is supposed 10 be an arrangement by which
Zach party is mutually benefited, bat what do we
gain BY compromise of this character? Why We
give half the territory 10 slavery that belongs to
reedom, aud get nothing whatever in return. a
pretty compromise truly.
But WE had ke to hare forgotten one feature Of