The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-07-01


Our country is on the eve Of an exciting |
and distraciing agitation, on the subject Of slav
cry. The feeling on this subject ID by far too
deep and fervent TO be much longer pent up
The struggle whenever ii comes, willundoubted- |
Iy be marked by much force Of mind and bitter |
ness of feeling. The advocates Of slavery will
contend with all that resoluteness which char
acterizes them, while the friends Of freedom will
certainly manifest an equal degree of firmness.
The subject is one Of the most mOmentous; and
will elicit the display of much ability on both
sides. We cannot think that the result Of such
a contest in this age and this country--an age
remarkable for a rapid advancement towards d
condition of universal freedom, and country
surprising all others in prOfessed reverence for
Iiberty-can be doubtful Victory will crown
the efforts Of the champions Of the rights ofman,
and barrier will be erected, beyond which, the
dark and turbid tide Of slavery cannot pass.
For several years the storm has been brewing
in our political horizon. Every year the clouds
have been growing darker and more threatening,
until now, the tempest is inevitable. The de-
mands Of the southern Pro-slayery men have be-
come more arrogant as they were acquiesced in
by the men of the North. until they have grown
to be intOlerable. An open rebellion against the
aggressive spirit Of the South is already N ex-
istence, and the great battle win be fought on
the question OF the extension Of slavery.
BY our recent treaty with Mexico, We have
acquired vast amount Of territory, and the
question Is, whether ir shall be blighted and
earsed by slavery, or dedicated to the labor Of
freedom1 The Perpstaaists Of the South feel
thattheir only hope OfPsrpstuating slavery con-
sists in giving it wider area They see that n
tl.s new States which To be c.r~-s->ubi-z
the territory wrsstsd from Mexico, age admitted
into our cOnfederscy as free States, the doom
Of the institution Of slavery is fixed. The North
ern slave States, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia,
Kentucky, and Missouri. are preparing to throw
off their manacles and TO enter on a career Of
pro-slayery men of the South is to create slave
States to compensate for the loss of slavery In
iaence which will be caused by the detection Of
the Northern slave States. If they cannot
achieve this object, If the territory we have lately
acquired shall be oonsecrated to freedom, the In
stitutiOn of slavery will De hemmed in to await
certain, and not very distant destruction. The
struggle on their part will, therefore, be one Of
life death, for TO ax territorial limits to slav-
cry, is the sure way Of presenting limits to lbs
period Of duration, TO issue the death warrant
Of the peculiar Institution.
Mr.. Woodward Of South Carolina, declared
in a speech in the House Of Representatives
few weeks since, that, if slavery was to be pro-
hibited in the new territory, 1t would be suicide
in the South 10 advocate its admission into the
Union. lie was aware that to mgirt slavery
with freedom, TO surround the institution with
free States, would certainly pave the way for
its overthrow. This conviction Is universal
among the segaciOns minds of the South. Hence
they will bring all their energies into reqaisi-
ton for the enlargement Of the borders of sIav-
cry, and steadily, and fiercely resist all efforts
TO preserve the sod acquired Of Mexico sacred 20
freedom.
With view TO future success the pIo-slayery
members Of Congress have recently taken the
ground occupied by Mr. Calhoun, namely, that
neither The general government nor the people in
Territories have night to prohibit slavery in such
Terntones. At the last session Of Congress a
bin for the establishment Of territorial govern
ment for Oregon was postponed, and thus de-
feaied 10y these men because slavery was pro-
hibEted BY il in that Territory. A similar bill
has been lingering ~ me Senate for several.
weeks. NJ. Car: his f0ll0wsts have
decided that i shah not pass unless am,nded BY
striking out The provision introduced by the peo-
PIE Of Oregon, declaring that slavery shall not
exist within the limits Of their Teritory, and il is
now almost reduced to a certainty, that, unless
thIs amended, it cannot pass the Seaaiel Sew
eral of the Senators from the free States, States
That owe then greatness and prosperity TO the
fact that they are free States, have snc:umbed
70 the impsnOus advocates Of slavery, and have
a willingness to do what these men
require Of them.
Now, if the pro-sIavery men succeed in de- |
featIng the Oregon bill because il repudiates |
slavery, precedent VIII be established To (which
they viii recuI with much force when tie ques-
non Of framing governments for the Mexican |
Territories comes up for consideration. If they |
succeed IN forcing on the country the adoption |
Of the strange, and until lately unheaTd of doc |
time, that the institution Of slavery is ga char
lered hbertIne" TO be tranSplanted wherever in.
crest and cupidity may direct, over which nei-
her the General Government, nor the people in
Territories have any n, yht TO exert control, then
twill follow that the Mexican Tern tory NAV be
,lighted by the introduction of slavery. As
nends OF freedom, as men who have tasted of
he bitterness Of slavery, and have had ample
experience Of IFS dark and whitening influences,
We earnestly call on every man, who prsys for
he welfare Of our people and country, to rise in
rs might and oppose the monstrous a,gressions
{ the INSCRIPTIONS slave power. The people
f Oregon have declared that slavery shall not
asst ITS baleful shadow on their soil, but the per
etualists declare that slavery shah be thrust into
heir Territory just whenever any migratory
laveholdeTmay see fit to cross the Rocky Noun
ans with his goods and ''chattels."
Such assumptions in favor Of slavery cannot
III to awaken spirit Of resistance in every bo-
lm IN which the fire of freedom burns. The
eople Of thefree States have both the night and
le power 10 decide whether slavery shall over
De al hsrrss-..~--a. sssoo itself into the pres
nee of people who fear and detest it, and are !
lterly unwilling that it shall come among :
ZEN with its dark spint to blight and to
lrse. Let them look well to their representa-
YES, and single out for political annhilation .,