Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-10-27

Voters, in u few short days you will be called
upon to exercise the right and duty of Frecmen, of
declaring by your votes the principles and conse-
auent policy, which shall prev in our government
for the next four years, and probably during the
continuance of itr existence. 1t is all important
and momentous occasion, in view of the nature of
the principle at stake, for the decision has in it flu
ure prosperity, happiness and greatness for our re-
public or decay and dissolution. The immense ter
rtory waiting our action for the institutions
which will forever govern it, is rich in natural re-
sources 1t has the material to sustain great ma
ton of happy freemen, and If we but will that such
such shall be its destiny, the whole western CONT
nent will come under and into this empire of free
dom. Should slavery be extended over it, its fate
and ours cannot be doubtful The slave power
must thereby become the controlling power of the
government, and our policy will be shaped to meet
all its demands and requirements The final re-
suit nav be seen in the history and present cond-
ton of the slave states of this Union. Whilst the
free portion of our country has been progressing III
all the elements of greatness with uneXampled ra-
pdity the slave portion has rctrogradcd, and is suS
tanned only BY the stong arm OF freedom III the
north. from total disso ution. Make these immense
territories slave country, and there is q load upon
the free north which she can no longer bear, and
a common destruction awaits u.s. ms Is d result
inevitable from such prcPonderance OF the slave
mower. as the extension of slavery over these new
territories. would give The struggle then, is one
for the perpetuitv of cur republican institutions. 1t
is a struygIe which has not had its parallel in I'M
portancc, since the revolutionary struggle winch
wrested this government from the tyranny OF the
mother country. Blu we need not dwell upon the
importance of the Free Soil principle, for all apPre-
cae it, and all profess devotion toit IN the northern
states 1t is as TO the mode of obtaining the end
we seek that we diff.r and it is to this point we
wish to call attention.
The history of our country proves one thing con-
clusivev, viz: that positive law to FROtIBIl
slavery. is necessary to prevent its extension into
territory fitted to receive it. There have been nine
slave states added to the union since its original for
nation. and in not a single of them, was slave
~ CREATED by law, but IN EVERY ONE 1t
obtained existence and permanent footing before
any law on the subject was passed The laws then
took the character of the existing power, and were
made to recognize and regulate the institution then
in existence. The position Of the south too, proves
that PROHIBITORYl law is necessary, for whilst
it is not donbted that tie south is struggling to ex-
tend slavery into these new territories she has ne
yer asked AN affirmative law creating 1t. She asks
only that it may not be prohibited; the only service
ao,,;res of her President. is, that he shall veto
any prohibitory act. She wishes the matter 'el'
precisely where it now is, that she may people IT
with her own people, aid carry into it her own IN
st;tu,;ons. We must then, one and all concede the
absolute necessity of the Wilmot provisO, to keep
slavery out of this territory. Now, we design to
show the utter improbabliy, if not imPossbility, oil