Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-12-20

ss.s,-.Es 80 20
I 10 the option of Slaveholding States them
elves. From the nature of the climate and
productions, in much The largest portion Of
: il, it is cerlain it could never exist; aud in
the remainder, the probabilities are il
would not. But however, this may be,
the question involving, sas,it dues, & princi.
pie ofequllity Of rights of,hc separalesand
several States; TO equal co-partners ih the
confederacy, should MOI be disresarded. :
In organizing governments over these
2 Territories. no duIyimposed OIL Congress
by the constitution reqlires that they
should legislate on the subject Of slavery,
while their power 10 do SO is. no, only ser.
.ously questioned, but denied by many of
/. The soundesl expoanders Of that insru-
-Inenl. Whether, Congress shall legislate
Z or NOT, the people of the acquired Terr-
tories, when assembled in convention to
form State. constitutions. will possess
the sole aud exclusive pnwer to determine
for themselves whether slavery shall or
shall not exist within their limits. If Con-
sress shall abslai5 from interfering with
the question, The people Of these Terri
tories will be left free TO adjus, it as they
may think proper when they apply for
admission as States inlo The Uuon. No
enactment of Congress could refrain the
people Of any Of the sovereign States o!
the Union. old or new, north south, slave.
holding of -saveholdins. from delerm
lining tho character oftheir own domestic
institution as they may deem wise and pro-
per: Any and all the States possess this
right, and Congress cannot deprive them
O! it. The people of Georgia might il
they choose, so alter their constitution as
10 abolish slavery within its limits; and
the people Of Vernon, might SO alter their
constitution as to admit slavery within its
limits. Both States would possess the
: right; though, as all know, it is not proba.
bic that either would exert it.
Itis fortunate for the peace and har-
money Of the Union that the QUESTION is
in It's nature temporary, all can only
continue for the brief period which will
intervene before California and New Mexi-
co may be admitted as States into The
Union. From the tide of population now
flowing iuto them, il is highly probable
that this will soon occur.
Considering the several States and the
citizens Of the several States as equals,
and entitled 10 equal rights under the con-
s,ilution, If this were and original ques-
ton, it might well be insisted on thai The
principle of non-interference is The true
doctrine, and that Congress could not, in
the absence of any express grant of pow
er,inlerfere with therreIalive rights. Upon
great emergency, however, aud under
menacing dangers TO the Union, the Mis-
{ souri compromise line in respect to. slavery
was adopted. The same line was ex-
tended further west in the acquisition Of
Texas. After an acquiescence Of nearly
thirty years in the principle of compromise
recognized aud established by these acts.
and to avoide the danger TO The Union
which might follow if il were now disre-
garded. I have heretofore expressed the
iopiniona that that line Of compromies
!. should be extended on the parallel Of
S;thirty>six degrees thirty minutes from The
western boundary to the Pacific ocean.
~ This is the middle ground of compro-
mise, upod NJ hich the different sections Of
the UIion may meet, as they have here
tofore p,s. I, this. be dome, i IS conf.
dently believed "a large minority of tho
people of every sectibn5 Of the country,
however widely their abstract opinious on
The subject Of slavery may differ, would
scheerfully and periodically acquiesce in
II, and peace and harmony would again
FIJI our borders.
Z The restriction north Of The line was
only yielded 10 in The case Of Missouri aud
Texas upon principal of compromise,
made necessary for The sake of preserving
the harmony, and possibly the existence
Of the Union. II was upon these consi-
deralions that as the close of your last ses.
sion, l gave my sanction 10 The principles
Of The Missouri compromise line, by ap
proving aud signing the bill 10 establish"
The "Terriloral government of Oregon"
! From Sincere desire 10 preserve the
harmony of the Union, and in deferemce
for the acts of my predecessors, felt
constrained to yield my acquiesccnce to
the extent to " hich they had goue in coci.
promising this delicate aud dangerous
question. But il Congress shall now re.
verse the decision by which The Missouri
compromise was effected, aud shall pro
pose TO extend The restriction over The
whole territory, south as well as north o
The parallel of thirly-six degrees thirty
minutes, it will cease 10 be compromise
and must be regarded as an original ques
tion.
II Congress, instead of Observing the
course of non-interf-rence. leaving the
. adoption Of their OWE domestic instilu'
lion to The people who may inhabil these
territories or if, instead of extending 'he
Missouri compromise line 10 the Pacific
shall.prcfer TO submit the legal and con
sli,ulioual questions which may arise ia
tho decision Of the judicial tribunals a:
was proposed in bill which passed The
/, Senate at your last session; an adjust
menl may be effected in this mode. /
the whole subject be referred to the ju
dietary, all paris of'he Union should cher
fully acquiesce in The final decision OF the
tribunal created by tho constitution for the
settlement of all questions, treaties. ant
laws Of The United States.
- fr...x.,, :, o,rpootI,, ;,r,,L od fnr IN &