Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-30

Fs'"i"i"S slavery existed there. The reSOIl
tons OF anneNaiion provided. ..,hat in sue
State or states as should be formed ou, .
si,Id territory north OF said Missouri con
) promise line. slavery ar involuntary .scr,
tude Except tor eriine) should be prob
bited." .
Here was another compromise restrict
ing slavery. Yet. that compromise la
not been observed nv TeNas. Her con
siltution not only establishes SLAYER,
throughout her territory. as well north a
south of that line. bun /, prohibits the ler
lsla;ure from abolisiiing OF interfering " III
IT.
! Mr.. kaufman here stated. that Texa.
had complied fully with the terms Of an
heNa:ion. and had made the anncxatio,
resolutions part of her constitution. liz
also stated, that Texas had no tcrritor,
north OF the Missouri compromise line
except what was claimed as a par, of New
Mexico.
MIR. Smith replied: know. Mr.. Chair.
man, II is extremely difficult to find on,
where Texas is. or what are her bound.
aries We have been cntleavorinc for
years to ascertain what are her boundaries.
She claims all the Santa Fc country which
ncr
Representatives claim that we shall con.
cede to her all the territory on this side of
the Rio Grande. If she holds this terri.
tory she will have large tract Of country
north OF thirty-six and half degrees of
north latitude, and Throughout: the whole
OF 1t slavery will exist by her constitutions
She has passed no laws 10 prevent slavery
from extending north of that line. II Is
not supposed by any one. so far as have
ever heard. that she has the slightest in.
tent'on of doing so. Then, no:withstand
ing this pretended compromise in the
Annexation resolutions. the friends Of sla-
very restriction have gained nothing by
that measure. II the"word of promise
has been kept to the ear. il has been bro.
ken 10 the hope No new States north
OF that line can be formed without the
consent of Texas. and so long as she
chooses to withhold her consent, slavery
will continue TO exist there.
These several measures to which have
referred. show that ii has been the policy
81 the Government to restrict slavery,
wherever il could be done without violat-
ng any vcstedr tights or disturbing tho social
of community. Bv the war
which has just been broush, to close, we
,ave made large additions to our territory
The territory we have thus acquired is
now free. The people Of the North ask
hat it shall remain free. They seek moi
o disturb any vested rights They desire
o make no change in the social condition
1f the people who have been transferred to
our jurisdiction. They wish to prohibit
he introduction there of an institution
which they believe TO be franght with un-
mixed evil. and which has had balcful
influence wherever it has existed No
hing more is sought or intended by what !
5 known as the - Hiimot proriso."
Mr.. Chairman. in the discussions which
We have had at different periods during
he session on the subject of prohibiting
iavery in these territories, We have heard |
much said about "southcrn rights and
We have been repeatedly told, that this
'rohibliion would be an invasion of these
lights. What are these "southcrn rights
bout which gentlemen seem SO sensitive?
10 the southern States possess rights
which do not equally belong TO the North?
IRE they entitled TO higher political privi-
EGGS than States north Of Mason and
)ixlon's line may claim. I am aware of
10 such rights which belong TO the South.
Zach State has entire and exclusive con.
rol over its own domestic affairs and in
ernal policy. Each State has the right TO
reate or to prohibit the institution Of do
nestle slavery within its own limits. III
south Carolina or Georgia wishes to have
ais institution within their respective
tates. neither the General Government.
or any one Of the States, nor all the States
have power TO prevent them
We claim no such power: we have at
,mpted to exercise none SUCH
But, Mr.. Chairman, gentleman repre-.
enting southern States here. seem not to
e satisfied with this. II is no, enough
lat the right Of creating or continuing sia-
cry within their own limit is conceded to
lem. They ask more They insist
lat they shall be allowed to extend this
into territories far beyond
'eir limits. and over which they have no
ght or power 10 exercise control. They
aim this as southern right" and
barge us who represent northern States +,
18th a violation Of that right if we object J;
that extension which they propose. ] +,
nd in speech lately made by the gentle
ian from South CarDlina. (Mr. Rhett,) a I
solution adopted by the Legislature or
rginia. and similar resolutions of other
'utherd States, which he has presented to ,
lie lionse, as containing the .'principles I
the South on the important subject to 5
hich they refer The resolution OF the a
irginia Legislature is as follows: q
''Resolved unanimously, that under no cir I
instances will this body recognise binding Z
~ enactment by the Federal Government.
hich has for its object the prohibition Of slavery
any territory to be acquired either by conquest .
treaty; holding it TO be the natural and indie I
asible right Of each and every citizen 81 every |
late OF this Confederaey to reside with kis pro- !;
.Tty, Of whatever description. in any terriiakytI
HIGH may be acquired by the arms Of the 4.
nitet States. or yielded by treaty with any
reign power"
If the prosition asserted in this resolu- n
On be correct. then every territory bee .
'nging TO the United States. or v isich tI1sy5
GREATER be acquired, must Of necessity
e slave territory. California, although