Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-08-25


are not inconsistent with the terms of the Mis-.
sour compromise, if extended from the Rio
Grande to the Pacific ocean, that have not
felt at liberty TO withhold my sanction. Had
II embraced territories south of that comnro.
mise, the question presented for mycaasidera-
ton would have been of far different cbarac-
ter, and my action upon it must have CORES.
pended with my convictions
Ought we now 10 disturb the Missouri and
Texas compromises Ought we at this late
day, IN attempting to annuI what has been so
long established and acquiesced in, TO excite
sectional divisions and jeaouses TO ALLEVIATE
the people of different portions of the Union
from each other; and TO endanger the exis.
tence of the Union itself!
From the adoption of the federal constitp.
ton' during period of sixty wears, our pro
gress as nation has been without example
IN the annals of history. Under the protec
ton OF bountiful Providence, we have ad.
Vanced with giant strides in the career of
wealth and prosperity. We have enioved the
blessings of freedom to greater extent than
any other people, ancient or modern, under
government which has preserved order. and
secured to every citizen life, liberty, and pro-
petty. We have now become an example for
limitation to the whole world. The friends of
freedom in every cline point with admiration
to our institutions. Shall we, then, at the
moment when the people of Europe are devo-
ing all their energies in the attempt TO assm-
late their institutions TO our own. peril all
our blessings by despsing the lessons of ex-
perence, and refusing to tread in the footsteps
which our fathers have trodden? And for
what cause would we endanger our glorious
Union The Missouri compromise contains
a prohibition OF slavery throughout all that
vast region extending twelve and a half de-
grees along the Pacific, from the parallel of
thlrty-six degrees thirty minutes to that of
torty-nlne degrees, and east from that ocean to
and beyond the summit of the Rocky noun
talns. Why, then, should our institutions he
endangered because il is proposed to submit to
the people of the remainder of our newly
acquired territory lying south of thirty-six de-
grees thirty minutes, embracing less than four
degrees OF latitude, the question whether, in
the language of the Texas compromise, they
" shall he admitted las State) into the Union
with or without slavery" Is this question
to be pushed to such extremites by excited
partlsans on the one side or the other, in re-
gard to our newly acquired distant posses
SONS on the Pacific. as to endanger the union
OF thirty glorious States which constitute our
confederacy? have an abiding confidence
that the sober reflection and sound patriotism
of the people of all the States will bring them
to the conclusion that the dictate of wisdom is
TO follow the example of those who have gone
before us, and settle this dangerous question
on the Missouri compromise, or some other
equitable compromise, which would respect
The right Of all, and prove satisfactory to the
different portions of the Union.
Holding as n sacred trust the Executive au
thnrity for the whole Union, and bound to
guard the rights of ALL should he constrain-
ed, by sense OF duty. to withhold mv Of
fetal sanction from any measure which would
conflict with these important objects
cannot more appropriately close this mes
sage than by quoting fIom the Farewell Adj
dress of the Father of his country His war
n,ng voice can never he heard IN vain by the
American people If the spirit of prophecy
distinctly presented 10 his view, more than
half century ago, the present distracted con
dition of his country, the language which he
then emp Dyed. could not have been more ap-
propriate than it is to the present OCCASION
He declared:
1.-The unity Of government, which constl
! tuteS YOU one people, is also now dear to Won.
It is Justly so for it is a main pillar in tn"
e1fce of vour real Independence, the support
of your tranquility at home, your pence a.
broad, of Your safety, of your prosperity, OF
that very liberty which you so highly prize.
But as it is easy TO foresee that from different
causes, and from different quarters. much
pains will be taken. many articles employed.
to weaken in your minds the conviction Of
this truth-as this is the point in your pollt'
cal fortress against which the batteries OF IN
ternaI and external en- mics will be most con
stantIy and actively Uhough often covertv
and insiAiously) diTected-it Ia of infinite mo-
ment that you should properly estimate the
immense value of your national union 10 your
collective and individual happiness; that you
should cherish cordial, hahItual, and Immo-
vable attachment to it accustOmlng your
selves TO think and to speak of IT as paIla-
dunn of your political safety and prosperity
watching for its preservation with jealous
anxiety discOuntenanclng whatever may sug-
gest even suspicion that it can in any event
be abandoned and Indignantly trownng
upon the first dawnng of every attempt t"
ALLEVIATE any portion of our country from the
rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now
link together the various parts.
For this you have every lndncement OF
sympathy and interest. Citizens by birth or
choice of a common country, that country has
a right to concentrate your affections. ihe
name of AMERICAN, which belongs to you IN
YOUR national capacity, must always eXaIt the
lust pride of patriotism more than any appel
lation derived from local determinations
With slight shades Indifference, you have the
same religion, manners, habits, and political
PRINCIPLES. You have in a common cause
fought and triumphed together. The nde-
pendence and liberty you possess are Inc
works of joint councils and joint efforts OF
common dangers, suferings, and success.
"With such powerful and obvious motives
to union, affecting all parts of our country;
while experience shall not have demonstrated
it's impracticablity, there will always be rea-
son to distrust the patriotism of those Who IN
anv quarter, may endeavor to weaken It's
! bands.
In contemplating the causes which may
disturb our Union, it occurs as matter OF serl-
Gus concern, that any ground should nave
been furnished for characterizing parties by
| .eographical rimInatiOns-nOrthefn ahu
| southern, atlantic and UeStern; whence oe.
signing man may endeavor to excite oe''e'
that there is real difference of local interests
and views. One OF the expedlents OF parry
to acquire influence within particular his'r'c'S
is to misrepresent the opinions and aims Vi
other districts. You cannot shield yourselves
too much against the jealouses and hearI
burnngs which spring from these misFePIe
sensations. They tend to alien TO eacn otne
those who ought TO be bound together oy It'd
ternaI affection" o,u