Democratic banner., 1848-09-04
TIE WILMOT PROHLSO.


With q vast portion of the American
people, no questions are Of greater interest,
and none more Interestingly exciting,
than those which, are Connected with the
existence and extension Of slavery on this
continent, or which look to the ultimate ex.
tinc,ion Of that institution from among t1s.
Ia a large portion Of the Union slavery ex-
lists BY virtue of the cnnprofniss- o. the
|Constitu,ios; anil in any reasonable adjust.
Iment of questions connected with that insti-
tuition IS it exists at present, the spirit Of
the Constitution must be consulted and its
sacred ~injunctio7s observed. Allow the
institution to b. an evil, If you please Of e.
normous magnitude, and in its present con-
fines it is rue Of which, however great, we
of the north are in nowise responsible.-
Upon this point, all candid men Of the
north, who are free from prejudice or big.
lotry, are fully agreed. When it is contend.
plated however, to extend the evil, if ac-
knowle lged to be one, or to leave oPpor-
Itunity for its extension, or rather for its q.
Ioption into territory where it has hereto
fore been unknown, the advocates, Of The
Wilmot Proviso step in aud say, thus faI
thou hast gone but thou shalt 20 no further
The recent territorial acquisition from
Mexico has introduced this question prob
ably many years sooner than It would have
been before the people had that acquisition
not taken place. The position Of the sd'
~voca,e Of the Wilmot Proviso is simply
thus: he would oppose by congressiOns'
barriers the Introduction Of Slavery into ter
ritory that is now free. This is known il
the South as northern ultrsism. Those in
in the South who are known in the north q
southern ~ultries, are those who would By
Legislation from the same source introduce
and protect slave property In the territories.
Here are two views Of the question, snd
It requires no keen perception. to see that
both are what they are known to be, north
EZRA and southern ultraisms. Whittier the
jJuestion will ever Re settled in the Usion
by the adoption Of either Of those views on
the part Of a maturity Of the people or
their members CT Congress, We are unable
to say. But it seems to us that the ground
occupied by Gen. Cass, If tile question il
ever peacably settled, must be the n up.
on which all sides will meet in liberal and
enlightened spirit of concession. Genera
Cass would have the people Of the terrific
ries, and the States formed out Of them, X
settle fur themselves this important ques'
ton, a right enjoyed and exercised BY
large majority if not all Of the States which
at present constitute the Union. II the,
desire slavery, in territories or new Sta'e'
south of the Missouri compromise, tley
cOuld adopt it, if not reject il; thus plac
ling them upon an equal with the pres
emit States II the Union, and comforting up
on them from the first that inestimable booI
of self. Government. These are tie tire,
different grousd taken in different section
of the Union upon one phase Of the SLAYER.
Question. We give the positions Of differ
snt sections now, reserving for future oc
~casion such remarks upon them as we desig'
to make. Other questions connectedwitl
the policy Of the country are comparative
ly easily settled; but the question Of SLAYER,
in almost any phase, is n which excite
1.-The public rnind, fercly agiteted, SO as Il
threaten almost the safety Of the UnioI
Itself. II should therefore be met, in what
ever shape presented, calmly aud disPas
sionately. and il action uponit be demanded
lit should be done with judgment aud dis
cretion, in q spirit Of liberal and patriotic
concession.-fQmney Herald.
Stone Co0l and Ofes-Mr. Moses II
kellogg has shown as q copper tobacco
H. ..l e-,n Al s,:.~s~ re~t -