Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-06-21
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heard here, thar successful attempt to
ehgraft the principles Of the Wilmot
Pfoviso upon the legislation Of this GO
vernmenhsand to apply them to new ter
1itory, should new er,itory, be Acquir,
ed wouldtseriously affect our tranquil
ty. | 1donot suffer myself to .foresee or
to forlell the consequences that would
ensue; foTM trust and believe there is
good sensesand good feeling enough in
the country 10 avoid them, by avoiding
all occasiaaswhicIl might lead to them,
Briefly, Then, I am opposed to the
eSerciS es, of jurisdiction by Congress
over this mat,er; and | am in favor of
leaving toShe people Of any territory,
which maybe hereafter acquired, the
right 10 regulate it fol themselves, un-
der the genaral principles of the Con-
stilution. 8ecause.
;. l. [ do not see in the .consiinion any
grant of,hesrequisite power to Congress;
and am moi disposed to extend d doubt
ful precedentbeyond its neccssity-thc
establishment Of territorial governments
when notwithstanding 10 the inhabi-
tants all the rights compatible with the
relations tlrey bear to the confederation.
2. Because, believe this measure if
adupted would weaken, if not impair,
the Unionsofs,he States, and would SOW
the seedssof further discold, which
would groHsnp and ripen into an a5un.
dant harvestof calamity.
| 8 Because believe generally con-
vic,ion, that such proposition would
succeed, would lead to an immediate
wilhholdingsof the supplies and thus TO
a dishonorable termination Of The war.
I think no dispassionatc observer at the
seat of government can doubt this re>
suit. .sss;.
4. II, however, in this am under
misapprehension. l am under none
in the pratieai; ai;operation cflhis resrric-
ton, if ,ado2led BY Congress, upon a
treaty peaGe making any acquisition of
MrxicsnIterfitory. Such a treaty would
be rejected justas certainty as>presenf.
ed TO the Ssnats.. More than one third
OF that bodYwo0idVote against it, view
ilg such a. ainciple as an, exclusion Of
1.-The .eitizensl thek slayeholding ;States
Il tbensGtsac
qniredfby JFIe treasure and exertions of
all, and which should be common 10 all.
| am repeating-neither advancing nor
defending these views. That branch Of
the subject does G't lie in my way, and
| shall not turn aside to seek it.
In this aspect OF the matter. the peo>
pie of the United States must choose be-
tween this res sIricton and the extension
of their territorial limits They cannot
have both; and which they will surIen-
her must depend upon their representa-.
tive fist, and then, if these fail them,
upon themselves.
s. But after all, ii seems 10 be gen>
orally conceded, that this restriction, il
carried inIo effect could not operate up.
on any State to be formed fom newly
acquired territory: The well known
attributes of sovereignty, recognized by
US as belonging 10 the Stale gorvcn-
ments, would sweep before, them any
such barr icr, and would leave tho peo.
pie to express and exert their will al
pleasure. Is the object, then, Of tenn
porary exclusion for SO short a period
as the duration of the territorial govern
menlS, " orh The price al which it would
be purchased 2-worlh The discold which
i, would engender, the trial TO Which it
would expose our Union, and the evils
that would br the certain consequence.
let that: trial result as it it'mighl :? Aslo
The course, which has been minated,
rather than proposed, of cngraiIing such
restriction upon any treaty Of acquisi
lion, / persuade myself it you'd End
but lille favor in any portion OF this
country. 80.
Such an arrangement. would render
Mexico a party having right 10 iutelfrre
in our internal Institutions in questions
left by the constitution to The State go-
vernments. and would aict erious
blow upon our fundamental principles,
Few, indeed, trust, there are. amongst
US, who would TINS grant loa foreign
power The right to inquire into the con>
siitution ard conduct Of The sovereign
States Of this Union, and if there are any,
am not among them, and never shall
be. TO the beople Of his county, un
der God, now and hereafter, are lis
desinies committed; aud We want no
foreign power 10 nterrugate us, treaty
in hand, and TO say, why have yon done
this, or why have you left thai undonr =?
Our own dignily and The principles Of
national independence unite TO repel
such proposition.
But there is another important consid'
Grafton which ought not 10 be lost sight
OF, in the invesga,lon of this subject
The question that presents itself is not
a question Of The increase, but ofthe diff
fusion of slavery. Whether its sphere