Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-07-14

sire 10 see il continued so long as slavery exists
in the UEiled States. The extent 10 which
have sustained il in the various public stations
have occupied is known TO the country. was
at The time well aware that went further in this
respect than many Of my best friends could ap-
prove. But deeply penetrated by the conviction
that slavery was the only subject that could en-
danger our blessed Union, was determined that
no efou on my part, within the pale Of The Con.
stiIuuon, should be wanting 10 sustain its com.
promises as they were then understood, and il is
now source Of consolation 10 me that pursu.
ed the course then adopted.
The doctrine which the late Baltimore Con.
venI,on has presented for the sanction Of the
nation, is in substance, that the laws have re.
iered TO were but so many violations Of the con.
sululion-that this instrument conlers no power
on Congress TO exclude slavery from the terrific
ries, as has so often been done with the assent of
oil. This doctrine is set forth in the published
opinion Of the highly respectable nominee Of
that Convention, whoit is well known received
that distinction because he avowed that opinion,
and who il is equally certain would not have re.
ceived il, if he had not done so. il is proposed
to give this doctrine the most solemn sanction
huONll " uuI pOlNiNd ohClllt Wy VIC CtCINOu VI
its declared advocate and supporter 10 the Pres.
idency. If il receives the proposed sanction Of
the people Of the United States, the result can.
not be doubtful The policy in regard to the
extension nf slavery to the territories Of the u.
nied States, into which il has not vet been in.
troduced, which has existedsince the commence.
ment Of the government, and the consequences
Of which have been so salutary, must cease, and
every act of Congress designed 10 carry it into
effect be defeated by the veto Of the Executive.
| Theterritorics now owned by the United States,
and every acquisition of territory which may
hereafter be made by the United States, whether
oblained by annexation, by cessiOn for Yalua.
Bile consideration, or by conquest, must as long
as this opinion is held, and as far as the action
of the National Legislature is concerned, be
subject to the nroads of slavery. And this con.
sequence is to be submitted to on the assump.
lion that the trainers of the Constitution, with
their attention directed to the subject, and with
a we'll understood desire 10 do so, have failed 10
cothe Congress with the necessary powers 10
prevent it. | cannot do so, because cannot
concur in the opinion which we are called upon
to sustain.
Entertaining these views Of the Constitution,
| could not by my vote contribute TO the propo.
sed sanction Of this new principle in the Admin.
istration of the Federal Government, without
at the same time, avowing myself to be in favol
! Of the extension Of slavery in the abstract, anC
, this can never do. Those who agree with mi
e in regard to the existence of the power and III
e expedency of our exercising it, and can stil
d bring their minds to dissent from this conclusion
r must have more light upon the subject, or hav
S greater powers of discriminating than possess
do, therefore, ,unhesitatingy approve the course
! you propose topursue, in wlthholdingyour vote.
: from Governor CaSs, and shall do SO myself
If no other candidates than those now before
, the country are presented, shall not vote fol
{ President. The manner in which our politica
!, brethren in other non-slave- holding States shal
. dispose of their sufTrages, is for them TO deter
Y mine, and with it we have nothing to do. Blu
that they accord with US in the opinion as to tht
4 existence Of the power in question, and the ex
e pediency of exercising it whenever the occasion
d for so doing arrives, we have the best reasons Il
Z. know.
: The power, the existence Of which is at ,hi
s late day denied, is, in my opinion, fully granite
]. 10 Congress by the Constitution. It's Language
S the circumstances under which It was adopted
y the recorded explanations which accompanie
d its formation, the construction it has receive
If from our highest judicial tribunals, and the yer
r solemn and repeated combinations it has derive
e from the measures Of the government-leav
Is not the shadow of doubt in my mind in regar
5, TO the authority of Congress to exercise the pow
IS er in question. This is not a new opinion o
IS my part, nor the first occasion on which it h,
t, been avowed. WhiIstthe candidate ofmy frienC
le for The Presidency, distinctly announced m
d opinion in favor Of the power of Congress 10
y bolish slavery in the District Of Columbia, q
though was, for reasons which we're then an
m are still satisfactory to my mind very decided
=. opposed 10 lis exercise there. The question
power is certainly as clear in respect 10 The TIE
Is rtories as it is in regard to that District and
i. TO the Territories my opinion was also mat
# known in Il still more solemn form, by giving II
10 Executive approval required by the ConstUtio
0. TO the bill for The organization Of The Terrori
:. Government of Iowa, which prohibited the il
h, PRODUCTION Of slavery into that territory.
Is The opinion from which we dissent was give
lie in the face Of and directly contrary TO the viev
,e expressed, in forms the most solemn and exp
re cit, by all or nearly all the non-slaveholdiI
III States, and we are not at liberty TO suspect Il
I'd sincerity Of these expressions. Honest and we
n thinking men as we knowt tie masses ofoutpolitic
friends in those States to be, are incapable
b. trAing with so grave subject
H. Our ancestors signalized the commcnceme
a, Of this glorious movement of ours, by rescuir
Or from subsection to slavery, a territory which
ii, now covered by five great States, and peopled
ID more than four millions of freemen, in the fl
K enjoyment of every blessing, which indust
Of and good institutions can confer They did tn
Sc when the opinions and conduct Of the world
I'd regard 10 the institution Of slavery were vel
S, different from what it now is. They did so
y fore Great Britain had even commenced tho
Id gigantic efforts for the suppression Of slavery,
e. which she has so greatly distinguished herse
Of After seventy-four years enjoyment Of the S
y, cred and invaluable rights Of self-governmer