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

ET5-MR. JOSIAH JOHNSON Postmaster al Clinton Ia
authorized TO receipt for any moneys due this esnblis
ment in the County Of Sampson MIR johnson will also
receive new subscribers and receipt for the same.
Dr. :. B sEAvr is our authoriz agent, and will
cepl Tor any moneys due us in his neighborhood lie
WIN also receive new subscribers to the Journal and
receipt for the same
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IMPORTANT DoCUMENT-We present to our
readers below the message sent by the Presi-
dent to the House of Representatives, accom-
panying the Oregon Territorial bill. which he
had just signed, in which he assigns the rea-
sons why and wherefore he did so: -
To the House Of Representatives.
of the United States:
When the President has given his official
sanction 10 bill which has passed Congress,
usage requires that he shall notify the House
IN which II originated of that fact The mode
of giving this notification has been by an oral
message delivered by his private secretary.
Having this day approved and signed an act
entitled An act 10 establish the territorial
government of Oregon deem it proper, IN
der the existing circumstances, to communicate
the tact IN more solemn form
The deeply interesting and protracted dis
cussions which have taken place in both hou-
ses OF Congress, and the absorbing interest
which the subject has excited throughout the
country, Justify, in my judgment, this depar-
ture from the form Of notice observed in other
cases
In this communication with a CO ordinate
branch of the government, made proper by the
considerations referred 10, shall frankly, and
without reserve, express the reasons which
have constrained me not to withhold my sig
H. |
over Oregon, even though the two territories
OF New Mexico and California are to be left,
tor the present, without governments. None
doubt that it is proper TO establish govern
ment in Oregon. Indeed, it has been too long
delayed. have made repeated recommended
tons to Congress to this effect. The petitions
of the people of that distant region have been
! presented 10 the government, and ought not 10
he disregarded To give to them a regularly
or" anized government and the protection of
our laws, which as citizens of the United States
they claim, is high duty on our part, and one
which we are bound TO perform, unless there
be controlling reasons to prevent it
In the progress of all governments. ques
lions of such transcendent importance occa-
sonaIlv arise, as to cast in the shade all those
Of mere PARTY character But one such queS-
ton can now he agitated in this country; and
this may endanger our glorious Union, the
source of our greatness, and all our political
! blessings. This question IS slavery. With
| the slave holding States this does not embrace
merely the rights of property, however vaiua-
| bile hut il ascend< far higher, and involves
the domestic peace and security of every fam
iIy
The fathers of the constitution-the wise
and patriotic men who laid the foundation of
our misunderstanding the danger from
this quarter, acted IN spirit of compromise
i and mutual concession or this dangerous and
delicate subject and their wisdom ought to
he the guide of their successors Whilst they
| left 10 the States exclusively the question OF
domestic slavery within their respective Inn
| its, they provided that slaves who might es-
cape into other States not recognising The IN
stitution of slavery, shall " be delivered up on
the claim of the party to whom such service
or labor may be due"
| Unon this foun lation the matter rested until
the Missouri question arose.
In December, 1919. application was male
TO Congress bv the people Of the Missouri Ter
ritory for admission into the Union AZ ota-e
The discussion upon the subject IN Congress
involved the question of slavery, and was
prosecuted with such violence as to produce
excitements alarming to every patr'ot IN me
Union But the good genius of conclI:atlon
which presided at the birth of our institutions
finally prevailed, and the Missouri compro-
mise was adopted. The eighth section of the
act of Congress of the 9th of March, 1920,
&C TO authorize the people OF the Missouri Ter
ritorv to form constitution and state govern
ment." &C., provides: " That, in all that ter
ritory ceded by France to the United States,
under the name of Louisiana, which lies north
of thirty.six degrees and thirty minutes norm
latitude, not included within the limits OF the
State contemplated by this act, slavery and IN
voluntary servitude, otherwise than IN tne
punishment of crimes, whereof the parties
shall have been duly convicted, shall be, and
is hereby, forever prohibited: ProU.ded a.
,cays, That any person escaping into the same
from whom labor or service is lawfully Cialm
ed in any State or Territory of the United
States. such fugitive may be lawfully reclaim
ed, and conveyed to the person claiming MS
| or her labor or services aforesaid"
This compromise had the effect OF calming
the troubled waves, and restoring peace ana
good will throughout the States OF the Union
The Missouri question had excited intense
agitation OF the public mind, and threatened
TO divide the country into geographical partieSS'
alternating the feelings of attachment which
each portion of our Union should bear to eve
~ other The compromise aIlayed the excite
ment, tranquilized the popular mind: ana re-
stored confidence and fraternal feeling lis
authors were hailed as public benetactors.
do not doubt that similar adjustment OF
the questions which now agitate the public
mind would produce The same happy results
If the legislation of Congress on the suoJect OF
the other Territories shall not be adopted IN
spirit of Cancellation and compromise, IT IS I'M
possible that the country can be SATISFIED, OF
that the most disastrous consequences snail
fail TO ensue.
When Texas was admitted into the Union
the same spirit of compromise which guided
our predecessors in the admission of Missouri
a quarter of century before, prevailed with
out any serious opposition. The Joint reso.
luton for annexing Texas to the United States,
approved March the first, one thousand eIgh
hundred and forty-five, provides that =" suct
States as may be formed out of that portion
of said territory lying south of thirty.six de-
grees thirty minutes north latitude, commonly
known as the Missouri compromise line, shall
be admitted into the Union with or without
t slavery, as the people of each State asking ad
mission may desire. And in such State q
States as shall be formed out of said terrtor,