Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-01-07

! dlrect reference TO the euuJoe I..ro,s 4bo |
ton, further than vestlng III H. i ;nto |
tbe IIn;on However, circumstances arose.
uh;ch reonired legislation, as well over Inc
t.-.;tor,, rorth of the Ohio, as over other ter
- both within and without the original
IIn;on ceded 10 the general government; and,
81 various times, a more enlarged power has
heen exercised over the Territories meaning
thereby the different Territorial Governments
than is conveyed by the limited grant refer
red TO- How far an existing necessity may
have operated in producing this legislation,
and thus extending, by rather a violent impli-
cation, powers not directly given, know not.
But certain it is, that the principle OF interter-
ence should not be carried beyond the neces,
sary implication, which produces it. 1t should
be limited TO the creation of proper govern
ments for new countries, acquired or seIleo'
and to the necessary provision tor thelr even
tual admission into the Union; leaving, IN the
meantime, to the people inhab'tIng them, to
regulate their internal concerns in their own
wav They are Just as capable of doing so,
as the people of the States; and they can do
so, at any rate, as soon as their political indie
pendence is recognised by admission mo the
Union During this temporary condition, it is
hardly expedent TO call into exercise doubt
full and invidious authority, which questions
the intelligence of respectable portion OF our
citizens, and whose limitation, whatever it
may be, will be rapidly approaching It's ter
mlnation-an authority which would give to
Congress despotic power, uncontrolled by the
constitution, over most important sections Of
our common country. For, if the relation OF
master and servant may be regulated or ami.
. hilaied by its Legislation, SO may the relation
of husband and wife, of parent and child, and
of any other condition which our institutions
and the habits of our society recognise What
would be thought if Congress should under
take TO prescribe the terms of marriage in New
York, or 10 regulate the authority of parents
over their children in Pennsylvania! And
:, yet it would be as vain TO seek one lustifylng
the Interference of the national legislature in
the cases referred to in the original States Of
the Union | speak here OF the inherent pow
er of Congress, and do not touch the question
1 of such contracts, as may be formed with new
i States when admitted into the confederacy.
= Of all the questions that can agitate us,
: those which are merely sectional in their char
= acter, are the most dangerous, and the most to
= be deprecated. The warning voice of him
! who from his character, and services, and viz
= tue, had the best right to warn US, proclaimed
" to his countrymen, in his Farewell Address
n that monument of wisdom for him, as hope
:, it will be of safety for them-how much we
had to apprehend from measures peculiarly
= affecting geographical portions of our country
> The grave circumstances in which we are now
!, placed make these words, words of safety
tor am satisfied, from all | have seen and
= heard here, that a successful attempt 70 en-
i graft the principles of the Wilmot Proviso up
: on the legislation of this government, and &c
apply them TO new territory, should new ter
, ritory be acquired, would seriously affect oul
/, tranquility do not suffer myself TO foresee
II or to foretell the consequences that would en-
II sue for trust and believe there is good sense
"a and good feeling enough in the country to a
;. void them, by avoiding all occasions which
might lead to them.
,. Briefly, then, am opposed to the exercise
A of any jurisdiction by Congress over this mat
- ter and | am in favor of leaving to the peo
!. pie of any territory, which may be hereafter
Il acquired, the right to regulate it for them
: selves, under the general principles of the
# constitution. Because
i l. do not see in the constitution any grant
IS of the requisite power to Congress and an
Is not disposed to extend doubtful precedent
!. beyond its necessity-the establishment o.
10 territorial governments when needed-leavine
to the inhabitants all the rights compatible
-
a ton.
2. Because believe this measure, if adopt
ed, would weaken, if not impair, the union Of
the States and would SOW the seeds of flu.
o ture discord, which would grow up and ripper
= into an abundant harvest of calamity.
o 3. Because believes general conviction
i that such proposition would succeed, would
j. lead 10 an I'M mediate Withholding of the sup
:, plies, and thus to dishonorable termination
o of the war. think no dispassionate obser
e yer at the seat of government can doubt thi:
j. result.
1t A. If, however, in this am under a misap.
At prehension. am under none in the practica
is operation of this restriction, if adopted by
lie Congress, upon treaty OF peace making any
.e acquisition of Mexican territory. Such {
n treaty would be rejected ust as certainly AZ
lie presented to the Senate More than one-thlrt
of that body would vote against it, viewing
N such principle as an exclusion of The cltl
E, zens of the saveholding States from pari
IS cipation in the benefits acquired by the treas
al ure and exertions of all, and which should b.
le common to all. am repeating neither ad
4 vancing nor defending these views. Tha
" branch of the subject does not lie in my way
ID and shall not turn aside to seek it.
v In this aspect of the matter, the people o
eS the United StateS must choose between lnI
ID restriction, and the extension of their terrific
- rial limits They cannot have both E; ant
it which they will surrender must depend upor
le their representatives first, and then, if these
as fail them, upon themselves.
o. S. But after all, it seems to be generally
e. conceded that this restriction, if carried into
s, effect, could not operate upon any State to b'
rs formed from newly acquired territory. The
es well-known attributes of sovereignty, recog
nized by US as belonging TO the State govern
Sc ments, would sweep before them any sucl
,e barrier, and would leave the people to expires
re and exert their will at pleasure Is the object
of then, of temporary exclusion for so short ;
< periol as the duration of the Territorial gov
if ernments, worth the price at which it woulC
n be purchased ?-worth the discord it woul(
,h engender, the trial to which it would expos
e, our Union, and the evils that would be tn
Y, certain consequence, let that trial result as
of might! AS TO the course, which has beel
- intimated. rather than proposed, of engraftiM:
ed such restriction upon any treaty OF acqusl
es ton, persuade myself it would find but littl
he favor in any petition of this country. Sue
of an arrangement would render Mexico party
er having a right to interfere in our internal in
d stitutions in questions left by the constitution
n, to the State governments, and would lnf1lct
n serious blow upon our fundamental principle:
n Few indeed, trust, there are among us, VIII
:, would tbus rrant m q FOREIGN mower the rpf