Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-09-16

ordinance of ST, was required, even in the
State Constitution and government, and
the bill giving to the ordinance this applica.
ton, was reported by committee of which
William Ii. Giles, of Virginia, was chair
man, and John Rutledge, of South Carroll
ma, a member. 1t was passed in the Sen.
ate by a vote Of sixteen to FIVE, and among
The ayes will be found the respected named
Of Baldwin and Jackson, of Georgia;
Breckenridge and Brown, of Kentucky;
Franklin and Stone, of North Carolina;
Stevens, Thompson. Mason and Wilson
Cary Nicholas, Of Virginia; Sumpter, of
South Carolina, and Wright, of Maryland.
The States which have grown up under
and in conformity to that ordinance; have,
in very great degree, been settled by en-
gran,s from the saveholding States.-
Thousands of these hardy and enterprisine
pioneers, many of them among the most
respectable of their felow.ci tizens, for a
series Of years in succession, left their
friends and neighbors in the slave. holding
States for what was then the far west, &C.
companied by their prayers and benedic-
tons; it never entering into the magma
ton of either that in doing so they SUBJ
mitted 10 any personal or sectional reproach
or degradation. Prosperous and happy in
their new abode, they aid their associates
and the great enterprise they accomplished,
have been honored and admired by all who
have witnessed their success. One of those
very settlers, after assuming and for many
years dischargng the responsibility of en-
forcing the ordinance of 1897, and after
enjoying large share of his country's con-
fidence and respect in other forms, was f.
nally elevated to the Presidency, and died
in that exalted station. Another highly
distinguished inhabiant Of one of the ter
rtories, subject to the same restriction, af-
ter having also, for long series of years,
borne The responsibility of seeing % the
execution of this now derided ordinance,
as Governor of the territory, is, at present,
the favored candidate for the same high Of
fee, of portions of the citizens of tho
save-holding as well as of the other States.
In the face of facts like these, is it pos
sible that the application of this restrc-
ton to New Mexico and California, can
operate to the disparagement of our breth-
rem of the slave. holding States? No i'm
partial mind can. think, regard it in this
/ light; and if there lie any other objections
insisted on that are wor thy of notice, am
not apprised of them. None that are ten
able, can. in my Judgement, be offered
| The measure is right in itself; and what is
right may always be done with Ultimate
safety. The present generation stand in
the same relation towards these very ex-
tensive territories, in which the sages of
1887 stood towards the northwestern ter
ritoly. If we act as wisely as they did,
results not less gorious than those which
reflect such undying honor on the policy of
that day. will follow the labors and perpet-
uaie the memories of those by whom it is
now upheld.
The sixth resolution embraces The sub.
ject of slavery in the District of Colum-
bia; and | observe in it generality of ex-
preston, in respect TO the time when, and
the circumstances under which, it was the
opinion of the conv cntion that il should be
abolished. which has not been usual on the
part of the friends in immediate action
Most rejecting and phian,hropic minds
live in the hope, that they will one day see
slavery abolished, not only in that District,
! but in the States Also in the latter through
! the agency of the State governments to
= whom the constitution wisely leaves exclu-
sve power in the latter, and in the former
by Congress. ! may be mistaken, but
think see in the guarded language of the
: resolution. evidence of an apprehension,
: on the part of the Convention, that diff
:, ference in opinion, 10 some extent at least,
existed among lis members, upon the point
referred TO, and of an enlightened and tru-
~ patriotic resolve, not to suffer that cir
cums,ance, if it existed, TO weaken the
moral power CT their unanimity on the
+ grea, question which had brought them TO-.
gether.
f. My option in favor of the power of
Congress TO abolish slavery in the District
= of Columbia. has been repeatedly avowed.
S as well when a candidate, as whilst Presi-
S dent; and every days reflection has but
e served 10 confirm my conviction Of its cor
|. reciness. | at the same time, express my.
:, self strongly against the expediency of ex-
y ercising it, and in recent letter TO the
s New York delegation at Utica, referred
r. to my continued opposition TO that meas
d urc. The subject was only incidentally in
S, .roduced, and there was, consequently, bu
little care taken, in regard to the terms, ir
9 which the suggestion was made.
h The form of expression which l EN-
p ployed has, it appears, led many homes
n and intelligent men 10 assume that the re
n mark related, exclusively, to the past, an,
" was not intended 10 convey my presen
- views on the matter. This construction
le though, perhaps, not unwarranted by III
q, words employed, is in fact, erroneous; an
ce il is due to truth, to fair dealing and to a
g. who take an interest in the matter, that tn
v, subject should now be placed in its tru