The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-06-28

lead 10 an immediate withholding oil the sup
plies, and thus to dsIlonorabc termination
of the war. | think no dispassionatc obser-
ver al the scat of government can doubt this
result.
4. If, however, in this | am under mis-
apprehension, ! am under none in the plac-
licaI operation of this restriction, if adopted
by Congress upon treaty of peace making
any acquisition Of Mexican territory. Such
a treaty would be rejected just as certainly
as presented to the Senate. More than one
third of that body would vote against it,
viewing such principle as an exclusion Of
the citizens of the sIavehoIdlng states from
a participation III the benefits acquired by
the treasure and cxertions Of all, and which
should b. common to all. | am repeating
-neilhcr advancing nor defending thcsa
views. That branch ofthc subject does not
lie in my way, and | shall not turn aside to
seek it..
In this aspect of the matter, the people OF
the L. States must choose between this re-
striction and the extension Of their 'crrilorI-
al limits. They cannot have both; and
which they vii! surrender must dcrcnd up
on their representatives first, and then, II
these fail, upon themselves.
5. But after all, it seems to be generally
conceded, that this restriction, if carried Irto
effect could operate upon any State to be
formed from newly acquired territory. The
well known attributes Of sovereignty, rccog-
nizcd by us as belonging TO the State gov
ernmcn,s, would sweep before them any
.ch barrier, aud would leave the pcopI to
express and exert their will at leisure. Is
the object then, Of temporary exclusion tor
SO short period as the duration Of the ter
ritorial governments, worth the price al
which it would be purchascd!-worth the dis.
cord which ii would engcnder, the trial to
which it would expose our Union, and tho
evils that would be the certain consequence,
let that trial result as 1t might? AS to the
course which has been lntmalcd, rather than
proppscd, Of cngraling such a restriction
upon any treaty of acquisition, l persuade
myself IL would find but little favor in any
portion of this country. Such an arrange
ment would render Mexico party, having
right to Interfere in + internal institutions
in questions left by the constitution TO The
State governments, and would lntict ser!-
Gus blow upon our fundamental principles.
Few, indeed, trust, there arc amongst is,
who would thus grant 10 foreign power
the right to inquire into tho constitution and
conduct of the sovereign States of this Un-
ion, and if there are any, am not among
them, and never shall be. TO the prop'c OF
this country, under God, row and hereafter,
arc its dcslInlcs committed; and we want no
foreign power to lnterroeatc us, treaty IN
hand, and 10 say, why have YOU done this,
or why have you left that undonc! Our
own d!gu;ly and the ncipIcs ot rational
independence unisc 20 rcpcl such i PROPOSE
ton.
But there is another important consdcra-
ton which ought not to be lost sight ct, III tho
investigation of this subject. The question
that presents Itself IS not I question oi the
increase, but of the diffusion of slavery.
Whether its sphere be stationary Or progress
sivc, lis amount will he tn! same. he re-
i ction oi' this restriction viii not add one TO
the class of scrvlluGc, nor will It's adoption
give freedom TO single being who Is now
placed lhercia. The same Plumbers Will DC
spread over greater territory: and so lar as
compression, with less abundance oi The nc-
ccssaricS of life, is an evil, so far Will that
evil be mi igalcd by transporting slaves to
new country, and giving them larger space
to occupy.
say This in the event Of the extension OF
slavery over any new acquisition. But can
it 90 there? This may we'll he doubted.
All the descriptions winch reached us OF Ihc
condition of the CALIFORNIA; and New Mc%i-
CO, t. the acquisition OF which our cliVrts
seem al present directed, unlIc in represent
ing those countries as agricultural regions,
similar in their products to our Middle States
aid generally unfit for the production Of The
great staples which can alone render the
81 We labor valuable. If we are not grossly
dcccivcd: and il is difficult to conceive how
we can be; the inhabitants OF these regions,
whether they depend upon their p'o e I's or
their herds, cauuot be shareholders. lnroI-
untary labor, requiring the Investment Of
large capital, can onl he profitable when
cmpioyc; in the production of few favored
articles. confined by nature to special districts
and paying larger return than the Usual
agricultural products sprcaI over more
considerable portions of the earth.
In the able letter of MIR. Buchanan upon
this subject, not long since glvcn''o the pub
lie, he presents similar considerations with
great force. "Ncithcr," says the distinguish
cd writer, "ihc soil, the climate, nor the pro-
duclnns Of California, south Of 3G deg, 30
minutes, nnr indcd Of any portion of II, north
or south, is adapted to slave labor; and be-
sides, every faculty would be there afforded.
for the Save to escape from his master
Such property would be entirely insecure IN
nn,. nnrl nc Calicnrnia Il is morally lnDOs: