The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-12-06

tolls, dangers, and suiierings.
Now, when thnr work is ended, VIXEN peace lie
restored, and they reurd again TO their homes, put
off the habiliments of war, take their places IN So
ciety and their pursuits in civil life, surely
spirit of hormony and concession, and of equal re-
gard for the rights OF all AMI of all sections OF the
Union ought TO prevail In providing governments for
the acquired charlottesville fruits of their
service. The whole people OF tae United States and
that war; and it would not be just for amy one
ton exclude another from all participation in the
acquired territory. This woulu not be in consonance
with the just system of government which the
trainers of the constitution adopted.
The question is believed to be rather abstract than
practical whether slavery ever can or would exisfn
left to the option of the slayeholding States them
selves. From the nature of the climate and produc
could never exists and in the remainder, the probabii
ties are would not. But however this may be, the
rights Of the separate and several States, equal
i'll the cofederacy, should not be disre-
garded
In organizing governments over these Territories,
duty imposed on Congress by the Constitution
quires that they should legisate the subject of
slavery, while their power to do not only seri-
ously questioned but denied by many of the sound
est expoundsrs of that instrument. Whether Con-
gress shall legslate or not, the people of the acqui-
red Territories, when assembled in convention 10
form State constitutions will possess the sole and
exclusive power to determine for themselves whe.
ther slavery shall shall not exist within their
limits II Congress shall abstain from interfering
with the question, tho people of these Territories
will he left free to adjust it they may think pro-
per when they apply for admission as States into the
Union.
No enactment of Congress could restrain the peo-
pie of any of the sovereign States of the Tnon, old
| or new, north south, slave holding non slave
holding, from determining the chaacter of their
domestic institutions as they may deem wise and
proper. Any and all the States possess this right
and Congress cannot deprive them of it, The peo-
pie of Georgia might if they chose, so alter their
constitution as to abolish slavery within their limits
n 1lR of 4Fm nptI al,l 1IGh
constitution as to admit slavery within Its limits
Both States would possess the right though as all
know, 1t is not probable that either would exert it.
1t is fortunote for the peace and harmony of tho
Union that this question is in its nature temporary
and can only continue for the BRIT period which will
intervene before California and New Mexico may 10
admitted into the Union From the tide Of population
now flowing into them, it is highly probable that
this will soon occur
Considering the several States and the citizens of
the several States as equals, and entitled to equal
rights under the constitution If this original
question, it might well be insisted that the prin-
cple OF noninterference is the true doctrine, and
that Congress could not, III the absence of any ex
press grant of power interfere with their relative
rights.
Upon great emergency, however, and under me-
| naoing dangers to the Union the Missouri compro-
mise line Ill respect to slavery was adopted. The
s;lme line was extended further west in the acquisi-
ton Of Texas. After acquiescence of nearly
thirty years IN the principle of compromise recognis
cd and established by these acts and to avoid the
uaHger 10 the Union which might follow II 1t
now dsregarded, ! have heretofore expressed the
I opinion that that line of compromise should be ex-
tended on the parallel of thrty-si1 degrees thirty
minutes from the western boundary of Texas, where
| 1t now terminates, to the Pacific ocean.
This is the middle ground of compromise upon
which the different sections of the Union may meet
as they have heretofore met. If this be done, it
confidently believed large ma jurlty of the people
of every section of the country however widely Their
abstract opinions the subject of slavery may differ,
would cheertuly and periodically acquiesce in it,
and peace and harmony would again fill our borders.
The restriction north of the line WIS only yielded
| to in the of Missouri and Texas upon princ-
pie Of compromise, made necessary for the sake Of
preserving the harmony, and possibly the existence
| of the Union.
II upon these considerations that Mt the close
of your last session. gave my sanction to the prn
cipls OF the Missouri compromise line, by approving
and signing the bill establish s'the Territorial GO
verninent Of Oregon From sincere desire to pre-
serve the harmony of the Union, and in Difference
| for the acts of my predecessors, | felt constrained
to yield my acquiescence to the extent which they
had gone III compromising this delicate and danger
Gus question. But If Congress shall now reverse
| the decision by which the Missouri compromise was
effected and slull propose to extend the restriction
| over the whole territory, south well north of
the parallel of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes it
will cease to be compromise, and must be regarded
| original question.
II Cong ress instead of observing the urse of nom
interference leaving the adoption Of their own do
| nestle institutions 10 the people who may nhab
these Territories; If, instead OF extending the MIS-
souri, compromise line to the Pacific, shall prefer to
submit lne ,ssal anu coistitnnoai queslons which
| was proposed in bill which passed the Senate at
your .as. sesS'on "m ados.ei, may oe effected IN
th's inoue' IL lne whp'e suilecl De eerftd 10 Inc
quesce in the final decision of the tribunal created
by me constitution LOT lne seeine OF an questions
whlch may Ir.se u'oeI .e co's'''u'io'' ueates' ana
laws OF 'he ohl.eu e,a'es ..,
Congress is earnestly INVOKED LOT the sake OF the
Union its harmony and our continued prosperity ms
i"tio, 10 aulust ~ lts pieseht SESSION tlis inc
ohif dangerous question "hich iies IN our path-lt
not IN some Oh lIe modes suggested III some other
", , n's pe 'a''a r Nv ~, 81. -,
Ill anticipation VI t"e os'd,''shient vi regular 60
verhhchls over the acquired territories l"iht com
mission Oh oaleefso o, .ne army sH navy mas nee,l or
oefeu 10 p'oceeu W tie coast vi o"liioflla ana ore,
soh, Tor tne purpose On making recohnolssces and
report as 10 tne sites .or he erection OF tor
tihcatlohs or other defensive WORKS ON land ana OF
sui'ape H,tu'iohn ''' naval sesti"hs' ne inorla,
| ton winch may be expected from scientific and
skliiiul examination ~ Tue Who're lace Oh the coast
VIII DC e,lneh'.y uselui 70 congress, wheh lhey
e"''c ~ ra .ns w manning app'oPra
tior's io ti,ese Sieut ha,i"',hi c W,
Proper ae'ences on ,an1 VIII De necessary TOT me
security anu pio,ec.ioh "' our possssi1ns una the
eetaoi'shmeh. vi nuVS-yau', anu uocA ior me re-
p aha our na and ooDmsrc,a mnr,ne t a.
axe 10 our navy anu connierclal MARINE WHhout
sucn es'ap 10 epeiy vessel wnt.ner OF tne
navy o, VI ,'e n,erenu' setvse, Isquirg repair,
must az eIea, eApense soe ,ounu oape i1UIn 10 one
y, III; y'sn, ~, IN. , i'm nach
repo,red as rheanv in california M nnon The Allan
~ os, Thf, ;y,o"H live a,n,Io,,,np"nt ~ ,nnr
nc coast Incy WGule Glye e'nn,aymemt 10 many OF
our ente pris'Hg ship-euhaeis anu mechanics, ana
gtefy facilitate ana enlarge commerce IN the Pa
cifc
Asit is ascertained that mines of gold silver con.
,,.r ud nnirk s,iver exist in Nev N.yicn,nd C,lfr
p . AND ,hnt "aarI,, iii tho lands I,,hsr. ,har ~
ma, wv ,','t ,eu ~ w. S' tno3 'ne
found belong 10 the Chlteu sates IL IL deemed I'M
portan to the public interests that provision he made
for a geological and meteorological examination of
these Tepions Nensures shoud he adOpted To nre
tncae 'es iois; i,i Hi 'i ~ i r W pIe