Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-06-21

freedom 10 single being who is now
placed therein. Tho same numbers will
be spread over greater territory; and so
far as compression, with less abundance
Of the necessarics OF life, is an evil, so
far will that evil be miligated by trans
porting slaves to IA new county, and
giving them larger space to occupy.
| say this in the event of the extern
sion of slavery over any nev acquisition.
But can it 60 lhere7 This may well be
doubted. All the descriptions which
reached US of the condition Of the Cali
fornias and New Mexico, TO the acqqisl-
ton of which our efforts seem atpresens
directed, unite IN representing those
countries as agricultural regions similar
in their products to our Middle States,
and generally unfit for the production Of
The great staples which cannlone render
the slave labor valuable. If We ale not
grnssly deceived-and il is difficult 10
conceive how we can he-lhe inhabi-
tants of those regions, whether they dc,
pend upon their pIougIIs or their hcards,
cannot be shareholders. Involuntary
labor, requiring The investment Of large
capital, can only be profitable when EN-
iployed in the production Of a few favor
ed articles, confined by nature TO special
districts, and raying larger return than
the usual agricultural products spread
over more conside rabIe portions of the
earth. a..
In The able letter of Mr.. Buchanan
upon this subject, not long since given
10 The public, he presents similar con-
sidera'ions with great force. "Neither,
says the distinguished writer, "tI,c soil,
the climate, nor the productionso Cali
tornia, south OF SO deg. 30 minutes, nor
indeed Of any portion Of it, north or
south, is adapted 10 slave labor; and be-
sides, every facility would be afforded
for ile slave 10 escape from his master.
Such property would be. entirely inse-
cure in any part Of California. 1t is
morally impossible, therefore, that ma
Ijor!ty of the emigrans to that portion Of
the territory south Of sc deg, 30 min,
utes, which will be chiefly composed Of
our citizens, .willever re.establish slaves
~ wilhin.ils limits. :. u
-: InIeaaEd 10 New N Mexico. eastof the
Ria Grande,s the question has arfaady
been settled by the admission of Texas
into the Union.
"Should we acquire territory beyond
the Rio Glandr. and east of tho rocky
mountains, ii is still more impossible
that a majority Of the people 'OouM
consent to re.estobEsh slaccry. THEY
are Mcmselves a colorcd population, and
among them the negro does not belong
socially to q degraded race."
With this last remark, Mr.. Walker
fully comedies in his letter written in
18Th, upon tho annexation Of Texas,
and which everywhere produced So ia.
vorabe All impression upon the public
mind, as to have conducted very mate
rally to the accomplishment Of that
great measure. "Bcyond Del Nortr,"n
says Mr.. Walker, slavery will not pass
not only because il is. forbidden by
law; but because the colorad race there
prepondcratrs in the ratio Of ten to one
over the whites; and holding, as they do,
the government and most Of the Offices
in their possession, they will not permit
tho enslavemerl of amy portion OF the
colorcd race Which makes ard execuics
the laws of the country:
The question, it will be therefore seen
on examination, does not irga,d the ex-
cusion of slavery from a.rrsion where
it now exists, but "A prohibition against
its Introduction where it does not exist,
and where, from the. feelings Of the in
habitans and The laws of nature, "it is
morally inpossib!e," as Mr.. Buchanan
says, that it can ever re establish itself.
Ii auguls well for the rermanence of
our confederation, that during more 'han
half century, which has elapsed since
The establishment Of this government,
many serious questions, and some of the
highest Importance, have agitated the
public mind, an'l more .han once tl.ea;.
fned the gravest consequences; but that
lhey have all in succession passed away,
leaving our institutions unsca'hed, and
our country advancing in number, pow
er and wealth, and in all the other eIe-
menIs of national prosperity, with a
rapidly unknown in ancient or modern
DAYS.
In times of political excitement, when
difficult and delicate pwsIions present
themselves for solution, there is one ark
of safety for us; and that is, an honest
appeal to The fundamental principles Of
our Union, and stern discrimination to
abide their dictates. This course Of
proceeding has carried us in safety 'hro'
many trouble, and trust win Carry
us safely through many more, should
many more be destined to assail U.S..
The WiImot proviso seeks TO take its
legitimate tribunal a question of domes-