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


slavery over any new acquisition. But can
it 90 there This may well be doubted. All
the descriptions, which reach us of the condi-
ton of the CALIFORNIA; and Of New Mexico,
10 the acquisition Of which our efforts seem at
present directed. unite in representing those
counties al agricultural regions, similar in
their products to our middle States, and gen.
orally unfit for the production Of the great sta.
pies, which can alone render slave labor valu-
able. If we are not grossly deceived-and it
is difficult to conceive how We can be-ihe
inhabitants of those regions, whether they
depend upon their ploughs, or their herds,
cannot be shareholders. Involuntary labor,
requiring the investment of large capital. can
only be profitable when employed in the pro-
duction of few favoured articles confined
by nature to special districts, and paying lar
ger returns than the usual agricultural pro-
ducts spread over more considerable portions
Of the earth.
In the able letter of Mr.. Buchanan upon
this subject, not long since given to The pub
lie. he presents similar considerations with
great force. Neither" says the distinguish
ed writer. "the soil, the climate. nor the pro-
ductions of California south of Sc deg. 80 H.,
nor indeed Of any portion of it, north or south,
is adapted to slave labor ; and besides every
facility would be there afforded for the slave
TO escape from his master. Such property
would be entirely insecure IN any part oil
California. 1t is morally impossible, there
fore. that majority Of the emigrants to that
portion Of the territory south Of So deg. 80 NJ,
which will be chiefly composed Of our citi'
zens, will ever re-establish slavery within its
imito.
&c In regard to New Mexico, east of the Rio
Grande, the question has already been settled
by the admission of Texas into the Union.
g Should we acquire territory beyond The
Rio GraEde and east of the Rocky mountains
it is still more impossible that majority o.
I the people would consent to re-eStablish sla
very. They are themselves colored popua
ton, and among them the negro does not be-
long socially to degraded race"
! With this last remark Mr.. Walker fully co
, incides in his letter written in 1874, upon the
, annexation of Texas, and which everywhere
{ produced so favorable an impression upon thu
public mind, as to have conducted very ma
terlalEy to the accomplishment of that grea
= measure. beyond the Del Norte,' says MIR
Walker, " slavery will not pass not only be
cause it is forbidden by law, but because thu
. colored race there preponderates in the ratio
y of ten to one over the whites and holding, a
> ces in their possession, they will not PERM
4 the ensla7ement of any portion of the colore,
race, which makes and executes the laws O
q the country
q The question, it will be therefore seen OF
v examination, does not regard the exclusion O
slavery from region where it now exists
= but prohibition against its introduction
where it does not exist, and where, from tn
4 feelings of the inhabitants and the laws of ma
= ture, " it is morally impossible,' as Mr.. Blu
! chanan says, that it can ever re- estabish it
= self.
; 1t augurs well for the permanence of on
r. confederation, that during more than half
a century, which has elapsed since the estab
= hshment OF this government, many serIou
q questions, and some ofthe highest importance
= have agitated the public mind, and more tina
h once threatened the gravest consequences
but that they have all in succession passed a
- way, leaving our institutions unsca1hed, an
= our country advancing in numbers, power
and wealth, and in all the other elements O
" national prosperity, with rapidity unknow
IN ancient or In modern days In times of 20
. lltical excitement, when difficult and delicat
questions present themselves for solution
. there is one ark of safety for US and that is
- an honest appeal to the fundamental princi
= Piles of our Union, and stern determinato
= 10 abide their dictates. This course of pro
. ceeding has carried US in safety through man
: a trouble, and trust will carry US sa ct
- through many more, should many more b
destined to assail us. The WiImot Provis
;. seeks to take from its legitimate tribunal
e question of domestic policy, having no rea
: ton to the Union, as such, and to transfer
n 10 another created by the people for specis
purpose. and foreign to the subject-matter in
volved in this issue. BY going back to GU
J; true principles, we go back TO the road c
Il peace and safety. Leave to the people, VIII
= will be affected by this question, to adjust
Il upon their own responsibility, and in the
T. own manner, and we shall render another tr
IS butte to the original principles of our govern
ment, and furnish another guaranty for il
y permanence and prosperity.
Il am, dear sir, respectfully, your obedier
servant, LEWIS CASS.
y A. o. P. NICHOLSON, esq, Nashville, Tenn.
is