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

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territories from which it wasexpeled, with
in the last fifteen or twenty years, by the
express and solemn act of their former gov
eminent and people--a government and
people with whom, in respect TO the attrib.
ues of freedom, ours would not brook q
comparison.
Nor is this its only, or its worst feature
In annexing to our Union Texas an extern
sive slave State; covering an area capable
ofbeing formed into many more such States
we become involved in war with Next
CO, which claimed continued dominion over
that State. The territories in regard to
which The question is now made, are among
the conquesls Of this war: 1t is, therefore,
in effect, whatever may have been the orig
inal objects of the war, an appeal to the in
habitants Of the on.slav eholdng States, to
sanction the extension, through our instru-
mentality, of slavery into territories which
the United States have, in fact, acquired by
the sword, but which others had relieved
from that great evil. Such proposition
need only be stated TO ensure its prompt re.
lection by the non-saveholding states.
Upon what grounds is it attempted to
sustain principles, so repugnant to our feel
ings, so destructive in our view, to our ma
tional character and so we'll calculated, if
successful, to cloud the glory of this great
Republic? Tha, there should be diversties
of opinion and feeling upon the subject of
slavery between US and our southern breth-
rem, is certainly natural.
The strength of northern aversion to the
institution, has been recently very truly sta
ted on the floor of the Senate, by very
distinguished southern statesman. The peo-
pie of the north could not overcome this
aversion; if they would, and they cannot
desire to do so, because they religlously be-
lieve that the highest earthly interests of
man are based on its pcrmanency and ult-
mate universally. At the south the feeling
is very different, because the culture of their
minds and dispositions and the force OF
habit have had an opposite tendency. This
known and for season, at least, incurable
diversity ofopinion and feeling should begel
spirit ofconciliation and incucale mutual
forbearance in speech and action. This
duty has doubtless been occasionally lost
sight of, on both sides; but it cannot he de-
MED that the departure from it has been
greatest on the part Of our southern breth.
rem.
No one will venture 10 insist that il is, al
this day, either expedient or right TO origi
nate slavery in territories that are free from
it, if it can be properly prevented. But i,
is insisted that this cannot be done in the
case under consideration, and in the form
proposed. First, because the constitution
; hibit slavery in the territories; and that con
sequen,ly, The great number of acts for the
purpose which have been passed for The
last sixty years, with general assent, were
but so many infractions of the constitution
| All willremember the solemnity and "a
pid,y with which State after State, at tn
, south, in succession announced this doctrin
, and the acrimonious vehemence with whic
3 their conventions denounced political pros
crption in The form of exclusion from III
offices of President and Vice President, o
all which refused to adopt it. But it is al
ready apparent that difference of opinion
, upon this important subject cannot be set
5 tied by vehement assumptions. nor concil
: iaton in regard to it, promoted by dcnun
S citation. In our country such dltficuile
, mus, be solved by appeals to the tests pro
3 vided by the Constitution. For the recti
| tude of our motives and the correctness O
. our conduct, we are responsible, on earth
, to The opinion of the civilized world, AM
. hereafter to a power that is greater an
. wiser than all.
t The question of cons,ilutonality, III
n gravcst of all objections that can be mad
n against the public measure has Just passe
e through the ordeal of public discussion, an
j. the doctrine in duestioh has been so thor
It oughly rejected, and condemned by tn
e voice of the nation that iii no longer nece
). sary 10 spend words in refuting it.
J. Two circumstances have, however, o,
:, cured which though not necessary to il
o overthrow, give to that overthrow SAM
e ton that entities them to notice. 1t no.
e appears, that twenty.eight years since, ;
n the time of the Missouri compromise, Nj
y Monroe. then President, a STAKEHOLDER ar
ID elected from a save-holding State, submit
ID ted this very question, save only that it Wi
le then applied TO slave territory, 10 a cab
es net composed, among other great men,
a. such giant inlellects from the save-holdir
I'd States as Crawford, Calhoun, and VIII
n. the latter the law officer of the Cover
he ment; that they were unanimously of OPT
a ion that Congress did possess the power
re question, and that the then President.
Nv man who was on the scene of action win
ut the Constitution was formed, concurring
that opinion, approved the bill. The dc
,,t umenls which attest these Interesting c
10 cums,ances are before the country, and c
III. cry one will Judge for himself of tht
is claims to credence considered in come
rer ton with what has been said upon the 81
on ject by the survivor of the Cabinet REFER