The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-18

the Increased emigration from the United States which
the present war will inevitably lead this time
wholly unwilling TO commit the destines of this grea
and hourlshing republic to union with popu-
ation like that OF which six out of eight millions Of the
present inhabitants OF Mexico composed Having
had proof OF the insncey of the opinions ad vanced
by the President In his annual message any sufficient
to believe that he has changed his views regard
10 it, we hold the alarm which has been sounded in
speci to contemplated Standardization of Mexico by
our government to be without foundation.
Thirdly The democracy OF New York do now, and
have always heretofore, believed in the WISDOM human
iy and consiltutonay of the policy OF endeavorng
limit the evils OF slavery by protecting the unsettled ter
Iones OF lhe United oates against ITS INTRODUCTION whilst
they are under a territorial government So believing.
they will when any such governments established BY
Congress. either Tor the territories possess Tor
such may acquire from Mexico insist, far
have the right and the do that this ancient
successful and me-honored policy shall be applied TO
them And why should we not do SOP What is il that
has caused the dissatisfaction with, and denunciaon
which has been unsparngy poured out upon the de-
mocracy OF New ork for steadily pursuing the path
which not only they but until very recently the great
and good of all parties have unnteruptedly and happily
trod Apprehensive Of the heartburnngs and discord
which might in the progress OF time from the then
great and most probably permanent disparity Of the con
their joint efforts established national independence,
the patriots of the revolution took early to
guard, as far as they could, the union OF the States
against the evils with which they oresaw IT would be
threatened from this source.
Southern men, whose names are synonymous with all
the virtues which adom the human character-such
patrioslent their aid and the influence OF their great
names to the promotion of this object When the federal
constitution was framed and adopted Mr. Jefferson was
not in the United States but before he lett them he in
roduced into Congress the principle which embodied
the ordinance OF l7S7 for the government of the north
western territory BY which that body with the declared
purpose of 'ertending the fundamental principles Of cipH
and religious liberty whtch form the basis nhich these
republics their lars aud constitutions ereced,"
involuntary servitude in said territory, otherwise than
in the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall
have been first duly convicted" This ordinance, be
membeed embraced in its provisions oil the territory
rrhich The United States then held IN undputed possession,
and in the principal part, if not the whole of it, Slavery
then permitted by law This great charter of freedom
passed in Congress by the unanimous vote OF all the
States The representatives of every southern State
daily united and among the great and good men then
prominent in the public service there was not, that we
know Of either from the north or the SOUTH the east or
the west. but single dssentient. slave State made
the principal cession of the territory upon which the ord
to operate and southern statesmen deemed il
wise to take the lead in all for the Moderation
and Limitation OF slavery.
Congress having thus as they hoped closed forever
the door to the extension OF slavery beyond the limits Of
the original States all that remained 10 be done was to
preven, It's increase by foreign Importation The ground
work for the accomplishment OF this great object was
laid by another body Of still higher authority The
venOn to frame the present federal constitution
session when the Jeersonan ordinance passed and
it completed the work in which Congress had made so
much progress by two important provisions viz one
ferng authority Congress prohibit the introduction
of slaves into the United States from abroad; and the
other in full view of what had Just been doing the
subject of slavery, authorizing it to make all needful
property belonging to the United States And among
the first acts of the first Congress under the
stituon, composed, in part, of the persons who had
framed it, act recognising the validity of the
ordinance OF 1857. This uniform and harmonious
system of action upon the subject of slavery, on
the part OF the southern statesmen OF those days,
was not only dictated by the puest and most devoted
principles OF philanthropy and patriotism, but well
calculated to subserye policy which they did not at
tempt to conceal or Disguise They regarded the exist
the first magnitude, in any aspect in which it could be
viewed; misfortune which could not ailto prove dis
asous to the welfare Of the whole country but des
tined TO bear with the greatest severity upon the States
of the SOUTH where prevailed to the greatest extent,
and was likely to be permanent They justly claimed
that neither Its introduction present existence was
attributable to them ault-that the blame in this
respect rested upon the mother couny and strongly
was the leading mind of the south in civil affairs i'm
pressed upon this point that the promotion of the slave
trade with the colonies of the charges against
Great Britain preferred in the original dught of the Dec
aIaon OF Independence They contended that, slave
ry could not now be removed by any known means II
must be tolerated until, in the providence of God, some
mode OF deveance was presented which could not then
be devised
They oresaw Gas we have already sadly that its exist
ence when confined to section OF the country. as
was likely to be soon the might give rise to heat
burnngs and contention; They met this danger prompt
y, seasonaby, and justly, by showing their willingness
to adopt any practicable to prevent the increase
of evil, the removal of which beyond their pres
ent power IL mattered not TO minds and hearts ike
theirs, that the territory respect to which they egsla
ted at the time part of slave States, and subject to
the introduction of slavery.
Having thus shown their disposition TO do all they
could upon the subject, and having effected much,
they felt that they could rely upon the justice the patriot
ISM and the fraerna feelings of their sisters OF the
federacy who were, to become free States,
not only for total abstinence from interference with the
subject in States where slavery existed but Tor active aid
in the mgao of its injurious effects The result has
shown that they judged correctly Every attempt by the
misguided OF the north disturb the slave States
upon this delicate subject though vexatious and irr
tatng, has proved substantially harmless. On the other
hand, no opinion has become more firmly rooted in the
minds and hearts of the northern people, than that which
incnlcates the absolute nvioabty of the subject OF
slavery in the States against external interference. OF the
extent to which the democracy of New York and their pub
lie unctonares have contributed 10 the maintenance and
spread of this sound constitutional doctrine, need not
spcak-nOr if people satisfied, as we think
they ought be, that has not been done in this
spect than required by the constitution. demanded
by the comfy of States, due to the fratenal feelings
which have long existed between and our southern
BRETHREN will either relax future efforts, or re-
greet the past whatever light conduct may be
viewed by those whom wished to betriend The pol
icy thus established by universal consent at the very
commencement of the government, and which we desire
to uphold, only efectual in maintaining harmony
between the free and slave States but it has other
spects been productive Of useful results is, be-
yond all doubt to its influence and effect Alone that the
important and fourshng States OF Ohio Indiana Illinois,
and Michigan this moment free States That slavery
would otherwise have been diused through the north