The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-10-13
WILLIS HALL.

The following excellent letter from Willis Hall
was read the great Free Soil gathering in Ne w
York, on the 9th instant
Gentlemen 81 have received your invitation
TO address the ratification meeting of the friends
OF free soil, to be held in the Park on Monday
afternoon. You are not mIstak IN in supposing
that take deep interest in this subject, and
would gladly lend my feeble aid, in any way in
my power, to its advancement.
But my voice is too feeble to enable me to be
heard in the open air, and my official engage
ments OIL Monday afternoon and evening, render
1t impossible to be present with you on this great
rally Of the free democracy. But cahnot for.
bear word as TO the grossly false charge against
US that we are sectional party.
Not member of that party but huris back
with indignation the charge of seeking to ad.
vance one section OF the Union at the expense OF
another, or any other charge which impugns his
patriotic devotion to our common country, and
every part OF it The territories were acquired
by the blood and treasure of the whole nation,
south well as north, and, therefore, il is said
the south should be admitted TO an equal partici.
patton in all the benefits to be derived rom the m
This is unquestionably true. We should enter
upon them like band OF brothers, on terms of
perfect equality. But if they introduce their
slaves, they exclude US, not we THEM Slaves
and free labor never have, and never can exist
together. II persons unite TO purchase plot
OF ground, on which to build dwellings Tor their
families, and one insists on erecting a nuisance,
which renders it uninhabitable for the rest he is
prohibited by the laws of every nation. BY SO
doing, he in fact monopozes the common prop
erty to himself.
We have as much right to the precious veins
OF New Mexico, and the golden sands OF Cali
fornia, as our brethren of the south and to them,
IN all kindness, we say, we will neither do wrong
nor suffer wrong; we will be as firm in resisting
any encroachments upon the just rights secured
to them by the Constitution, as we are sternly
resolved in asserting our own.
mat the TACT that the soil oil New Mexico was
purchased by the common blood and treasure,
gives any one right to hold slaves upon 1t, is
absurdly false. New York was redeemed from
the domination of England by the common blood
and treasure; but does that give any one a right
TO hold slaves here ?-to drive three fourths of
our most valuable population from their 6elIs and
their workshops, and darken our land with the
curse OF slavery' Every state has right to say
what shall be property within its own iurisdic-
ton. The United States have the same power
over territories. The people have the same right
to resist the Introduction of slavery ia the one
case as in the other.
The Missouri Compromise is totally inapplica-
Bile. That restricted slavery in what had been
the Territory OF Louisiana, where slavery had
been established.
We seek to prevent the Extension OF Slavery
to territory where it has never existed
The friends Of Free Soil seek no sectional ad-
vantage-violate no law-intrnge no obligation
which rests upon them as American citizens.
ready ito do or die" in defence OF their common
country.
Please accept my thanks Tor the Hattering
terms OF your invitation, and be assured OF my
hearty cooperation in the great cause M which
you are engaged. With the highest respect.
your obedient servant, WILLIS HALL.
To JOHN CocHRANE and others, COMMITTEES.
New York, Oct Z, 184S.