Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-09-08
VOLUME II--SUNBER IS

the state Of ihc country was this: slavery exist.
cd in the Southern Suites; there was a very
large extent Of unuccupicd tcrrilory-the whole
{ Northwest which il was understood was 10 b.
/ formed into States; and il was then determined
/ that no slavery should exist in this territory
Northwest Of the Ohio.
gather now, rs matter of inference from
the history Of The Ine, and the history of the
debates, that the prevailing motives Of the
+ North Tor agreeing 10 this recognition Of the ex.
istcnce o! slavery in tie Southern States. and
giving repr senlaOn TO those S,nlcs. founded
IN part upon their slaves, was based on the sup.
>, position that no acquisition Of territory was
made TO form new States on the Southern from.
uer ol this country, either by ccssion or con-
quest IL IS PLAIN that, taking the history Of the
times together with the reason why The slave
representation was allowed, was thai since the
Northwest territory was destined by ordinance
TO be free, aud since nobody looked to anv ac-
quisition by conquest or cession flr the c,ealion
Of slaves States at the South, there was an in
ssilng on the part Of the South to slavery where
il did exist. and to be represented according TO
the principles and provisions of the constitution,
inasmuch as il was limited by those two consid-
NluA'ilos L iSls lllut lilCIt WIS 10 nc 10 slavery
in the territories; and second, that there was
not the least anticipation of the acquisition of
any new territory. And now, sir, am one who.
understanding that to be the purpose Of the con.
stituIlon, mean 10 abide by it.
: There is another principle equally clear BY
which mean 10 abide, and that is. thai in the
: convention and in the first Congress. when ap-
peacd 10 on the subject by petitions. and all
along IN the history Of this government, it was
aud has been conceded point that slavery, in
: the States in which it did exist, was maiier OF
State regulation exclusively, and that Congress
had not the least power over il, or right to inter-
iere with it. Therefore say that all agtaons
and attempts 10 disturb the relations between
master and slave, by persons not living in the
slave States, are unconstitutional in their spirit,
and are, in my opinion, productive of nothing
but evil and mischief. | counlcnance none OF
: them. The manner in which the governments
= Of those States where slavery exists are TO req.
i uote il, is for their own consideration, under
: their responsibility to their constituents, 10 the
general laws of propriety, humanity and JUS
tice, and TO God.
Associations formed elsewhere, springing from
Z feeling of humanity, or any other cause, have
Z nothing whatever 10 do with it, They have
= never received any encouragement from me,
and they never will. In my opinion, they have
done nothing but TO delay and defeat their own
: proIeSsed objects. have stated, as | under.
stand ii, the state of things upon the adoption
Of the constitution of the United States. What
has happened since! Sir, it has happened that
above and beyond all contemplation or expecta-
tion Of the original lramers Of the constitution
foreign territory has been acquired by cession
first from Spain and then from France, on ou,
+. Southern frontier. And what has been the re-
d suit Of that Five savehoIding States has beer
Il created and added 10 the Union; bringing tel
e Senators into this body, Il include Texas, which
It consider in the light Of u foreign acquisition
o alSo,) and up TO this hour when ] address you
L not one free State has been admitted into 1.-The
!. Union from all this acquired terrjlory-nct one!
h Mr.. BERRIEN-(in his seat)-Yes, Iowa.
u Mr.. WEBSTER. Iowa is not yet in the Union
10 Her Senators are not here. When she comes
Il in, there will be one TO ive-one free State tc
> five slave States formed out of new territories
Now, it seems strange 10 me that there shouIt
- be any complaint of injustice exercised by the
g North towards the South Northern votes have
ID been necessary, they have been ready, and they
10 have been rendered to aid the formation Of these
a' five new slaveholdng States. These are facts
10 and as the gentleman from Georgia has very
:" probably put il as a cause in which we ought tC
8 present ourselves before the world for its iudg
" ment, let us now see how we stand. do no
% represent the North; | state my own case; anC
TT present the matter in that light in which | ar
willing, as an individual member of Congress
n' to be judged by civilized humanity. | say, then
~ that according to true history, The saveholdins
/" interest in this country has not been diSlavor
,e , ed interest; it has not been disavored by th
'e Norh. The North has concurred to bring il
. these five slaveholding States out of newly ac
=, quired territory; which acquisitions were neve
ID at all in the contemplation Of the convention
IS which formed the constitution, or of the people
III when they agreed that there should be a repre-
e :, senlalion of three flths of the slaves in the he
existing States.
i Mr.. President, what is the result Of ;his?-
as We stand here noW-at least do, for one-t
" say that considering that there have been area
.. dy five new slavehoding States formed out o
nc newly acquired territory, and one only at mo:
,p non-slaveholding State, | do not feel that ar
9 called on to go further; do not feel the obiga
~ ton to yield more. Butour friends of the Sout
y say-You deprive US of all our rights-we hav
* fought for this territory, and you deny us parl
IL cipation in it. Let US consider this question a
.. it really is; and since the honorable gentlema
Y from Georgia proposes to leave the case to th
! enlightened and impartial judgmentof mankint
-, and as | agree with him that it is case prope
m N to be considered by the enlightened part
~ mankind, lei US consider how the matter in tru
u stands. ... .#
nd What is the consequence? Gentlemen VII
at advocate the case which my honorable frier
ra. from Georgia with so much ability sustains, d.
ed clare that we invade their rights; that we d.
OF prive them Of a participation in the enjoyme
IN of territories acquired by the common service
and common exert0ns Of all. Is this wue!-
%. How deprived? OF what do we deprive then
On Whv. they say that we denriva them Of d