Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16

esct Of law but that does make the inequality the less
If it is principle Of justice that the people of all the
States must be placed equality in respect to ter
rtoes then it is manesty unjust TO purchase any which,
from their climate and productions exclude the people of
the States having very different climate and productions
We are told that New Mexico and California were pur-
chased with the blood and OF all the States
Is not the true OF Florida and Texas And not
the farmers and aborers Of Connecticut and Vermont
efecuay excluded from them the shareholders of the
South from New Mexico and California There is abb
soute exclusion in either be expected that
every territory be equally favorable emigration from all
the States Some invite emigration from the South others
from the North and in this way there is inequality in
justice to any section any State.
But the Senator from Virginia (Mr. MAsos) says that to
exclude slavery will be a violation of the faith Of the States
and Of the guarantees Of the constitution. Have the free States
pledged their faith to carry slavery beyond Its original limits
And there any guarantees IN the constitution IN respect
to territories The constitution is silent in respect to them,
and their government is left TO the discretion Of Congress-
Mr. President, there is which has been urged
by many Senators against excluding slaves from these terrific
II is that this principle would leave for the in
creasng slave population and that humanity to the slaves
well justice their owners requires that they should have
right enlarge the Of slavery, that description Of
population increases.
This argument would have force in it not that the
Of the slave States vastly greater than that Of the free
States, whilst their population is onehd less, including
slaves This fails in point OF fact There nearly
million Of square miles in the slave States and but about six
hundred and fifty thousand in the free States The population OF
the former the last census including slaves 434
that of the latter 922 and the difference still
greater Let examine this argument little in detail In
which OF the slave States is il there want of ROOM Is
in Virginia. with population of seventeen to the square mile,
whilst New York has than fifty, Massachusetts hum
ded Connecticut and Rhode Island about eighty and New
Hampshire Vermont and Pennsylvania, about forty to the
square mile. Is it in Florida, which has y-ve thousand
square miles, and hundred and fifty thousand population,
being three the square mile Is it in Texas which has
three hundred thousand square miles, with the popula
tom two square miles for every person In the slave
If ahn
TO the square mile in the free States fourteen and half
and at the present time there be about twenty the
square mile And where the foreign emigants to find
room They do 60 into the slave States The ratio Of
increase much greater in the free than the slave States.
In the face of these facts this argument leads different
conclusion II shows hat is the free populationthe free
laborers Of tho North-who require
In may be that the slave States may require
but that only proves that slavery ought to be
rested and abolished rather than extended Slave labor
hitherto directed, tends exhaust the SOIL and in the pro-
of to desoate the EARTH We in large portions
of the old slave States the soil exhausted plantations deserted
abandoned and given up desoaon If this process go
on in century slavery spread waste and desoaton
large portion OF this continent Slave labor only be profit
able sustain itself rch virgin soil ard when the print
tive fertility of the soil exhausted it seeks for pana
TONS possessing the advantages is not this the
of the desire for land-fo room The AngloSax
on with his AngloSaxon Aica servants and laborers
having exhausted his plantation, seeks another in and
fertile country 1t is the of room, but of and
better land. And is the and fertile soil of Terrific
es be devoted slave labor out and exhaust
ed and the free labore be compelled occupy after has
been impoverished
No. SIR there no want Of room in the slave States nor
will there be in two centuries if the soil properly cultivated
There enough of exhausted SOIL sight of this Capt.
tolroom enough between here and Bamore-or hundred
thousand souls if the soil restored its original fertility
But this for extending slavery almost ridiculous
to be treated seriously We would have it thought that
wanting in feelings Of humanity either the cooed
white population not so cruel rs to desire to have
mill
miles not sufficient will provide for them
where, but cannot consent that they shall 60 Oregon
California But rather than they should be pcnt up,
shall be found somewhere. think, sir, could spare a
small Of Connecticut We have four thousand square
miles, and three hundred and forty thousand population yet
in pinch, could spare small of hard soil
II is said that by enargng the you do not increase
the number of slaves. This cony all the laws Of pop
ulaion. Extent Of surface and facility of subsistence
sena elements in the increase Of population every where
Mr. President have examined most of the arguments and
which have been advanced in this debate support
Of the claim up for extending slavery these
shall proceed to consider OF the objections and
against il.
Mr. FooTE. Is the Senator that
"Aurora, fair daughter Of the dawn, 4
Is sprinklng with rosy light the dewy lawn Z"
Mr.. NILES Well, sir, then shall proceed in my argu-
ment with renewed energy. have distinct heads
tanning distinct grounds Of objection the extension Of
very TO those territories which propose consider serafim
There plenty Of time before us and will proceed de-
beratey IN this discussion The question OF vte Impor
lance, and must be fully discussed hope Senators will not
be inpatient and will endeavor condcnse my remarks
much as can.
The first objection, and which Of itself dispose the whole
question: Is that introduce slavery into these Territories
would be the greatest injury that could be inflicted upon them
present and prospectve-wou reard their settlement i'm
pede their growth and progress depress commercial
prise, and blight their arest prospects would be incopo
rating element of weakness in their political and social sys
tenn, which would grow with their growth and strengthen
with their strength But have considered this objection be-
fore, and will not enlarge upon il here.
Another nearly allied to this is that is against the
will Of the people in these Territories, and contrary
their laws, to introduce slavery among them.
third objection Is that IL is in violation Of the will Of
large majority, probably theehs Of the people Of the Uni
ted States Why shall public opinion be respected upon
subject Of such vital and lasting importance this In the
States weghy questions often submitted by the Legisla-
lures TO the arbrsmen Of the ballot would adopt this
principle compromise, and submit the question to the
people, and abide by the decision Of the majory.
My fourth objection is that to admit slavery the
OF the Pacific will revive the slave trade with nearly all the
horrors Of the African slave trade How slaves be
red to Oregon and California Can they be taken by land
than two thousand miles, country without roads
or settlements Can any STAKEHOLDER there and take
this description OF property, il is Called with him. with the
expense and risk attending the removal No will believe
this II slaves taken there il DO by slave traders
and in large gangs If they carried there, it be by
the route Of Panama, voyage, oceans Of five thou
sand miles, Will not this be revving the slave trade with all
It's evils and horrors And If those countries are 10 be peo
Piled with slaves and the slave trade opened with them