Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-08-02

d.. troducIlon Of slaves. but Of many 9th
description Of properly. also of the proe
!, liant religion, which Congress itself cann'
y prohibit. 70 such absurdity would I'll
i suppnsiIion lead
| have now concluded the discussion S
tar as relates TO the power; and have,
trust. established beyond controversy. ths
the territories are free and open to all Gil
zens of The United States. and there is n
power unicr any a'pect can he viewe
in which the citizens of the South can b.
excluded from emigraling wilb their pro
perty into any of them. have advanced
no argument which du not believe TO b,
true. nor pushed any one beyond who
truth would strictly warrant. Bu, if mis-
taken, if my argument instead Of being
sound aud true, us | hold ihem beyont
controversy to be. should turn oul 10 be a
mere mass of >ophisms. aud if in consc,
quencc, the barrier opposed by The wanl
ofpower, should be surmountcd, there is
another still in the way, that canuot be-
Tho mere possession power Is not Of it.
self sufficient to justify lis exercise. II
must be in addition shown. thai in the
given case it eau be rshlfully and Justly
exercised. Under our system, ihe first
enquiry is: does,ihe constitution authorize
The extent Of The power! lflhat he dcci>
ded in nc affirmative, the next is: can il
be rightly and justly exercised under the
circumstances! And it. is not until tha,
too is decided in the affirmative, that the
question Of The eSpediency Of exercising it
is presented for consideration.
Now, | put the question solemny 10 the
Senators from the North: Can you rightly
and justly exclu Ie the South from lerrirues
Of the United States, and monopoize them
for yourselves, even, If ia your opinion,
you should have the power II Is this
question wish 10 press on attention, with
all due solcmni,y and decorum. The North
and the South stand in relation of partners
10 common Uuinn, with equal dignity g.
equal right. We Of the South have con
,ribuIeh our full share of funde, and shed
our full share of blood for the acquisition
of our territories. Can you, then, on
any principle of equity and justice deprive
Of our full share in their benefit aud ad.
van'ages! Are ou ready to affirm that
majnrilyof the partners in aioint concern
have llle right 10 mouopoize its benefits to
the exclusion Of The elnin0riLY.-eRea-ii1 -aA.4--
10 INC c0nceTn! But 10 present The case
more strongly aud vivldly, shall descend
from geucrals 10 particulars. and shall be-
gin with the Territory. Our title 10 it is
founded frsl, aud in uiy opinion mainly,
on our purchase of Louisiana; that was
strengthened by the Flurida treaty, which
transferred 10 us the liIle also {" Spain,
aud hoth by the discovery of the mouth OF
Columbia river by Capt. Gray aud the
exploration of the entire stream. from lis
source down 10 its mouth, by Lewis aud
Clark. The purchase of Louisiana cost
Glieen millions Of dollars; and we pau
Spain FIVE millions for The Florida treaty;
making twenty in all. This large sum was
advanced out Of the common funds OF The
Union. The South, 10 say the least con
,ributlne her full share. Tho discovery
was made. il is true, by Il citizen "l Mass
achuse,ts; but he sailed under the ilas and
protection of The Union. and Of course wllal-
ever little was derived from his discovery,
accrued 10 the benefit of The Union. The
expense of the Union. Wear now about
tu iorm it into territory; The expense OF
governing which, while il remains so, must
be met ou, of the common fund. and Tow.
ards which the South must contribute her
full share. The expense will not be small.
Already there is an Indian war 10 he put
down, and a regiment for that purpose
4 bot hlc 10 n n N llrp ii
there TO what extent The expense ma.
extend we know not, but will not. impro
bably involve millions before The territory
becomes a State. now ask, is it right
is il ius,-uIter having contributed our (ul
share c,r The acquisition Of the territnry
with liability OF contributing, in addition
10 our full share Of the expense for govern
, meu,, that we should he shut out OF the Ter
. rirory, and be excluded from parli2patin;
in i,s benefits? What would tie thought II
such conduct in The case Of individuals
And can ,ha, he right and just in govern
r nent, which any right minded man woul
crv ou, 10 be base and dishonest in prlvaI
: li(e1 If il would he so PRONOUNCED III
| partnership of thirty individuals. how ca
r il he pronounced otherwise in one ol lhlI
ty States!
The case of orr recently acquire
j, territory from Mexico is, if possible, moi
C marked. The events connected with III
d acquisition are two well Snown To requi'
e long narrative. 1t was won by arm
: and a great sacrifice of men aud none.
The South, in the contest, performed h'
:; full share of military duty, and earned HI
/. full share OF military honor, has pourt
ir vul her full share OF blood freely, and hi
and will bea. her full share of The expens
J. has eynced full share of skill and hrav
% ~. aud if were to say even more III;
Is her foil share of both. would not go b
er voud the truth TO be attributed, howeve
J. to no superiority, ir either respect, but
ID accidental circumstances, which gave bn
is its officers aud soldiers more favorable o
D. portunilles for its display. All have do
D their duty u"by, and high courage a
vs. uallantry are but common attributes OF
al people. Would it be right and just
es close territory thus won against
o. Snuth. and leave il open exclusively 10