The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-07-07

speedy aDOiltlOn III several OF inc STATES. was
and its existence in all without
fault on the part of the present generation.
They were also too upright and the frater-
nal feelings which had carried them through
the struggle for independence was too strong
to permit them To deal with such matter up
on any other principles than those of lber-
ty and justice. The policy they adopted,
was to guarantee TO the states in which sla-
very exists their exclusive control over the
subject within their respective Jurisdictions,
but to prevent by united efforts its extension
to the territories of the United States, in
which it did not in fact exist. On all sides
the most expedicnt means to carry out this
policy were adopted with aacrity and good
feeling. Their first step was to interdict
the introduction of slavery into the North
western Territory, now covered with the
States Of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan and
Wisconsin. This may justly be regarded
as being, in the main, Southern measure.
The subject was first brought forward by
Mr.. Jefferson. Virginia made the oession
of this territory upon which the ordinance
was intended to operate, and the represent
atives from all the states gave il a unanimous
support. Doubts having arisen in the minds
OF some whether the ordinance of 1857 was
authorized by the articles of confederation,
a bill was introduced in the new congress at
its first session under the Constitution, re-
cOgnising and adapting it to the new organ
ization, and il has ever since been treated
and regarded as valid act. This bill re-
ceived the constitutional appreciation Of
President Washington, whose highest and
sworn duty it was to support the Constitu-
ton under which it was enacted. Nor was
the North backward in doing its part to sus-
tain the policy which had been so wisely a
dopted. They assen;ed to the insertion of
provisions in the Constitution necessary and
sufficient TO protect that interest in the states,
and they did more.
The trouble apprehended at the COM
mencement Of the government from this
source. began TO show itself as early as the
year 17TG, in The form Of petitions present.
ed to Congressman the subject of slavery
and the slave trade by he Qnakers OF Phil
adelphia and New York, and % Dr. Frank
lin, as President of the Society for the pro-
motion Of abolition. These petitions were,
in the House of Representatives, referred to
a committee of seven, all but one Of whom
were Northern members, whose report, as
amended in committee ofthe whole, affirm
cd "that Congress have no power to inter
iere in the emancipation of slaves, or in the
treatment Of them within any Of the States,
it remaining with the several States alone
TO provide any regulation therein which hui
mainly and true policy might require"
The perseverance and good faith with
which both branches of the policy thus a
dopted have, very recently, been recogni
zed and carried out, are highly honorable to
the whole country. The peculiar liability
of the subject to be converted into an ele-
ment Of political agitation, as well in the
as in the non slaveholding
States, may have led to occasional attempts
so TO employ it. but these efforts have been
very successfully frustrated by the good
sense and good feeling OF the people in ev-
cry quarter Of the Union. A detailed ac-
count ofthe numerous acts Of the Federal
Government, sustaining and carrying into
full effect the policy Of its founders upon
the subject of slavery in the States and It's
extension to the Territories, and the steps
taken in the nou-slav eholding States to sup
press or neutralize undue agitation in re-
gard 10 it, would be alike instructive and
honorable TO the actors in them. But it
will 0e readily perceived, that this could
no; be given within the necessary limits of
a communication like the present. Unjust,
therefore, suffice to say, that, from 1857,
the date Of the ordinance for the prevention
of slavery in the Northwestern Territory,
down TO and including 1898, at least eleven
acts of Congress have been passed. organi-
zing Territories which have since become
States, in all Of which the Constitutional
power of Congress TO interdict the introduce
ton OF slavery into the Territories of the L.
nitcd States, is either directly exercised, or
clearly asserted by enactments, which, as
matters Of authority, are tantamount TO its
exercises and that at the only period when
the peace of the slavcholding States was
supposedto be seriously endangered by abo-
lition agitation, there was n spontaneous
uprising of the people of the North of both
parties, by which agitation was paralyzcd
and the South treasured of our fidelity to
the compromises of the Constitution.
In the laws for the organization of the
territories which now constitute the States
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, WiScon-
sill and Iowa, slavery was expressly pro
hibitcd. The laws for the organization OF
the territories of Mississippi, Orleans, Ar.
kansas, Alabama aud Florida, contained
enactments fully equivalent in regard to the
extent of power in Congress over the sub
ject of slavery in the territories to the ex
press exercise ofi'n the other cases. These
acts were approved by Presidents Washing
ton, the elder Adams, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Jackson anl myself, all bound by
our oaths of Office to withhold our respect
i've approvals from laws which we believe
unconstitutional. Tin the passage OF these
laws during the period ofhalfa century, and
under the administration of so many PrcSi-
dents, there was anything like sectional d.
visions, or greater or less participation
in their enactment on the part of the repre-
sentatves orthc slaveholding, or of the non
slavcholdng States, am not appraised oft
believe the plan devised by the founders
of the Government, including the fathers of
the political Church, for the treatment of
this grea, subject, and which hitherto has
been so faithfully sustained, and which has
proven so successful in preserving the I'M
ion Of these States, TO be not only the wi
Sest which the wit Of man could have devil
scd, but the only ono consistent with the
prosperity of the whole country. ! do there
fore desire TO see il continued so long as
slavery exists in the United States. The
exten, to which have sustained il in the
various public stations have occupied is