The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-09-06

uiar mlnd, and restored commence anu ira
ternal feeling. lis authors were hailed as
public benefactors.
| do not doubt that similar adjustment
of the questions which now ag'tate the pub
lie mind would produce the same happy re-.
selts. If the legislation of Congress on the
other Territories shall not be adopted IN
spirit of cancellation and compromise, it is
impossible that the country can be satisfied,
or that the most disastrous consequences
shall fail TO ensue.
When Texas was admitted into the Union
the same spirit Of compromise which guided
our predecessors in the admission of Mis-
sour. quarter of century before, prevail
ed without any serious opposition. The
"ioint resolution for annexing Texas to the
United States" approved March the first.
one thousand eight hundred and forty-fve,
provides that "such States as may be form
ed ont Of that portion Of said territory lying
south of thirty six degrees thirty minutes
north latitude, commonly known as the Mis-
souri, compromise line, shall be admitted in
to the Union with or without slavery, as the
people Of each State asking admission may
desire. 4 such State or States as
shall be 4 out of said territory north of
the Misst compromise line, slavery or IN.
voluntary servitude except for crime) shall
be prohibited"
The territory Of Oregon lies far north Of
thirty six degrees thirty minutes, the Mis-.
souri, aud Texas compromise line. lis south
ern boundary is the parallel of 42, leaving
the intermediate distance to be three hum
dred and thirty geographical miles.
And It is because the provisions OF this
bill are not inconsistent with the terms of
the Missouri compromise, if extended from
the Rio Crane to The Pacific ocean, that |
have not felt at liberty to withhold my sane
ton. Had it embraced territories south of
that compromise, the question presented
for nv consideration would have been OF a
far different character and my actinn upon
it must have corrcsponded with my convlc-
tons.
Ought VIC now to disturb the Missouri
and Texas compromises? Ought we at this
late day, in attempting 10 annul what has
been 50 long established and acquicsced in,
to excite sectional divisions and jealousieS;
to ALLEVIATE The people of different portion of
the Union from each other; and 10 endanger
the existence of the Union itself!
From the adoption of the federal cons'i-
tuition, during period OF sixty years, our
as a nation has been without cx-
ample in the anna Is of history. Under tho
prolection of boun,iful Providence, VIC
have advanced with giant strides IN the ca
rccr of wealth and pros; Gritty. We have
enjoycd he blessings Of freedom IN great
or extent than any other people. ancient or
modern. under government which haspre-
served order, and secured to every citizen
life, liberty, and property. We have now
become an example for imitation TO the
whole word. The friends of freedom in
every cline point with admiration to our in
sti,ulions. Shall we then, at the moment
when the people of Europe are devotIng all
their energies in the attempt to asslmllate
their inslilulirns of our own perIl-al our bless
ings by despising the lessons of experience,
and refusing to tread in the footsteps which
our fathers have trodden7 And for what
cause would we cndangcr our glorious Uni
on? The Missouri compromise contains
prohibition of slavery throughout all that
vast region extending twelve and a half de-
grees along the Pacific, from tho parallel OF
thirty six degrees thirty minutes to that oil
forty nine degrees, aud east from that ocean
to and beyond the summit Of the Rocky
mountains. Why, then, should our 'ns'Iu-
tons be endangered because it is proposed
to submit TO the people Of the remainder OF
our newly acquired territory lying south OF
ofthirtv six degrees of latitude. the question
in the language of the Texas com
promise, they ''shalI be admitted las State)
into the Union with or without slavery"
Is this question to be pushed to such ex.
trcm,ics bv excited partlsans on The one side
or the other, in regard to our newly acquired
distant possessions on the Pacific, As to en-.
danger the union of thirty glorious States
which constitute our confcdcracy? l have
an abiding confidence thai the sober rct1ec-
ton and sound patriotism OF the people OF
all the States will bring them to he c"ncIu-
SION thai the dictate of wisdom is to follow
the example Of those who have gone before
Us. and settle this dangerous question on the
Missouri compromise, or some other eqnta-
bic compro Mise, which would respect the
rights of all, and prove satisfactory to the
different portions of the Union.
Holding as sacred trust the Executive
authority for the whole Union, and bound
to guard the rights Of all, should be con-
strained, by a sense of duty, to withhold my
official sanction from any measure which
would conflict with these important ob-
jccts.
cannot more appropriately close this
message than by quoting from the Farewell
Address of the Father of his country. His
warning voice can never be heard in vain
by the American people. If the spirit of