Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-08-18

your levislauon, sanctioned in 50 many ways,
and till now cheehuly acquiesced IN by the
people. should enact the Ordinance Of 1897 O.
yer again, and extend il over the three Terrific
ries in question, and the man IN tho White
House should inIeTpOse his veto, and agun and
again thrust his puny arm in the way OF lhe Leg
isla,ye power, and urresl for lOug time the
popular win, / will not say he would be impea-
ched. tried, and &c the law were sol have his
head brought 10 the block. Patience might in
us exhaustion give way to exasperalion, aud the
forms Of law and the majesty Of judicial trial
all fall before the summary vengeance Of an a
bused and an insuled people.
know very well that the Senate is weary Of
this debate. ! wish now only to state another
fact, which will show what il is which our brcIh-
Ten Of the South now demand. II you take
the area Of the free States and the Slave States
as they exist, and compare them, you will find
that the latter predominant. When the Consti-
tuluton was formed, and when all the territory
which you lhenhad was brought into The Union,
The free States had an excess Of 100, 900 square
miles over the slave States; but when you had
acquired Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, and
added them 10 the Union, aud when you have
added The claim Of the South that they will
carry their slaves into Oregon, New Mexico,
and California, what will then be the condition
of The free Sa,esl The slave States will have
One-lhird more power in the Senate Of the Uni
Ied States than the free States could ever have.
Sir, if this is to be viewed at all as question
OF power, what have stated would be the exact
result Of yielding to the present claim Of the
South; and This will be the result, unless you
IL :,,.oJ,,ot3,,, f eln into thnsa
territories. Sir, | have seen the working of
this system. Plant thirty Shareholders among
three hundred inhabitants who are not savehol-
ders, and they will maintain their position a.
gainsl the three hundred. Let one man out of
fifty be STAKEHOLDER, and he will persuade the
lorly-nine that il is better that the institution
should exist. Ii is capital and social position,
opposed 10 labor and poverty. How this war
may wage in the future, will not say; but thus
far the former have ever been an over.malch for
the latter.
But, sir, / do not like this view Of such sub
Ject. lfn were merely comparison otsrength
or contest for relative power, could yield with
out a struggle. But | am called on TO lay the
foundations of society over q vast extent OF
country. If this work is done wisely now, ages
unborn shall bless US, and we shall have done
in our day what experience approved and duty
demanded. If this work shall be carelessly or
badly done, countless millions that shall inherit
that vast region will hereafter remember our fol-
ly as their curse; our names and deeds, instead
of praises, shall only call forth execration and
reproach. In the conflict of present opinions,
! have listened patiently to all. Finding my
self opposed TO some with whom have rarely
ever differed before, have doubted myself, re-
examined my conclusions, reconsidered all the
arguments on either side, and still am obliged
TO adhere to my first impressions, | may say,
my long cherished opinions. If | part compa-
ny with some here, whom habitually respect,
still find with me the men of the past, whom the
nations venerated. stand upon the Ordinance
Of 1897. There the path is marked by the
blood of the Revolution. stand in company
with the "men of 49," their locks wet with the
mists Of the Jordan overwhich they passed, theil
garments purple with the waters Of the Red
Sea through which they led us of old, TO this
land Of promise. With them to point the way
however dark the present, Hope shines upon the
future, and, discerning their foot prints in my
path. | shall tread il with unfaltering trust.