Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-12-13

from the older States, in great numbers.
are already preparing to seek new homes
in these inviting regions.
Shall the dissimilarity of the domestic
institutions in the different States prevent
US from provding.for them suitable govern.
menis, as these institutions existed at the
adoption ofthe constitution but the Obstacles
/ which they interpossd were overcome by
that spirit Of compromise which is now in
voked? In conflict Of opinions or Of in
terests. real or imaginary, between differ
ent sections Of our country, neither can
justly demand aliswfise itrnigh ight4adssire 10
obtain. Each, in the true spirit .uf our in
stitutions, should concede something to the
other.
Our gallan. forces in the Maxican war
by whose patriotism and unparalleled deeds
of arms We obtained those possessions as
an indemnify for just demands against Mex
leo, were composed of citizens who belong.
cd TO no one state or section of our union.
They were men from slaveholding and
non.sladeholding states, from the north and
the south, and from the east and the west.
They were all companions in arms and
fellow citizens Of the same common coun-
try, engaged in the same common cause.
When prosecuting that war they were
brethren and friends and shared alike with
each other, common ills and dangers and
suffering.
New, when their work is ended, when
peace is restored, and they return again 10
their hom es, pu, off the habiiments Of war,
take their places in society and resume
their pursuits in civil life, surely spiri. Of
and concession and of equal re-
garo for Tie rights of all, and Of oil Sec
lions Of the union ought to prevail in pro.
viding governments for the acquired terri!
tory-the fruits of their common service.
The whole people of the United States and
of every state contributed TO deftay the
expenses ofthat war; and it would not be-
Just for any one section to exclude another
from all participation in the acquired terri
tory. This would not be in consonarce
with the just system of government which
the trainers of the constitution adopted.
The question is believed TO be rather
abstract than practical, whether slavery
ever can or would exist in any portion Of
the acquired territory, even if it were left
to the option Of the slaveholding States
From the nature Of the CHI
mate and productions, in much the larger
portion Of it, il is certain it could never ex-
ist; and in the remainder the probabilities
are il would not. But however this may
be, the question, involving, as it does, a
principle Of equality Of rights of The sepa-
rate and several States as equal copartners
in the confederacy should not be disregard
ed.
In organizing governments over these
territories, no duty imposed OH Congress by
the Constitution requires that they should
lsgislate on the subject Of slavery, willis
their power to do so is not only seriously
questioned, but denied by many of tho
soundest expounders of that instru.
ment. Whether Congress shall legis.
late or not, the people Of the acquired ter.
ritory, whom assembled in convention to
form State Constitutions, will possess the
sole and exclusive power to determine for
whether slavery shall, or shall
not exist within their limits. If Congress
shall abstain from interfering with The
question, the people oflhese territories will
be left free 10 adjus, it as they may think
proper when they apply for admission into
Tho Union. No enactment of Congress
could restrain the people of any of the
States Of the Union, old or new,
North or South, slavehoIding Or non-sIavs.
holding, from determining the character
of their own domestic Institutions as they
may deem wise and proper. ANY and all
of the States possess this right, and Con.
yress cannot deprive them of it. The pso-
10 Of Georgia, might if they chose, so al
Ter their Constitution as TO abolish slavery
within their limits, and the people of Yer.
mont might so alter their Constitution a.
10 admit slavery within its limits. Both
States would possess the right; though as
known, it is not probable either would ex.
ert il.
It is fortunate for the peace and harmony Of
Tho Union that this question is in its nature tenn
porary, and can only continue for the brief peri
od which will intervene before California and
New Mexico may be admitted as States into tho
Union. From the tide of population now flow
ing into them, it is highly probable that this vi
soon occur.
Considering the several States and the citizens
Of the several States as equals, and entitled to
quail rights under the Constitution, if thi, were
an original question, it might well be irsisted
on that that the principle of non-interferance is
the true doctrine and that Congress could not,
in the absence of any express grant of power, in
tertere with their relative rights. Upon great
emergency, however, and under menacing dan
gers to the Union, the Missouri Compromise in
respect to slavery was adopted. The came line
was extended further westi in the acquisition Of
Texas. After an acquiescence of nearly thirty
years in the principle of compromise recognized
and established by their acts, and to avoid the
danger to the Union which might follow if it
were now disregarded, I have heretofore express
ed the opinion that that line of compromise
should be extended on the line of 36 degrees 80
minutes from the western boundary OF exas,
whore it now terminates, to the Pacific OCEAN
This is the middle ground of compromise, upon
which the different sections Of the Union may
meet as they have heretofore met. If this be
done it is confidently believed that large ma
iority Of the people of every section of the eoun-
try, however widely their abstract opinions on
the subject Of slavery may differ, would cheer
fully, patrloticahy aequiesce in it, and peace and
harmony would again fill our borders. The re-
striotion North of this line was only yielded to
as in the case Of Missouri and Texas upon q,
principle of Compromise made necessary for the
sake Of preserving the harmony, and psseibiylne
existence of the Union. A..
II was upon these considerations that ~ 'ne
close of your last session, gave my SANCTION W
the principle of the Missouri Compromise unS,
by approving and signing the bill 70 essISm r.nr,
~. aTerritorial Government of Oregon ION SaUn.
Il -.;oara ao.;rs Tn preserve the harmony oI sse