Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-09-08

10 the territories. One has, therefore only to magir
e territory governed by the various and confctn
a laws OF thirty independent states to appreciate ii
d absurdity Of the pretension
But It is insisted that the prohibition carries wit
l. 1t TepToach 10 the veholding states and thu
: submission 10 it would degrade them This is oil
;, vIously the principal, if not the matera! groun
oil opposition 20 the measure that is persisted in
Y and most assuredy if it were well founded, "
: would have no just ground TO take exception TO tn
earhestness with which it IS sustained. Let tn
e objection, therefore, be fairly and dspassionaeI'
| considered. Very erroneous opinions OF the dispo
sltions Of the northern people are entertained BY
those who think them capable of desiring the degra
dation of any of the states of the conledere cy
whether they would he slaveholdng or otherwise
7 They entertain too enlightened sense of their OWL
interests; they have too lust conception of the
true glory of the conederacy, and of the extent &c
which the huihilatibn OF part would tarnish the
lustre of the whole; and they are, above all, too
national in tneir feelings, not 10 cherish deep sol
cltude for the honor and welfare of all its members
Ii they could therefore, believe that the success oil
this measure would draw after it such grave conse
quences they would be the last TO uphold il. If ii
can have such tendency, it will certainly not be
owing to any want OF generality in its application.
The restriction will OF course, be obligatory on
all who settle in the territories, from whatever
will all, in this respect stand upon equal foot
ing. If any inhabitant of any of the non-slave-
holding states, who removes TO the territories has
his capital invested in business transactions which
are not permitted by the laws of the territory he
must change the investment If STAKEHOLDER de-
sres TO remove there he must dispose OF his slaves
aud employ free labor as his countrymen and neigh.
bors did, when they removed TO different poItous
of the northwestern territory and in doing so made
themselves prosperous, contented and hnppy
Let us for moment look a; the character of the
measure and compare it with others that have gone
before it, 1t is le-enaci ment OF the ordinance OF
SS7. which prohibited the introduction of slavery
into territories which had been coded by several OF
the states to the United States. The difference be-
tween the effects OF the two measures, consists only
in the fact that the territory to which the ordinance
of ST was applied, was, previous to lis cession
sui eCt TO the introduction OF slavery, whilst the
| territories to which il is sought TO be applied, had,
the time of its cessOn to us been already eXemp
ted ON it by law. Who first proca imed the prin>
! ciple which triumphed in the enactment of the or
dnance of 1887? Thomas Jefferson. Who pro-
NOTED and secured its passage through the Cont
mental Congress? All the distinguished and patri-
otto men who that year represented the slaveho!d-
ing states in that body, without solitary eXcep-
ton. Who gave to the measure his official sane
ton, by Approving bill TO carry il into effect under
the new government George Washington.
! Within the last sixty years, and down 10 1898,
The enactment has Teen again and again re-
peated, with the general concurrence OF the south
members, and often through their particular it,
sttumentalty A full fifth OF the states of the I'm
has been organized as territories under lis re-
strIctions. In Icspec; TO Oh o. the Oldest ot them,
conformity to this principle i'll the ordinance of 81,
was required, in the stare constitution and go
vernment and the bill giving to the ordinance this
application, reported by commJttee OF which
William b. Giles, OF Virginia, was chairman, and
! John Rutledge of South Carolina, member. 1t
was passed in the Senate by vote of sixteen to
five and among the ayes will be ioId the respect
! ed names of Baldwin and Jackson, OF Georgia,
! Breckenridge and Brown oil Kentucky, Franklin and
Sto le OF North Carolina, Stevens Thompson, Ma
SON and Wilson Cary Nicholas of Virginia stump
ter of outh Carolina. and Wright of Maryland.
The states which have grown up under and IN
conlornli to that ordinance have, In very great
degree been settled by emigrdnts from the slave
! h. lang states Thousands of these hardy and en-
/ terprlsing pioneers, many OF them amongth most
re, pectdbe OF their fellow citizens for series OF
years in succession, lett their friends and neishbors
| in the sla,shoIding states for what thea the
Tar west accompanied by their prayers and bcne-
d.ctIons ii never entering into the imagination OF
either that in doing SO they submitted to any per
sonal or sectional reproach or degradation. Pros
porous and happy in their abode they and their
associates and the eat enter sc they accomplish
ed have been honored and admired by all who have
! witnessed their success.
One of those very settlers, after assuming and Tor
mrny years dischargng the responsibility of en-
! forcing the ordinance OF SS7 and after enjoying
large share OF his couutrys confidence aud respect
in other forms, was finally elevated to the Presiten-
cv and died in that exalted station. Another gh-
" distinguished iuhabt@nt OF one OF tie territories
subject to the restriction, after having also for
a long series of years borne the responsibility OF
| seeing TO the execution of this now Gended oTdi-
nance as Governor OF the territory, is, at present
the ia, pred candidate for the same high office, oil
portions OF the citizens of the slayehodlng as well
| as of the other states.
In the face OF facts like these, is it possible that
the application of this restriction 10 New Mexico
and California can operate 10 the disparagement OF
our bre hren OF the siaNehUdng states? No I'M
partial mind cam think, regard II IN this light -
and ftncre be any other objections insisted upon
that are worthy of notice, am not apprlZed OF
them. None that tenahle can, in my Judge
ment, be offered. The measure is right IN itself !;
and what is right may always be done with uitl-
mate SAFETY. Tie present generation stand in the
same relation towards these very extensive terrific
RES in VIII ch the sages or l7S7 stood towards the
northwestern territory Ii we act wisely as they
did results not less glorious than those which re-
fleet such undying honor the policy OF that day,
will follow the labors and perpetuaie the memories
of those by whom il is upheld.
The sixth resolution embraces the subject OF
slavery in the District OF Columbia; and observe
in it a generality of express on, in respect to the
time when and the circumstances under which, II
was he opinion of the ConN enton that should be
abolished which has not been usual on the part OF
the friends of immediate action. Most rejecting
and phi,anthopic minds live in the hope that they
will one day see slavery abolished not only in that
District but in the states also, in the latter through
the agency OF the state governments TO whom the
constitution wisely leaves exclusive power in the
matter and in the former by Congress. | may be
mistaken but think l see IN the guarded language
OF the resolution, evidence of an apprehension on
the part of the Convention, that difference OF opn
ion 10 some extent at least existed among its mem
bers, upon the point referred TO, and of enight
ened and truly patriotic resolve not to suffer thai
circumstance, If il existed, TO " eaken the mora
power of their unanlmity on the great question
: which had brought them together
} NV opinion in favor ofthe power OF Congress tC
abolish slavery in the District Columbia has beer
repeatedly avowed as well when candidate as
whilst President; and every days reelection has bu
served TO confirm the conviction of its correctness
Lat the same time expressed myself strongly agalns