Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-02-17

Goyerumeut--a Government la which, nat indi.
viduals, hut States, as distinct sovereign COM
munities, are the constituents. To them, as
members oflhe Federal Union. the Territories
belong; and hes are hence declared 10 hr terri.
torics belonging 10 the United States The States
,b.n ar the ioint owners Now il is conceded
bv ali writers on the subject, that in all such
Governments Ilcir m-mbrtS are all equal--e-
qual IA rights and equal in dignity. idsy also
concede that this equality constitutes the basis Of
such Government, and that IT cannot be DESTROY
ei without changing their nature aud character.
To deprive, then, the Southern States and their
citizens ol their lull share in Territories declared
Ia belong 10 them. in common wilh the other
States, would be in derogalIon at the equality
belonging to them as mcmbers ct a Federal l..
uion, and sink lhem from Icing equals, into a
subordinate and dependant candriou. Such are
tie sold and impresnahie grounds on which We
rest cur dtmand u an equal participation ~ the
tenitnries.
But as sold and imPregnable as they are in
the eyes Of justice aud reason, they oppose lee.
bic resistance 10 rnapriy, determined 10 en-,
gross the Whole. st the last session OF Congress,
a bill was passed, establishing territorial gov
eminent Zoe Oregon, excluding slavery there
from. The President gave his sanction TO the
bll, and sent special message to Congress as
signing his reasons for doing so. These reas-
ous esupposed that the Missouri compromise
was to be, aud would be, extended west d thr
Rocky Mountains, to the Pacific Ocean. And
he President iuliua'ed biz intention ia his mes
sage 70 veto any iIlur bin that should restrict
slavery south Of the line ot,haI compromise. IS.
Stunning il To have been the purpose aud intention
ofthe North to extend the Missouri comprom Sc
line as above Indicated, the passage Of the ore
gon bill could only be regarded rs eyncng the
acquiescence oil tbe South il that line. But the
developments Of the present session Of Congress
have made It manifest to all, that no such pur.
pose OF intention NOW exists wth the NoHh 10 any
considerable extent Or the truth Of this, We
wc have ample evidence in what has occurred
already in The House ot Representatives, where
Ihe popular feelings are soonest andmosl Intense,
y leIG
Although Congress has been in session but II,
ne more than one month, greater Dnmhcr OF
measures d au aggressive character have been
introduced and they more aggravated and dan.
gefous, than haze been for years before. And
what clearly dscloses WHENCE they take their
origin, is the fact that they all relate to the ter
ritora aspect oithe suhec, Of slavery, or some
other OF a nature and character Intimately con.
nected with it.
The first OF this series ofaggres ,ons IS reso.
luton introduced by a member rem Mas,achu.
sets, the object ~ which is 10 repeal all acis
Of parts OF acts which recognize the existence of
slavery, o. auihurize the selling and dispensing Of
slaves in this District. Onqlr,uon Of leave 10
bring ~ bill, the votes stood 90 Tor ,and - 4
gajnst leave. Tie next was resolution offer.
ed by q member from Ohio, in.uuciug he com.
micc on Territories To report forthwith bills Tor
excluding slavery from California ard New Mex.
lco.f II passed by a vote Of iO7 10 80. That
was followed by bill Introduced by another
member nom Ohio, to take the votes Of the in.
habants OF this District, on the question wheh.
er slavery within il limits should he abolished.
The till provided, according to the admission
althe mover hat irec negroes q q slaves should
vote. On ihr enesion 10 II, NE bin an the Ia.
bio, the votes slood-or, o.; against, ~ 10
This succeeded the ., solution Ola member from
New York, N the following words:
Whereas The Faldc now prosecuted in this
meropol If harapIhtc in human teings, A.,
chaoIes isconilan 70 natural justice and the FIN.
damenla principles Of ou political Az stem. aud is
VIGOROUSLY reproach to ctr country, throughout
Cbris'endom, AMI serious bindrance 10 The pro.
grcss of republican liberty amosg tho nations OF
The earth Therefore,
"Resolred, That the Committee Cor tho Dis,
iiCt Of COum uripd 10 Yoport a
as sson as practicable, prohibiting Tue ave uadt
in sand District"
On the question o, adopting he rcsouIonrhr
vote stood p~ for. and So against. lie was tol.
lowed by member rola Illinois. who offered a
resolution ior aboI'sIung slavery in the terrific
rics, and all places where Congress has exclusive
powers Of legislation; that is in all forts, maya
zines arscnaIs, dock yards and other needu
buildings, purchased by Congress with the con-
sent Of the legislature OF the State.
This resolution was passed over under the
rules Of the House, without being put to
vote.
The yotesin favor ofall thcse mea.ures were
confined 10 the members from The northern
States True, here are some patriotic memhrts
from that section, who voted against all uflham,
and whose high srnsc Of Justice is duly appre-
ejatrd; vhor he progress o'Dhc egaress ious mp.
on ibe South have heen sacrificed at horse hy
their patriotic course.
We have now brought to close narrative
OF The series CT acts OF aggression and encroach.
ment connected With The subject Of the aillt.s,
tAo,t that are consumaed aud lhosc
still IN progress. They are urmtrous grcatand
a. aY,J a.