The North-Carolina standard., 1849-07-04
Tile SLAVERY QUESTION.

admits, copy the paragraph entire Ihat paper comes
forward to explain its language this vital question:
and it now says that its meaning was, that it was
matter of the least consequence what Congress
may do in the premises, far regards the pract
cal effect upon the introduction non-introduction
Of Slavery into the territories of New Mexico and
California. - And now, how does the explanation
alter the case2 Does il put the light Of having
perVeftedv its femafksf Toshow thatit does not,
we quote the lanuguage used by ON the occasion.
We said . ga - =, 20 y. se.. 20
" The Register says it is matter Of not the least
consequences, Congress may dorin the premises"
that is, 1t makes difference Whether the tNfllO
ProUiso as fastened upon as or mott and the reasons
given for this opinion is rst that Congress possess
es the Constitutional power to enact it, and secondly,
the laws of nature have irrevocably excluded Sla-
very from the Territories acquired from Mexico"
| Will some one be good enough to point out the
difference? Is not the language which we ascribed
to the Register in article of the Goth, and that
now employed by that paper ITSELF by way of exPla-
nation, substantially the same? w gave in the first
place the opinion advanced by that paper, and sec
ondly, the ,'' reasons on which it was based. We
now repeat what then said, and we leave the pub
lie decide between us-with the single remark that
occurs to US as at least strange, that newspaper
printed in the midst of Slaveholding community
should find it necessary to explain its language
vital question as that of the Wilmot Proviso.
We are glad to find that our remarks on this SUBJ
ect and the searching questions have Of late put
to the Register, have had the effect to bring that pa
per, not only to something like serious reflection
but to few wholesome confessions in the premises
1t now says:
6" We nave uniformly thought and said-and we
think and say now-tlat the application of the Will
mot Proviso the whole of the territory acquired
from Mexico regardless of the Missouri Compromise
line, would be act of injustice to the South, mas
much as the country was acquired by the common
blood and treasure of North and South aike-that it
would be exceedingly offensive to the South, mas
much as it would be virtually saying to large por
tIon OF Southern men, you shall not move to those
territories unless you first relinqush your slave prop
erty-and that it would work injury the South,
in the moral blow that might thus be struck at the
institution of slavery. - 81.
When was all that I" thought and said"l Was it
when you supported Milard Fillmore for the Vice
Presidency, at the time you denounced Mr. Steeles
Resolutions against The Winot ProuisO, as ''tomfool-
cry" and the work of ''political mountebanks -!
Unjust" and '' exceedingly offensive. " We
are pleased to hear you say it. We hope you are
sincere, and shall look for /" uniformity on your
part on this question hereafter. But wherefore, if
you regard that Proviso unjust'' and of
fensive, have you preserved silence in regard it,
and not only this, but denounced those who have
dared to speak against it Is it part of the un
derstanding between Northern and Southern Whig-
ism, that the former is advance as far as it plea
ses does directly touch slavery in the States
while the latter is bear it patiently and in silence?
Is this to he the game by which the elements of the
Taylor party, North and South, are to be held to-
gether! -....--.-
The Register characteriZes the Wilmot Proviso as
unjust" but nevertheless declares it to be Const-
tutioDal. How is thisl Does the Constitution of
the United States sanction injustice? Or does it
rant such action through Congress the Slavery
question, by one-haf the States, as would be ex-
ceedingly offensive :" towards the other half?
But we take up the Register on its own grounds.
For the present leave out of view the Constitu-
tonal question: and we unite with that paper in the
declaration that the Wilmot Provso is upjust'' and
wicked in its nature. What then We desire, by
arguments, by remonsrances, by appeals to breth
rem of the North, and by laying before them such
an array of facts on the subject as the Southern
Address embodes, to prevent them from passing it
through the ensuing Congress; and if they should
pass it, shall look to President Tayer to veto it.
We want the Congress of the United States to let
the institution of Slavery alone and if that body will
not, we want General Taylor make them do it. |
What says the Register! Will that paper call upon
Gen. Taylor to do his duty on this question! Will !
it tell him, in advance, that the Wings of this State
expect him to nterpose the veto power, with which
the Constitution has armed him, to save them from I
' injustice and from degradation Will it denounce
him for his fathessness to the South, for his dsre
gard of the compromises which created this Union
and still hold it together and for permitting his fell
lowcIzens of fifteen States to be nsuted and wron-
ged--in he should fail to veto that Proviso
Or will preserve silence it has heretofore gener-
ally done-or only family condemn, if this South
ern President, - who was said to be so much more
reliable than Gen. Cass this question, should al
low this "injury - to be inflicted upon us-this
moral blow'' be tsstruck at the institution of
Slavery"2
and the Standard this question s that is " in ia
Of uniting the South,' and opposed to this
union. Was there such reckessness Of asser-
tion conceived of before? Why, what have we been
doing for the last twelve months Have we not been
laboring week after week, and month after MONTH to
get that paper and its hackers the right point Have
We not uniformly held the some language on this sub
ect, and has not that language always been for the
South for the Constitution and the Union Did we not
approve and support Mr. Steeles Resolutions though
drawn up and presented by Whig! Were we not
then, and are not now, with Mr.. William B. She
pard and an overwhelming majority Of the Whig
members of the Legislature in holding the opinion |
that those Resolutions the true grounds and