Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-02-14

Their members are all cqual-eouaI in RIGHTS and
equai IN dignity. They also concede that this e.
quanty constitutes The basis ofsuch government s.
tha' IL cannot be DESTROYED without ch,nUinp their
nature and character. Todcprive, then the South.
erh States and citizens Of tbeir full share in terrific
res ueciared 10 belong 10 them, in common with
uie other States, would be in dcrogation of the e.
quarry belonging 70 them as members of The fed
efai onion' aud sink them, from being equals. into
subordinate and dependent condition Such are
the solid & impregnabc ground on which we rast
| tories " ~ ''
But as solid and impregnable as they are in the
eyes OIL justice X reason, they oppose feeble re.
| sis'ahce 10 majority determined 10 enoross the
/ Hhot. At the last session of Congress- g ill ,,,,s
passed establishing territorial government Tor Or
| egon, excluding slavery thcrefron The President
gave ms sanction to the bill and sent speca! mes
sage 10 congress assigning his reasons for doing
/ So These reasons pre- supposed that the Nilsson;
| compromise was to be, and would he extended
west oil me Rocky mountains TO the Pacific ocean
ana 'he PRESIDENT intimated his intention in his
message 10 veto any future bill that should restrict
slavery south oi the line OF that compronse AS
smuiing II TO have been the purpose and intention
| OF ule North TO extend the Missouri compromise
line as above Indicated. the passage of the Or.oon
bill could only he regarded as cvincing the acGui
escehce ii That line But the dcvclopements OF tho
present session OF Congress have mad. il manifest
10 All that no such purpose intention now exists
! WIN me North 10 any considerable extent OF the
truth oil this, have ample evidence in what h,s
occurred IN the House of Representatives. where
me popular feeling is soonest and most intensely
! felt.
Although Congress has been in session but LITTLE
mole Than one month, greater number of meas
uIes oil an aggressive character have been introtuc
eu' ana they more aggravated and dangerous than
| have been Tor years before. And what clearly dis
closes whence they take their origin, is The fac,
that they all relate to the territorial aspect of slave
~, or some other OF nature and character init
| mately conneC ted with il.
lie INST oil this series OF aggressons is resolu-
/ lbprl rpI hInsS
inc obect OF which is to repeal all acts or parts of
acts which recognise the existence o!slaverv or au
thoiize The selling and disposing OF slaves in the
llistIct. On the question of leave 10 bring i'm bill
the vote stood 60 Tor and 50 against leave The
next was d resolution offered by member from O.
mo- nstruCting the committee on territories TO re-
port bills forthwith Tor excluding slavery from Cali
iornla and New MeXico.t Ii passed by a vote CT
ICY ioS9. This was followed by a bin introduced
by another member from Ohio, 10 take the votes of
the inhabitants OF this District on the question
whether slavery within lis limits shouId ba ,h,I
iShed
The bill provided according to the admission of
The mover, tina; free negroes and slaves should vote
On the question TO lay the bill the table the
vote stood-ior, LOG against 49, To this succeed
ed the resolution of a member from New York in
the following words
Whereas the traffic now prosecuted in this me-
tropolis oil the public in human beings, as chaels
Is contrary 10 natural jGscc and the fundamental
principles OF our political system, and is no,ori.
ohsiy rcproach la onr country throughout christ.
cndom, and serious hindrance to the progress of
republican liberty among the nations OF the earth
'.itesoived, That the committee for the District
OF Columbia be instructed 10 report bill as soon
as practicable, prohibiting the slave trade in said
| District
vote stood - for and SIS against He was followed
by member from Illinois, who offered a resolution
for .aboiishlny slavery in the Territories and all
places where Congress has exclusive power of le-
ISL i'm all inT.s
dock yards and other needul buildings purchased
by Congress with the consent Of the legislature of
the State.
This resolution was passed over under the rules
OF the House without being put to vote
The votes i'll favor of all these measures were
| confined 10 the members from the Northern States
/ True, there are some patriotic members from that
! section who voted against all of them and whose
high sense of Justice is duly appreciated; who i'm
! the progress OF the aggresSions upon the South
! have by their votes, Sustained the guarantees Of
| the constitution, and of whom we regret TO say
! many have been sacrificed at home by their pa;ri-
otto course.
! We have now brought to a close narrative OF
! the series Of acts OF aggression and encroachment
connected with the subject of this ADDRESS includ-
ing those that are consumlnated and those that are
! still IN progress. They are numerous, great and
dangerous, and threaten with destruction the great
! est and most vital OF all the interests ard institu-
| tons OF the South. Indeed, it may be doubted
! whether there is single provision. stipulation or
guaranty OF the constitution, intended for The secu-
rty OF the South that has not been rendered almost
! nugatory. 1t may even be made serious cues.
! ton whether the encroachments already made
without the aid OF any other, would not ii permit
TED to operate unchecked, end in emancipation and
that at no distant day. But be that as it NAV if
| hardly admits of doubt that, il the aggrcssions
! already commenced III tho House, and no;y in pro
! greSs, should be consummaed, such in the END
/ would certainly be the consequence.
little, i'll TRUTH would bc lett TO be done after yye
! have been excluded from all the Territories in.
Guiding those TO be hereafter acquired after
! slavery is abolished in the District and in the pu.
merous places dispersed all over the South, ,Yhert
Congress has the exclusive right OF LEG iSaion anc
alter the other measures proposed are consufnfnat
. cd. Every outpost and barrier would be carried
and nothing would be left but 10 finish the work n
abolition al pleasure in the States themselves
/ This District, aud all places over which Congress
has exclusive power OF legislation, would be asy.
luIns for fugitive slaves. where, as soon as the,
placed their feet, they would become according {.
the doctrines of our northern assdliauts, free; un.
less there should be some positive enactmcns e
prevent it,
Under such state of things the probability is
that emancipation would soon follow, without any
final act TO abolish slavery. The depressing effects
| of such measures on the whole race at the South
and the hope they would create i'm the black of a
speedy emancipation, would produce state Of feel
ing inconsistent; with the much longer continuance
OF the existing relations between the two. But be
that as it may. 1t Is certain, if emancipation did not
follow as a matter of course, the final act in the
States would moi long be delayed The want oil
constitutional power would oppose feeble resist
ancc. The great body Of the North is united against
our peculiar institution. Many believe it to be sin.
GuI, and the residue, with inconsiIerable excep-
TONS believe il 10 be wrong. Such being The case
it would indicate very superficial Knowledge Of
human nature TO think that, after aiming at aboli-
ton Systematically for so many years, and pursuing
it with such uuscrupulous disregard OF law and con-
stitutiop, the fanatics who have led the way ard
forced the great body OF the North 10 follow them,
would when the finishing stroke only remained 10
be given voluntarily suspend It, permit any con-
s.iLln..nl crmnlcs cnnsdnratLnl.s of LL.lcn 10