Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-08
SLAVERY In Y'gsE DIsTRECT.

Recent action in The House of Repre-
the Northern majority in Congress, to abol-
! ish Slavery in the District Of Coiumbia.-
They are marching up to their work with
great boldness and make good their threats
| by decided action. Let them succeed in
.his-let them take This step, aud we may
soon expect them to assault the institution
Of Slavery ia tho South, and attack the SOW
Iereigniy Of the States Of our confoderated
Union. They are prepared TO disregard
the compromises Of the Constitution, tram
lple that Instrument in the dust and carry
out their accurscd schemes at all hazards.
Determined and reckless as they are, We
fear them not now--lhey cannot succeed
during this Congress. The protective
shield" OF President Polk will thwau their
Iruinous schemes--he is ready, whenever
necessary, to use the great conservative
power Of the CONSTITUTIONS the VETO. and
protect the minority from the aggressioas
Of an unprincipled and lsnatical majority.
The President is armed with the weapon Of
|defence-he has the power Of staying the
blow aimed at our Southern institution,
and to arrest the improper and outrageous
action Of bigoted aud dishonest faction.
Mr.. Polk will use the constitutional barrier
10 resist improper legislation, and with him
we are safe.
How will the new administration
stand should this measure be persisted in !?
What ground does General TAYLOR occupy
on this vitality interesting question Not
one of his friends can tell US. Neither on
THE Proylso question Or as to the abolition
Of Slavery in the District, has the South
an assurance that she may look to him for
safety and protection in the hour of peril
and danger. On the contrary, he is pledg.
ed against the use of the veto, 10 foil the
will of the majority in Congress, and if a
bill for the abolition Of slavery in the Dis
l,rictis passed, there is no assurance tina,
he uiU ueto 1t He was represented in
the late canvass by his northern friends,
oebe with them on the slavery question,
n ohing was heard from him contra
diEhng such reports. This taken in con-
necton with his views upon the veto, in
dicates unfavorabe action OH his part
We wish it may prove otherwise.
The friends Of the incoming admiuistra-
ton are divided as to General TAYLOR S
sentiments OH this important subject, and
the fact cannot be concealed, that this un-
certainty opposition on his part, has caused
the recent move on the slavery question.
The course Of his supporters north, and the
acquescencc of his friends in the South
by supporting him at the late election.
without denial by him, Of the anti-saye-
try views attributed to him at the north,
have enboldened the abolition fanatics aud
made them more daring in their unholy
work. Had the whig party and their can.
didale made an open and distinct avowal
of their sentiments, the result would have
been different or at least, we would now
know where to place the President elect.
AS it is, all is doubt and uncertainty, with
the probabilities against the South. Evil
is brewing-danger is appfoaching-the
storm is gathering, and no one is assured
that Gen. Taylor will nterposc the
strong arm Of his official station, and avert
our threatened destruction. Such is his
position-he was taken by Southern wings
without pledge, and should he acl with
the North in this matter, upon them will
rest the esponsibility, awful and fearful as
it must be.