The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-06-23
ND5vaN 81 *

In nregard to his "opinions," which have
been wanted, he refers to his votes Of 80
years-and says:
"But you want public declarations of
personal sentiments: very good, you shall
have them My personal sentiments then,
are against the institution of slavery, and
against its Introduction into places in which
it does not exist. Ifthere was no slavery
in Missouri to-day, | should oppose its
coming in: if there was none in the United
States, should oppose its coming into the
United States. As there is none in New
Mexico or California, am against sending
it to those territories, and could not vote
for such measure-a declaration which
costs me but little, the whole dispute now
being about the abstract right Of carrying
slaves there, without the exercise of the
right,
''To finish this personal exposition,
have to say that my profession and con-
duct-no unusual thing with frail human
ity-do not agree. was born to the in
heritance of slaves, and have never been
without them. have bought some, but
only on their own entreaty, and to save
them from execution sales; | have sold
some, but only for misconduct. | have
had two taken from me by the abolitionists,
and never inquired after them; and liber-
ated a third who would not go with them.
| have slaves now in Kentucky, who are
elevated to the dignity of real estate, by
being removed from Missouri to Kentucky;
and will have to descend next fall to the
low degree Of a chattel interest, in spite of
the laws of Kentucky, when shall remove
them back to Missouri. And have slaves
in Washington city-perhaps the only
member of Congress that has any there
and am not the least afraid that Congress
will pass any law to affect this property,
either there, or here.'
Mr.. B. then declares that he has never
made slave speeches in Congress, because
ii was private wrong to alarm individu-
ais with ideas of insecurity of their proper
ty-though he had never seen any danger
to slave property by the action of Congress.
He concludes this part of his speech,
however with an eloquent peroration as to
the fulflment of great republican exam
pie which we owe to struggling liberty in
ancient empires of the world.
Mr.. B. finally comes to the conclusion
that Mr.. Calhoun is politically bankrupt,
and that his opposition to the anti-slavery
proyiso is his last card.
The synopsis which we give, shows that
Mr.. Benton holds that Congress has the
right to prohibit slavery in the territories.
We may add that he believes, however,
the express prohibitation of slavery in the
province of New Mexico and California to
be Unnecessary, since slavery does not now
exist there, and cannot be introduced but
by act of Congress, and he would not vote
for a regulation which he thought to be
simply superduous. Some of the Free
Soil papers, we notice, do not think this
going far enough, and hold that the law is
necessary in order to end an angry con-
troversy.
A meeting lately gotten up in Charlton
hfoo by opPonolres Of Col- d --a-
ted down, almost unanimously, everything
adverse to him, and adopted resolutions
contrary to the Legislative resolutions
which he refused to obey. Mr.. Jackson,
their author, was present. The St. Louis
Union says 'this is fair index of the
feelings Of the people of the State.'