Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-08-01

cratic party deny the power 10 devise ant
carry on vast system oil ATOMS
whose pecuniary extent no-man can foreset
and what is still worse, whose curruplln&
influence, as well in the legislature as ou
of il. cannot be viewed 5ut With The mos
serious apprehension--the great majority
of that party, indeed nearly all Of il. ha:
advocated particular appropriations juslI
fled bv the circumstances of position ant
importance. Almost. al The same lime
that declared my adhesion 10 the resolu
lions Of the Baltimore Convention, voted
with equal good faith for bills in the Sen
ale providing for the improvement o.
rivers and harbors and lakes. and advoca
ted their passage in my seal; and this is
precisely The reason why accuse many
ufthe whiS papers aud politicians Of dis
ngenuousucss, or something worse, in
asserting that my Chicago letter, which
contained not word on The subject, was
proof of my hostility to all the action oi
Congress, in The very face of my Official
course and MY publicly.declarcd opinions
And my position was that OF most Of the
Prominent men Of our party, who, while
they held to the doctrines Of the resolu'
tions, held likewise to the power Of special
legislation, and voted for the same bills.
do not know, indeed, that there is single
senator who denies to Congress all power
10 legisate over this matter. Certainly
Mr.. Calhoun does not, who adopts The
wholesome doctrine Of strict construction.
am aware it is difficult to draw pracl.
cal line at all times between objects thai
ought and that ought not TO engage the
attention of Congress; and think, there
fore, looking to the abuse TO which the
whole subject is liable, that the efort
should be to narrow, and not 10 enlarge,
the circle Of power; and such understand
10 be the views Of the democratic party.
The other proof OF ips;ncerity, as have
already stated, is drawn from The fact tha,
in my letter 10 Mr.. Nicholson took ground
against the Wimot Proviso, excluding
slavery by law from the territories. and
now believe that slavery with or without
that restriction, will not be established there.
And The wonder is gravely expressed how
could write tha, letter and the letter of
three lines to The Chicago Convention, and
vet claim The character of an honest man.
II is a much eraver wonder to me, how in
lelligenl editurs Of public papers, whose
influence on public op nion is so great,
TT17T1TaT0TT0ncni3 m u7feT His1ssard q MS
true position. /, will moi surprise you. but
il will many who have viewed my course
only in party aspect, to he told that in
that very letter to Mr.. Nicholson | cx-
pressly stated my opinion 10 be that slave
ry would never evIend to California or
New Mexico; aud that "lhe inhabitants Of
those regions, whether they depend on
,her: pToughs, or their herds, canno, be
SHAREHOLDERS" IGuoled with full appro-
baton The opinions Of Mr.. Buchanan anil
Of Mr.. Walker, the former Of whom soys /:
1T is morally impossible therefore, that
majority ofthe emigrnn's 10 that portion
Of The territory south 36 80 will ever re-
establish slavery within its limits" Mr..
Walker maintains that "beyond the Rio
del Norte slavery will not pass, not only
because i, is forbidden by law, bot because
rke colorcd race there preponderales in
the ratio of ten 10 one over the whites;
and holding, as they 10, the government
and most the Offices in their possession.
they will not permit the enslavemenl of
any portion Of The colored race, which
makes and executes the laws Of The coun-
lry." And 10 these remarks add The
question, it will therefore he seen on cx.
animation does not regard the exclusion ol
slavery from region where it now exists
and where, from The feelings Of the inhaai.
tanrs, and The laws Of nature. "it is moral
Iy impossible, ms Mr.. Buchanan says, "r!a
it can ever re-establish ITSELF" [ have
never uttered to a human being SEMI.
mcnt in opposition to these views. And
subsequent events, The events indeed o
every day, confirm their justice; aud render
+, impossible that slavery should be re-es.
tablished in the region ceded 10 ue, Jy
Mexico. Such i. The general opiaion III
the non-slaveholding States. among those
who are most attached TO the compromise.
Of the constitution, and most determined
to maintain them. And ! do not doubt
but there are many persons in The South
efU StdleS WIN ICSiSt tHC " hIiot 'ofiso
with all their power, as offensive to the
feelings, aud injurious 10 the rights of the
South, but who still believe it is a question
rather Of principle than of action, and that
circumstances are preparing an exclusion
which Congress has No right to pronounce.
In The view here taken. lhf effort to
cngraft the WiImol' Proviso upon an act OF
Congress, even if Congress hatlhe requi.
site power, is n useless a,temh to direct
the legislation of the country 70 All object
which would be as easy attained without
it. If Congress have not tho rover. as |
believe they have moi, in common with Il
large portion Of The people, ii becomes
worse Than useless, by becoming uncon,
I s'itutional. Aud in addition loihis, it is
peculiarly offensive 10 one.hdf Of the
States of the Union, who see i'll al at
tempt TO circunscribe their rigIts, and to
morlify their pride Of characct No man
can look at the signs of the lines without
being satisfied that the prosecution of this
question is producing The WRIST state of
feeling; and though ! trust hat happen
what may, our southern brethren will still
cling to The Union, equally their ark Of
safety and ours, still there re evils short