The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-28

lion Of northern States is nearly greater than
that Of the southern States is obvious that the latter
OF volunteers Apart from all questions OF constitutional
power OF International law. IT consist WIN r'ght
and justice to deny to them participation In territories
But again. Ours is federal government assoca.
ton Of Staes-uned and yet Psservnx TIER lndvIdu
s 10 as so % he
ing OF the executive Legislative and judicial departments
Of that government Hence they are said to Be terrific
ing the Union The States. them joint owners Of this
property Now, is conceded by all writers the sub
ject, that in such governments the members are all
where this disputed point we could safely appeal to
our constitutional compact for the proof, that with il
is undeniaby true that the equality OF the States is ell
foundation OF government To destroy this equality,
then s to change the character OF the which
rests upon i as its basis The exclusion Of the southern
States, and their citizens, from their full share IN terrific
RES thus declared to belong to them IN common with the
other States. would therefore. be to deprive them OF
separabis from Their condition as members Of the
Union-would sink them from their righful position,
equals, into dependent and subordinate condition
Nor the people OF the South be nsensibe TO the
sequences which must result from the establishment and
continued enforcement of the principle on which the
proposed exclusion would rest That principle, openly
Rvowed, is. that the domestic institutions peculiar to the
southern States shall te transferred to any terrific
res hereafter to be acquired by the United States
The institution as ! now exists and IN tne States where
federal government because is secured by the compro
misses Of the constitution. II this not soif this
States il would not be secure An institution which is
declared to be snful-in violation OF natural right-con
tary to the law of 0odo own Declaration OF indie
pendenceand dsgaceful to any people who tolerate it
would not be suffered 10 exist, those who thus de-
nounced it bad the power to abolish it, If the const.
.utionaI imPediment were removed they, would feel
and these they tell forbid its continuance The
continued enforcement of the principle which forbids
the transfer OF the domestic institutions OF the South to
any territory hereafter be acquired combined
with other in constant operation, tends inevitably
to the removal Of this constitutional impeachment Several
of the States OF this Union are in transition state from
the condition Of slavehodng that of savehodng
States When that change shall have been accomplished,
and they shall have taken their position among the non
saveholdng States and when to these added the
States to be formed out OF Territories hereafter TO
be acquired the aggregate will constitute the requisite
majority Of States 70 remove the constitutional impsdi
how can they abstain from the exercise Of the power
which they will thus have acquired consistently with
principles avowed and acted upon at this moment to the
full extent of their capacity to enforce them Can the
people OF the South be nsensbe to the danger which
thus menaces their own peculiar and cherished nstu
tive feeling of the American people in every portion of
the Union alike independent of and superior party
sectional divisions, TO be exerted to avert III
1t remains to present to you brief view Of series
OF introduced into the representative branch OF
Congress during the present session. and connected with
the subject Of this address, The first Of these is
luton introduced BY a member from Massachusetts,. the
which authorize the existence of slavery of selling
and dsposing Of slaves this District On the question
for. and So asanst it The next was resolution offered
by member from Ohio instrec,ing the Committee on
Territories to report forthwith bills for excluding slavery
of iO7 so and the bill has been since reported That
was followed by bill, introduced BY another member
from Ohio. to take the votes of the inhabitants of this
District, whether slavery within its limits should be abo-
ished The bill provided according to the admission OF the
mover. that free negroes and slaves should vote. On
the question to lay The bill the votes
following words Whereas the traffic now prosecuted
tells, contrary natural justice and the fundamental
principles OF political system and is VIGOROUSLY
proach to our country throughout Chrstendom and
among the nations Of the earth Therefore resolved,
That the Committee the District be instructed to report
bill soon as practicable prohibiting the slave trade in
said District" On the question of adopting the resou
ton, the votes stood IS for, and So against it. He
followed by member from Illinois. who offered reso
places where Congress has exclusive power Of egslaon
that is in all FORTS magazines asenas, dock yards and
other needful buildings purchased by Congress with
the consent OF the legislature of the State. This
resolution was passed over under the rules Of the
House These various propositions have not been finally
acted upon Indeed, the resolution offered by the
Der from New York has been reconsidered and remains
on the Speakers table resolution presented, but
not acted upon by the House To this indication of
more conservative feeling ought TO be added, That while
the support OF these several measures conne to the
representatives of slavehOldng States, and consist
ed of those OF both parties there patriotic indvidu
ais from those States who refused their support
ures which they believed were uncaed for by the occa
sion and unrendly to the peace and. harmony of the
Union.
We have now brought to close the narrative of meas
connected with the subject of this address, including
those which are consummaed well those which
in progress; and think it will not be denied that
the contamination of the latter would afford just cause
In ne al avphO CtafQ
If slavery abolished in the District of Columbia and
IN the numerous and dispersed places in the South
which Congress has exclusive jurisdicton- these
be added the exclusion of the people OF the
southern States from the Territories of the Union, now
or hereafter 10 be acquired every outpost and barrier
would be carried and in the States themselves the
institution OF domestic slavery would be at the mercy OF
saut upon it.
evils which must result from these measures even in
their progress, and yet in their nation OPP
Grating first the people of the South and eventually
the American people at large. Happily these
not consummated There remains locus pcn,fen-
tic there is Yet time to pause-a moment OF which
intelligent, patriotic, conservative in every quarter
of the Unon aloo from the influence of party such
avail themselves 10 consider if there be any duty TO be
tuilledif there be any interest 70 be advanced there
be any object TO be attained by the prosecution OF these
measures, which will Justify the hazard (however remote
they may believe it to be) OF jeopardng the peace and
harmony OF the Union. All will admit that the institu
tlon OF domestic slavery is which it belongs excII
sve'y 10 the States IN which it exists 10 establish reg
ulate 10 continue, or to abolish Any and every inter-
ference with it by the citizens of other States whether
direct indirect, therefore rvh;rh hocor,..