The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-04


adopted il as their own 1t forced through Congress
BY the almost united votes of the North against mi
Monty consisting almost entirely OF members from The
Such the termination of this the first conflict,
der the constitution between the sections, in reference
TO slavery IN coRnexion with the territories Many hailed
as permanent and final adjustment that would prevent
the recurrence OF similar Conflicts but Others less san
gune and more thoughtful took the opposite and more
gloomy view, regarding the precursor OF tram OF
events which might rend the Union asunder and pros
renced and sagaclous Jefferson Thus far time would
seem TO favor his forebodings May returning sense
OF justice and protecting Providence avert their final
ulflment
For May years the subject of slavery in reference TO
the territories ceased 10 agale the country Indications,
however connected with The question of annexing Texas,
showed pretty clearly that ready to break out again.
with redoubled Violence some future occasion The
difference in the of Texas adjusted by extending
the Missouri compromise line OF SO 30 from its terminus,
on the western boundary of the Louisiana purchase to the
western boundary OF Texas The agitation again ceased
for a short period.
The war with Mexico soon followed and that termi-
mated iii the acquisition of New Mexico and Upper Cali
fonia, embracing equal TO about half of the
entire valley OF the Mississippi. If to this we add the
portion OF Oregon acknowledged TO be by the recent
treaty with England, our whole territory the Pacific
and west of the Rocky mountains will be found to be in
extent but little less than that vast valley The near
prospect of great an addition rekndled the excitement
between the North and South in reference 10 slavery in
IFS connexion with the territories, which has become,
since those the Pacific acquired, universal
and intense than
The effects have been to widen the difference between
the two sections and to give more determined and
hostile character TO their conflict The North no longer
respects the Missouri compromise line, although adopted
by their almost unanimous vote. Instead of cQmpro-
mise, they avow that their determination TO exclude
slavery from all the territories OF the United States,
acquired or TO be acquired and OF course to prevent the
citizens OF the southern States from immgrating with
their property in slaves into any of them. Their object
they ege, to prevent the extension OF slavery, and
ours extend it, thus making the issue between them
and to be the naked question: shall slavery be
tended not? We do not deem necessary, looking TO
the object of this address, to examine the question so
fully discussed at the last session. whether Congress has
the right TO exclude the citizens of the South from mm
grating with their property into territories belonging
the coniederaed States OF the Union What we propose
IN this conneXon is, TO make few remarks what the
North alleges, enormously TO be the issue between
and them
So far from maintaining the doctrine which the issue
implies hold that the federal government, has right
to extend restrict slavery, than to establish
abolish IT. has it any right whatever to distinguish
between the domestic institutions OF one State or section
and another in order TO aver the one, and discourage
the other AS the federal representative of each and all
the States is bound to deal out, within the sphere Of
its powers, equal and exact justice and favor to all To
act otherwise to undertake to discriminate between the
domestic institutions OF and another, would be TO act
in total subverson OF the end for which it estab
lished-to be the common protector and guardian Of
all Entertaining these opinions, we ask not, as the
North alleges we do, for the extension of slavery That
would make discrimination in our favor unjust and
unconstitutional the discrimination they ask against us
their favor It's not Tor them for the federal govern
ment to determine whether domestic institution good
bad whether it should be repressed preserved
belongs to and us only 10 decide such questions
What then we do insist not to extend slavery, but
that shall not be prohibited from immigrating with
property, into the Territories of the United States
because shareholders or. in other Words that
shall not that accoun, be DISTINGUISHED of privilege
possessed by all others, citizens and foreigners, without
discrimination as to character, profession, or color ALL
whether avage barbarian civilized may freely
and remain, we only being excluded .
We rest our calm not only on the high grounds above
stated. but also the solid foundation Of right justice,
and equality The territories Immediately i'm controver
sy-New Mexico and Californa-were acquired by the
common sacrifice and efforts OF all the States, towards
which the South contributed armore than her full share
every principle of right justice, fairness, and equality
entitled participate fully in the benefits to be derived
from their acquisition. But as impregnabe is this
ground there is another not less Ours is federal
governmental government in which, not individuals,
but States as distinct sovereign communities the
constituents To Them as members of the federal Union
territories belonging to the United States The States.
then, the joint Now, it is conceded by all
writers the subject that in all such governments their
members are all equalequa in rights and equal in dig
nifty. They also concede that this equality constitutes
the basis OF such government. and that il cannot be de
s,royed without changing their nature and character
OF their full share in territories declared to belong to
them in with the other States would be in de-
rogation OF the equality belonging to them members
OF federal Union, and sink them, from being equals, into
a subordinate and dependant condition. Such the
solid and impree nabe grounds which we rest our de-
mand to an equal participation in the territories.
But solid and mpregnabe they in the eyes Of
justice and reason they oppose feeble resistance to
majority determined TO engross the whole AT the last
session, they passed bill to establish Territorial gov
eminent for Oregon, containing provision to exclude
slavery, unaccompanied by compromise or by making
any concession equivalent whatever to the South 1t
was passed. professedy to assert the unlimited control
of Congress the subject II the first bill of the
kind passed, and marks important stage in the
progress OF aggressons and encroachmens in reference
to slavery in the territorial aspect OF the subject Ii has
given and powerful impulse to the abolitioniss
Instead of resting satisfied with great step in their
progress they are now urging with greater zeal than
towards the accomplishment OF the object they have
in vew Of the truth of this, we have ample evidence
in what has occurred already in the House of Represent
aves, where the popular feelings are soonest and most
intensely felt.
Although it has been in session but little more than one
month, greater number of measures of aggressive
character have been introduced there, and they
gravaed and dangerous than have been for years be-
fore And what clearly dscloses whence they take their
origin, is the fact that they all relate to the territorial
aspect OF the subject OF slavery, some other of
ture and character intimately connected nth it
The first OF this series OF aggresslOns IS resolution
introduced by member from Massachusetts, the object
of which is to repeal all acts parts OF acts which
Cognse the existence OF slavery authorize the selling
and dsposng of slaves in this District On question Of
leave 10 bring bill, the votes stood 60 for and 50
against leave. The next resolution offered by
tories 10 report forthwith bills Tor excluding slavery from
California and Mexcot 1t passed by vote of
lO7 to So That followed by bill introduced by
another member from Ohio, to take the votes of the in
habitans of this District on the question whether slave
ry within its limits should be abolished.
The bill provided, according to the admission of the
mover that free negroes and slaves should vote On the
question lay the bill on the table, the votes stoodfor,