Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-06-22

IL The position of Mr.. Benton differs some
little from that of Mr. Cass during the late cam
pagn. The latter took the ground that Con-
gress had no right to interfere with the govern
ment Of the territories, and the former contends
that Congress has this right. But with this diff
ference of opinion between them, there is, after
all, very little if any difference in the results to
which they would arrive. Benton thinks the
Proviso an idle abstraction of no practical impor-
lance, a useless superfuity, and therefore he
would not vote for it. This is Northumberland
to quite as full an extent as ever claimed OF
urged by Cass, for what matters the right, or OF
what importance is it if never to be enforced.
BY adopting Benton as a candidate for the Pres
idency, the Free Democracy would acknowledge
that they had been heretofore contending for
mere worls--the recognition of the right of Con-
sire that the right should be enforced. We can
not imagine what the South can have to COM
plain of, in position of this nature-nor why
any portion of Mr.. Benton's slavehoding con-
stituency, should manifest opposition to him
from this cause. He does not propose to inter
fere with their wishes in respect to slavery in
the new territories. He does not wish Congress
to say slavery shall not exist there. On the
contrary, if they choose to 60 there with their
slaves, and hold them, he is willing and ready
to bid them God speed.
The position which Benton takes, viz: that
slavery cannot exist without positive law crea-
ting it, was sufficiently discussed and refuted
during the late Presidential campaign. 1t were
just as well to say that murder, arson, and rob
berry could not be perpetrated without positive
law establishing them, and were there two CON-
munities,-one following robbery for susie
nance, and the other honest pursuits, about emf
grating to distant country, it were just as well
to say the robbers could not rob there, should
they have the strength, without law permitting
it, as to say Shareholders could not hold slaves
there without law permitting it. No law can
legalise slavery any more than it can robbery,
and law of South Carolina, establishing the lat
ter within her borders, would be just as binding
and proper as a law establishing the former.
Slavery is lawless institution, and depends for
its existence not ON law authorizing it, but on
the character of the people; and if the character
of the people ustifes it, there it will exist, with
or without law
II it were known beyond doubt what would
be the character of the population of the new
territories, this question would be less difficult
of solution. But it is not so known. 1t may
be composed of majority of men who are or
have been Shareholders, and if these men are to
frame the government, aod Congress is not to
Interfere, it is very plain that slavery will he es-
tablished in the new territories.
There is a wide, radical difference between
Mr.. Benton, and the Free Democracy in this
matter, and we cannot imagine how he can be
made the candidate Of that party for the Presi-
dency without almost a total abandonment of
their principles, which We apprehend they are
not vet ready for