The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-06
Prom Governor Fislis message
NEW YORK AND SLAVERY extern

/ H..
| Among the consequences OF the late war win
Mexico has been the acquisition by the government
of the United States, Of large extent oil new terri
| tory. am sustained ny me ueesions ol tne MIN
e4t Judicial tribunal in the Union in the opinion that
while The relations Of the Inhabitants ot the newly
acquired territory, with their former government
nre dissolved and new relations established between
| them and the government Of the United States u
| whom their allegiance Ia now transferred, yet that
the laws which regulated the intercourse and goner-
al cuninct OF individuals within that territory at The
line oi the transfer, remain in force, until altered
! by The newly created power. Among the laws oi
Mexico in force, within this territory AT the Time Of
It's acquisition, wns one forever aboshing slavery
The change Of sovereignty over the territory, has
not affected the validity or The force Of this law
which, according 10 the established principles OF in
ternaiiona law and The decisions Of our own courts
remains In force and Is operative al The present day,
10 the exclusion OF slavery from that territory. An
effort, however, is being made 10 abrogae or annn
that law il not by its actual repeal through direct
legislative enactment, At least by indirect means, Inc
effect If not the object of which will be to permit
! the introduction Of slaves within the territory.
\ However we may dcprecate The Necessity Of dis,
4 russin9 question OF natdreio excite seciioh,'
prrludiccs fears, may no longer avoid HE cahsi
dtration oI one which is now OF present practical,
I and paramount Importance.
The State Of New York carly manifested her al.
achlnen 10 the principles Of universal trecdon, ana
her rprgnance 10 the institution Of human slavery.
| Holding Thai the constitution Of the United states
III the time Of its adoption found slavery 10 exi Il
within and by virtue of the laws OF the several STATES
and therefore recognised the fact of It's existeAre a5
q State institutions without! giving 10 II, in any de-
gree a national or constitutional character or oxis.
ence, but left il entirely dependent for ts coniinu-
ancc and its regulation upon the legislation OF i'e
several States, our State, half century since COM
\ nrnced course Of legislation for the gradual but
certain extinction Of Slavery within her borders. As
pariy to The federal compact, she has ever adhered
strictly and literally, to the compromises of the con
stitution; and hns not sought TO interfere with the
thp INF
cy Of any Of the other parties 10 the compact but
has left each 10 exercise, in its own way, the same
power under which she has proclaimed freedom TO
all men within her limits. This course she will con-
tnuG faithfully TO pursue, and while she will not in
tetit the expression of her attachment To the prn-
ciprs OF universal freedom, and of her abhorrcncc
OF human bondage, she will abstain from all inter
! ference with the domestic institutions OF other States
| beyond that moral influence which must attend the
force Of her example, and the expression Of her
| leep-s seated con pictions.
| The "compromisfs Of the constitution" rs they
aniliarly termed do not Of right extend 10 ter
rtory beyond the limits of the original thirteen
STATES The privileges which they concede may bt
granted but cannot be claimed for any newly ncquir
ed territory. The question now presented is no
one OF interference with an existing institution fol
the soil to which II refers is free. by pre-eXistinl
laws no slavery exists there, nor can it exist there
without either the express or the tacit assent Of tn,
old States. Its then question Of the introduction
OF slavery into territory from which IL is now eS
of slaves in the Federal Congress, whenever the new
territory shall be organized into State Governments
and admitted rs such into the conlederacy.
! III there be any one subject upon which the peop,
| of the State OF New York approach near 10 unani
nifty of sentiment, IL Is in their fixed determination Il
resist the extension Of slavery territory now free
| With hemit involves great moral principle ant
oyeirdes al! questions OF temporary or OF potlca
| eypedicncy. None venture TO dissent; and in tn,
mere difference OF degree in which the sentiment
ceives terunce 1t has proven powerful even TO III,
| breaking down of The strong barrier Of party organ
zaton. This sentiment is not OF recent origin will
our people, II was this sentiment which fifty years
ago, prompted the adjustment of slavery In this
| State, II was this nearly unanimous sentiment OF
| the people which reflected and received utter
anGe in the voice Of our State Legislature, at the
period Of the agitation Of the question, the admis-
! sion oil Missouri into the Union. Slavery not only
existed at that time within the limits Of Missouri, hui
was egaAed within the whole of the territory nc.
qnired by The United States under the treaty with
| France. The people of our State were induced Il
yield their assent 10 compromise then made, where
by Stale permfitn slavery WAS admitted into The
| lnion formed out OF territory not embraced within
the compromises oi the constitution, by the cons
dtfltOn that slavery and involuntary scryituds
should be for excluded from the remaining por.
ton Of ihe territory within which slavery there
,oro authorized They yielded the political advan.
agc Of slave reprt sehiaion by portion of the
rtory, for the nor triumph Of establishing freedom,
Throughout the remainder
They now uskedio become parties to The ex.
TENSION oi slavery over territory already free. Their
answer may BE- read IN their past history | believe
thar II is almost ii moi entirely tlre unanimous de-
cs.on oi the people Of This State, that under no cir.
cunstances viii their assent be given any action
whertbythe institution ol slavery sha be introduced
into any part OF the territory Of the United Staoa
from which II is now excluded.