Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-12-12

views in detail with reference 10 the whole
subject, It is not necessary for me 10 DO so
at this lime. proceed, therefore, 10 give
you simply the general results OF my re-
Elections.
The Federal government, because 1t
is the government of The United States, Is
the trustee and agent for all The States and
their citizens. Every power, therefore,
which it can rghlfulIy exercise 1t must OF
necessity exercise for The benefit OF all the
parties to it. The territory of tho United
States being the common property. The
government is bound 10 administer il as
far as practicable for the benefit Of all The
States as we'll as their citizens. A diffe-
renee, however. exists among them in .rela-
iicu 10 the institution Of slavery. When
the constitution was formed. twelve OF the
thirteen States were. slayeholding. That
instrument, though it has clauses express
ly inserted for The protection Of the rights
and interests of slaSshnlders, contains no
provision for the abolition Of slavery any
where. If The government, therefore, can
properly exercise such power 10 any In
stance, il must be because its duties as
general agent, acting so as 10 meet The in
Ierest and views OF its principals, require
it. But fifteen Of the thirty States of the
Union still maintain the institution Of sla-
very. Ii is obvious, therefore. that The
government could NOT consistently with its
powers as a general agent, exclude the
Shareholders as a class from all parllc'pa-
ZION in the enjoyment of the territory o.
the United States. 1t is. on the contra
ry, under spelnn obligations to respect the
rights Of all. 1t has always heretofore, rs
| understand its action, shown sense oi
this obliealiou.-Whe the much talked OF
ordinance was adopted, by which The ter
r,ory north Of The Ohio river was made
free. all thar portion of country south Of
The river to The Gulf of Mexico was lett TO
be occupied by OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sa-
very was abolished in ihe part Of the Lou.
isiana territory, The southern portion, re-
garded as the most suitable for slavehod-
ers, was left to he so occupied. On the
annexation Of Texas, when provision
against slavery north Of 36 deg. ~ min.
was incorporated, much The larger and
more valuable portion was left still lOr the
use of shareholders:
But i, is now proposed to adop, the poll
cy of excluding shareholders. as such, from
oil The territory Of the United States. This
would be an entire revolution in the action
Of the GovernmenI-a revolution which
could not occur without total violation
of the spirit and essence of the conslItu'
ZION. Since those citizens who do own
those slaves are permitted TO occupy every
part of The territory Of the Union, il has
been doubled by many whether the govern
n,ent cab righrrulIy exclude shareholders
from any portion of the common property.
BuI, even il there should be power to
divide The public territory for convenience
between The two classes, il is perfectly
clear tha, there can be no right TO ercfude
one class entirely. have heretofore said
that should regard such an exclusion as
being as great a Uiolation ofihe constitution
as the Gouernment could possibly commit
But even if This action should he viewed
simply as an enormous abuse Of power, ii
would be not the less objectionable. The
government has unlimited powers in re-
lalion 10 the establishment of post offices
throughout the Union. If. however, it
wete TO Withdraw all the post offices from
the slaveholding States on The ground that
The citizens of those States were mol worthy
of The countenauce and aid OF The govern
merit, we should have as much reason to
complain OF such acIion as if il involved
clear infractiun of the letter Of The conHiiu'
lion.
ln word, il The government should
adopt The policy Of excluding Shareholders
as such, from all the territory Of the Uni
led States. il would in substance and Of
fec, ceas. 10 be the Government Of Me Unl
ted States. While the form OF the constllu
ton might remain the same, its character
would be essentially chansod.
Ough. the Southern StaIes to ac1uiesce
in this grea, organic change in our PollI'
cal system? Ought they remain mem
hers Of m association which had, in ute
disregard or plain constitutional suaran
ties, degraded them from their position
equality? As history furnishes no recor'
of any people who havo propcred alle
they had forfeited their ssll-respcct, =;
submit hiS To DC uesradeu 10 Sla'c vi Po''
,ical vassalage, | hold tito bic the duty o
the Southern States to resist this change
That resislcnce, TO be eiieclual, should b.
commensurate with the violence of the al
tack. This they owe 10 the cause OF con
stilulionaI liberty, to justice and 10 lhcl
own honor.
With reference 10 The abolition of sla
very in The District of Columbia, vii
simply say that. waivinS all controvers,
in reaIiou to constitutional right, and Oh
legation 10 the adjnining States. if such a
event were 10 occur at this time, il woul
) not take place in obedience to Tie wishe
: of The citizens oflhe District, but would b
brought about at the instance Of the in
habitanls OF The States. But these per
sons have no right Ie control the local al
fairs Of this District. Should Consros:
therefore. thus act at their insIigaion,
would be guilty Of an ACT Of 'yranny SO III
suiing and so gross as TO justify with
dra!wal Of confidence from such Govern
I inen.
y You ask, in the second plare, what
, believe likely to be The course of the Soul
, should such contingency occur? Their