The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-16
mss.rs. Tssmhs and stephens OF Georgia.


Of this article, made on Thursday last strong and i'm.
FASHIONED speeches in defence Of the rights which the
South claims under the constitution as coequal members
Of this coniedeacy Much Of that which they uttered
with regard to the rights Of the South, we think will be
conceded to be true by all candid minds, whether residing
north or south Of the line dividing the slayehoding from
the non.slayeholding States We think it will not be
denied that one OF the great compromises Of the consttu
uon expressly designed by the trainers Of that nstru-
men to protect domestic institution Of the South and
without which the great charter Of freedom would
never have been completed and this Union formed, has
been violated and virtually annuled by the action of the
people Of the onslaveholding States We allude to the
right pursue and recapture fugitive slaves This right
although acknowledged in the constitution, and protected
by repeated decisions Of the courts Of the United States
has become a dead letter.
II also true, Mr. Toombs stated that the cesson Of
this District to the general governpent for its exclusive
jurisdiction and capital, made by the States
Of Maryland and Virginia, under implied pledge Of the
public faith of the Unon that II should not be made the
instrument Of assault and iajury to the domestic nsu
tons of those States. The implied obligation not to
abolish slavery within its limits until il abolished in
the States making the cesson, which the general govern
ment assumed when it accepted the cession Of this Dis
tict, was in estimation sacred and obligatory as
if had been subject Of solemn stipulation in treaty
between coequal and sovereign nations Therefore, TO
abolish that institution in this District, to agate the
question to the dement OF the peace and tranquility OF
the States whose generosity conferred this territory upon
the Union, is violation Of The public faith, obga
tory upon the general government provision in the
constitutional compact which binds these States together
in one confederated empire.
And to u.s. also, it seems that territory acquired by
the common blood and Of the Union should be
equally enjoyed by all its members who contributed the
price OF its purchase acquisition To our mind this
proposition is so manestly just, that there appears no
room for argument the contrary. If the question
could come before court Of equity, do not perceive
how contrary judgment could be rendered II would
be but the application OF the principle which would be
applied to partnership property, purchased by the COM
mon means OF the partnership In the case supposed,
what right would portion Of the partners have to
say to another portion OF them, g We will take pos
session of all this property, and enjoy it, because
we have only sheep and cows TO feed upon it. You
have cows and horses. You may with your cows,
but you shall bring your horses" Such preensions
set up by anybody in the business transactions
OF private fe would be secuted absurd as well as
unjust Yet in the matter OF the territories acquired by
the common treasure and blood OF the Union, seems to
us that the principle of abstract justice applies
Therefore cannot the justice OF the pretenson
which claims all the territory recently acquired of Mex
leo for the enjoyment OF The people Of one portion OF
the States, while the people of the other portion are ex
cuded from it, except upon the terms prescribed BY the
former And this claim, in our Judgment is just cause
Of complaint the part Of the southern members OF the
confederacy Nor do we wonder that the people of the
South, and that Messrs Toombs and Stephens should
insist that Justice should be granted that portion OF the
Union Of which they citizens and representatives.
Nor, when the people even Of Massachusetts, shall
rousy reflect upon this matter, we believe that they
will with bigoted and obstinate prejudice, refuse to set
tie this controversy touching the subject of slavery upon
grounds both constitutional and just We have shown
that one OF the solemn stipuations in the constitution
has been broken. We have also shown that the abol-
ton Of slavery in this District before is abolished BY the
States which coded the District the general government
would be violation OF public faith equal the violation
Of provision OF the constitution And think il must
appear evident to every candid and just mind that the
common property Of the Union should be equally enjoyed
by all it's members inasmuch as all have contributed its
acquisition Therefore, Il not apparent that there must
be compromise Of this question: or great agitation
perhaps the greatest Of all calamities-will ensue
We are no alarmists. and we make no threats We APP
peal only to the intelligence the justice, and the patriot
ism Of the non saveholding States. And again re-
peat must NOT this questions be settled by fair and honora
bic compromised Should the peace, nay, the existence
Of the Union longer be menaced by the agitation OF
this question, which hangs over oar beloved coun
try like dark and murky cloud, betokening the ap-
proach Of the tornado and the earthquake Are the
constifuonaI riehts Of the people of the South 10