Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-07-27

feat of Cass it was universally conceded that the
people had declared in favor of the constitutional
right on the part of Congress to enact the Will
mot provso. Followin that decision, the demo-
cracy of this state again ard again decla-
red that Congress Ought to and must enact the
WiImot pre- viso as absolutely necessary to pre-
vent the spread of slavery into the new terrific
ries, until this position became universally rec
oGnized as that of the democracy of Wisconsin.
Now we Rave paper protesting to be demoCra-
TIC telling US that Senator Benton occupies a
ground on which the whole democracy of Wis
consin can unite What is this ground? Why
Senator Benton says, the dispute about the pro-
viso, is dispute about goats wool, that Is, dis
pute about nothing. The Wilmot ptoviso is not
worth cont dlng for, that is Bent6n's position
and the position, we are told, the democracy of
Wisconsin not only cah, but ought 10. unite on,
on the pain of being denounced as fanatics and
aboitionis's and disorganlsers.
Nov, we do not attach great deal of import
ance to what the print we have alluded to, says
on such subjects, and would not speak of it We're
it not that it by no means stands alone in its posi-
ton. Every paper in the state. With one or two
exceptions, that supp5fed Cass, is taking this
grduhd Their columns TEEN With illusions to
the goats wool question: the 'proviso abstrac-
ton" the proviso humbug," the ''dispute about
nothing" etc. etc. The drift of all this is evil
dent. The contest of last fall has only changed
is ground. With a slaveholding administration
and with northern democracy cohtending that
the proviso is of no Importance, it is evident that
the work of the Free Dchotfacy yet temains to
be done. Fairly beaten out of the position that
Congress has no right to enact the proviso, the
enemies of free territory and allies of the south
are entrenchng themselves in the position we
have alluded to, and never Was the vigilance and
active exerion Of the Free Democracy more re-
quired than ut The Present time for the enemy is
more dangerous, because more insidious We
are all pfbvso men, say they; but then the pro-
viso is of no importance, for slavery cannot en-
list in our new territories, unless law is passed
creating it, and therefore we will rot disturb the
quiet of the union by agitatlng the question
And whilst they talk I'll us, and endeavor to Iul
true free soil men into false security, thousands
of slaves shackled and handcuffed are being in
troduced in the new territory, where they are
kept by the law of the pistol and bowie knife I'M
til their masters can control the local legislation
of the country and tegdliae the slavery they have
previously created. Whether this be what is
sought by tl.ese goats wool philosophers or not,
such will undoubtedly be the effect of the success
of their policy, and the question of the enactment
of the proviso, so far as Wisconsin Is concerned,
remains yet to be decided.
THIS is the compile: ion of the contest which
is rcw approaching in this state. From all
parts of the state we have unquestlonable cvi.
dence TINT the mass of voters composing the
Cass democracy of last fall desire union with
the Free Democracy, for the reason that honest.
ly desiring the enactment of the proyiso, they
can see no cause for difference or separation
But not so with the committee who profess to
represent them. Their whole effort has been
TO prevent union, and does any one believe they
have no motive in doingit! When we recollcct
that every one of these papers now engaged in
decrylng the importance of the proviso, and eve
ry man in the state who not only holds that view
but is opposed to the proviso in toto, approve of
their course and are with them III their action,
their design is apparent. Party machinery is to
be again employed as it was last fall. to utter the
voice OF selfish and aspiring politicians instead of
that fthe people, and the infuehce of Wisconsin
is to be again directed in a channel hostile to her
interests and Ler wishes. We shall see what
success will attend on such efforts. We are
not yet ready to believe that the repeated resolves
OF the representatives of the democracy, that the
proyiso ought 10 and must be enacted. were reso-
lutions about goats WOOL nor are we vet ready
to believe that the indignation levcled against
Mr.. Walker for so far forgetting the importance
OF the Proviso, As to seek to enact government
for California and New Mexico without it, was
all sham. We shall believe it meant something
until the men themselves shall give the lie to their
professions, by aiding the schemes now going
forward. But whatever politicians and aspiring
men may see fit to do, we trust the people will
see things as they are, and act accordingly. As
we said before, every press in the state, opposed
to the W lmot Proviso, sides with the Madison
committee, and so also does every individual of
similar views. The position of the free Demo-
cr1cy on that point is not only una" estioned but
un Inspected There should not then be any he
station on the part Ct those who esteem the pro-
viso of importance and desire It's enactment. in
enlstIng with the party where they can rest a. STU
red that their principles are safe.
IL The Madison papers affect to believe that
Booth aud Sholes are suffering vast deal Of
agony III consequence of the refusal of the Cass
Committee to meet the Free Sellers We don't
know how it is with brother Booth. but we do
not feel any particular amount of pain in conse.
quence Oft. We have had no serious authorizations
/ OF being nominated for Governor, or any other
State office, and don't know what, personally
we have to lose by it. We have, on reflection.
as member of the Free Soil party felt some lit.
tie humiliation that our time and breath sboud
have been spent in talking )out and endeavorinp