Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-06-21

from law in that State, an inch beyond
the boundary line ofthe State which creates
it. The instant he passes that boundary to
settle with his property, it becomes subject
to another law, if there is one, and is with
out law if there is not This is the case
with all with the northern man, with his
corporations and franchises-with the south
ern man and his slaves This is the law of
the land, and let any one try it that disputes
it.
Congress has the constitutional power to a
bolish slavery in territories but she has no
slave territory in which to exercise the pow
err. We have no territory but the remain
der of louisiana north and west of Missouri,
that in California, New Mexico, and Oregon,
and that north of Wisconsin, now Minnesota.
In louisiana, north and west ofus, it was ii
polished by Congress in 1920. In the terri
tory north Of Wisconsin, now Minnesota, it
was abolished by the Jefferson proviso of
1887. In Oregon, it was abolished by Con-
gress in lS4S, by what you may call the
Benton provisio, if you please; and in Cali
forhia, it was abolished by the Mexican
Government in 1929, confirmed in 1887,
and again in 1874.
Thus, there is no slavery now in Mexico
or California; and consequently none in
any territory belonging to the United States ;
and, consequently, nothing practical or real
in the whole slavery question, for the people
OF the United States to quarrel about
There is no slavery now by law in any terri
tory, and it cannot get there by law except
by act of Congress, and no such an act will
be passed, or even asked for. The DOGMA
of no power in Congress, to legislate upon
slavery in territories, kills that pretension--
No legal establishment of slavery in Califor-
MIA and New Mexico is then to be looked
for. That is certain. Equally certain it
will never be established in either of them,
in point of fact. The people of both terri
torles-the inhabitants, are unanimously "a
gainst it. OF the new emgrants, all
those from Europe, Asia, Mexico, Central
and South American, and all those from the
non-slaveholding part of the United States,
will be unanimously against it. There re-
mains, then, to over-balance all this unani-
nous mass, only the emigrants from the
savehoding parts of the United States-in
itself the smallest branch of the emigration,
81 it is divided OR the question-many going
for the express purpose of getting rid OF
slavery-and very few so far in love with it
as to go that distance for the pleasure of hav-
ing law suit with his own negro, and with
the certainty ofcomng out second best in the
contest. There is no slavery, at this time,
either in new Mexico or California, in law
or in fact and will never be, in law or in
fact. What, then, is all the present uproar
about! Abstraction the abstract right OF
doing what cannot be done the insult to
the sovereignty oft the States, where there is
no insult all abstraction and no reality,
substance or practice in it.
My personal sentiments then are against
the institution of slavery, and against its in.
PRODUCTION into places in which it does moi
exist. If there was no slavery in Missouri
today, should oppose its coming in il
there was none in the United States, | should
oppose its coming into the United States
as there is none in New Mexico or Califor-
MIA, am against sending it to those terrific
ries, and could not vote for such measure
"a declaration which costs me but little,
the whole dispute now being about the alb
stract right of carrying slaves there, with.
out the exercise of that right No one
asks for the exercise ofthe right, and can.
not ask it, in the face of the DOGMA which
"S''SS'hS pOhSi W Siuit It. STATES 10 d.
they please. These are my principles; and
they reduce the difference between Mr.. Cal.
houn and myself, to the difference between
refusing and not asking. And for this the
Union is to be subverted o! metaphysics
political metaphysics far better stick to the
innocent business of amending the Constitu
ton, by putting three States and river to
gether.
; To finish this personal exposition, have
to say that my profession and conduct-nc
unusual thing with frail humanity-do moi
agree. | was born to the inheritance o
slaves, and have never been without them
have bought some, but only on their owl
entreaty, and to save from execution sales
| have sold some, but only for misconduct
l have had two taken from me by the abo
lltionists, and never enquired after them, ant
liberated the third who would not 90 will
them. | have slaves in Kentucky, VIII
were elevated to the dignity of real estate
by being removed from Missouri to Ken
lucky; and will have to descend next fall t
the low degree of a chattel interest," in spit
of the laws of Kentucky; when | shall re
move them back to Missouri. And | hav
slaves in Washington city--perhaps the on
member of Congress that has any there
and am not the least afraid that Congress
will pass any law to affect this property eli
Their there or here.