Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-06-15
MIR, Benton,

Mlt DCulOHe
Before the arrival of Mr.. Benton's late speech
in Missouri, on the subject of slavery, we had
determined to lay il before our readers at length,
but when the first part came to hand, making
many ponderous columns, we gave the matter
up in despair. Mr. Benton has an eXtraOrdlna.
ry faculty Of expanson--lhe ground he covers
in everything he undertakes is lrlghIlul to prln-
ters aud readers whose time is precious. His
speech shows great historical research, and a.
thorough acquaintance with the subject OF which
he speaks. lie demolIshes Mr.. CahOun's po-
sitons by ponderous documentary blows drawn
| from the action of Government IN early times,
and when the latter was a member Of the Cabl'
net. His argument on Slavery in the Terrific
ries, in a condensed form is as follows:
"Co. Benton maintains in so much OF the
speech as is printed, that Congress has the right
to legiSale upon the subject Of Slavery in the
Territories; that il has been acknowledged from
the foundation of the Government thar it is
"prolcund error" for citizens of Slave State
to suppose that they can remove their slave pro-
perty TO California or New Mexico, without their
becoming free; that property is in the law which
creates it, and the law cannot be carried an inch
beyond the limit of the State which creates 1t,
and he ventures the general opinion that no es-
tablishment of Slavery in New Mexico or Cal.
iornia is to be looked lor-Ihe people oil both
territories are against it."
The following extract from the speech is a
clear, strong and nervous statement Of the pow
er of Congress over the territories of the United
States:
"Congross has the power to prohibit or admit
Slavery, and no one else. 1t is nOtln the terri
tories, for their governments are Ihe creatures
Of Congress, and its deputies so far as any legs-
Iative power is concerned. 1t is iG in the
States separately: and this leads TO one OE The
grossest delusons which has grown out ol the
political metaphysics of Mr.. Calhoun. lie
claims a right for the citizens Of the Slave States
to remove 10 New Mexico and California with
their Slave property. This is aprofound error,
the properly is in The law which enacts 1t. No
citizens of any STATE can carry any property de-
rived from the law of that State, an inch beyond
the boundary line of that State which creates II.
The instant he passes that boundary to settle
with his property, it becomes subject to another
law, if there is one, and is without law 1t there
is not This is the case with aIl-wlth the nor
thern man, with his corporations and franchises
with the Southern man and his slaves. This
is the law of the land, and let any one try ltthat
disputes it,"
This is plain, practical, common sense view
of the matter, and is just such an one as will
meet with the appreciation of reasonable men in
every section of the Union. 1t is doctrine ne
cessary to the very stability of our institutions,
as it secures The rights of all without inflcting
responsibilities which they never bargained for
and will not tamely suffer. We are glad Mr..
Benton has taken this position, as it will tend in
a great measure to seule the agltalions kept up
in the,publid mind, both north and south, by de-
signing and interested men.
The wisdom displayed by the American peo-
pie in choosing Gen. Taylor over Gen. Cass, is
seen in this us we'll as various other matters.-
Although for reasons of private hate and perso'
nal ends, the leaders of the Free Soil party keep
up great noise about General Taylor's safety
on the Wilmol Provso, and endeavor by every
means, fair or foul, to poison the public mind at
the North against him before he has had an op.
portunity of developing his policy, yet we rest
in the most perfect confidence that his course
will be such us will most efFeclually secure the
freedom from slavery of the new territories and
meet with The cordial appreciation of the pru.
dent and conservative among the people gener-
ally. According 10 Mr.. BentOn's doclrine-not
original with him, however-slavery has no ex-
istence in the new territories, of the United
States, until it is placed there by Congress-
Well, is there any one so blinded by his polili-
cal prejudices as to believe that Congress will
ever sanction so great an enormity! The idea
is preposlerous. Gen. Taylor is pledged not to
interfere in the Legislation of the country, and
this pledge wo will most faithfully redeem; and
California. in all human probability, and proba
bly, New Mexico, also, will, before his term ex-
pires, be free States Of this great Union.
What, then, will become Of the Free Soil par
ly, and its various ramifcations and offShoots!
Ii will either expire for the want OF some fun
damental object Of pursuit, or it will adopt some
of the ultra notions Of the day, which have an
evanescent existence, and are then lorgotIen.-
Let all, then, who are tempted 10 60 aslray into
these doubtful movements, survey their ground
with care, and see whether it is capable of sus-
tanning them in all emergences.-Pius. Gaz.