The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-13
From the Aglsta, Ca, Consttuiionallsi.
INTERPRETATION OF SLAVES,

IMPORTATION OF SLAVES.
Could the slaveholding States enjoy il
peace their just rights, and receive the iul
benefit, in letter andin spirit, of the guaran
ties and compromises Of the Constitution, "
should be the last to advocate policy whc
is in restriction OF free trade between tn
Southern States. We should not acquiesc
in the policy and proprety Of the law Q
Georgia folbidding the introduction and sal'
Of slaves as merchandise from other States
That law has remained dead letter on the
statue book ever since its enactment, ana
there it would have continued to repose III
peace, were the mere intrinsic merits Of the
policy to control its fate. The policy Of re-
striction on trade is contrary TO common
sense, and to the common sentiment Of man
kind. The natural Judgment OF society is in
favor of free trade. Ii is palpably the inter-
est of the great body Of the people, and it is
some peculiar class interest, or some extra
neous influence alone which would swerve
the opinions and shape the legislation Of the
body polite in favor of restrictions.
TWAS this common sense, and this convic-
ton of natural right and justice, which
prompted that provision in the Federal Con-
stitution which secures free trade between
the seaports Of the several States Of the
Union.
But the persererlng aGgressions OF that
snti-slavery spirit Of the North, which now
animates not only the abotionists and wings
and free sellers, but has made deep in
roads into the ranks Of the Northern demo
cratic party, the only conservative party that
has ever existed at the North on this question
provoke different course Of policy at the
South
It is the interest Of the Southto extend the
area ofslavery. II is her interest pecuniari.
ly, as promotive Of the value Of slaves. It i.
her interest politically, as enabling her tc
bring into the confederacy more slaves States
whose votes in Congress will enable the
South to stay the hand Of anti-slavery, ant
prevent ar amendment to the Constitution
80 as to give to Congress. jurisdiction owe
slavery in the States. The progress Of emf
grafton to the territories, and the prospsc
Of An accession Of numerous free States +
the Union, admoni,h Us that at no very dis
tant day, the non-slaveholding States ma
have the power to alter the Constitution t
suit their nti-slavery views. So insolentl
aggressive and overhearing have they be
come at the prospect of this accruing power
that they may not have the grace to sta
their hands until they exercise the powe
legitimately, by change in the Constitu
ton. Already several Of these States hay
passed lawsin palpable violation of the lette
Tf nA Of WIKI 49, q
owner the recovery Of his fugitive slave,
within their territory The anti-slavery
spirit has already shown itself capable of any
enormity Of aggression on Southern rights
and Of the grossest breaches Of fidelity Il
the Constitution The utmost lorbearanct
that the South can expect is that the FIRE,
yates will only interfere with her State in
stitutions recognizing slavery, by an amend
ment Of the Constitution. This the FIRE,
States will assuredly do, as soon as they &C.
quire the political power.
With view, then, to counteract their de.
signs, or to delay them, It is the policy Of
the South Ia create new slave States, and 10
keep up her strength in the Senate and the
lower House as much as possible, so as 10 keep
pace with the increasing power Of the North
and Northwest. As a means to this end
we advocate the strict enforcement OF the
provisions Of the penal code in Georgia, in
reference to the Importation Of slaves from
other States. We hope that every Southern
State will enact similar provision. The
law should totally prohibit the introduction
Of slaves into the State for the purpose o
settlement. By this means the necessity vii
operate Immediately on the border States
Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky Of finding
territory adapted to slave labor among ou
newly acquired possessions. 1t would in.
duce an emigration to New Mexico, and per
haps to California, Of slave owners with thei
slaves. This state Of things would gradu
ally, or at once, compel Tennessee anc
North Carolina to follow suit. Denied
market in the more Southern Slaves States
they would seek and insist on an outlet 70
their surplus slave population. They woul
become strenuous and unfinching advocate
Of fair participation with the free States j
our territorial acquisitions. The Who'll
South would be interested in the success G
the demand. This policy if adopted by a
the Slave States would be the best possbl
preliminary step to union, to concert Of ac
ton, and harmony Of interests. That tn
States enumerated have, or in time will hav
redundancy of slave population, for whic
they must thave an outlet, is an admitted fact
Let it now be felt by, and forced upon tn
border States, and they will be stimulated a
once to the remedy we have pointed out =
The whole South will sustain their CLAIM
and efforts for participation in the acquires
territory, and will be prepared to resist a
any and every hazard the application Of tn
Wilmot Proviso to that territory
"Thsrs were Giants in those Days,
Professor Silliman, in one Of his lectures