Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-02-12


tiers on the subject, that in all such government:
| their members all cqaa--equal in rights ans
equal in dignity. They also concede that this e
quality constitutes the basis OF such government s
that it cannot be destroyed without changing the
nature and character. Todenrive, then the South
ern States and citizens OF their full share in terrific
RES declared TO belong to them, in common will
the other States, would be in derogat,on OF the e.
quality belonging TO them as members Of the fed
eral Union, and sink them, from being equals, into
subordinate and dependent condition Such are
the solid impregnabIe ground on which we res
our demand to an equal participation in the terri
tories.
But as solid and mpregnable as they are in the
eyes Of justice II Reason, they oppose feeble
siataaee 10 majority determined to engross tbs
whole. AT the las, session of Congress, bill was
passed establishing territorial government Tor Or.
egon, excluding slavery tlereroln. The President
gave his sanction to the bill and sent special mes
sage to Congress assigning his reasons for doing
so. These reasons pre- supposed that the Missouri
compromise was to be, and would be, extended
west OF the Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean.
And the President intimated his intention in his
message to veto any future bill that shonlG restrict
slavery south of the line Of that compromise. As
Stunning 1t to have been the purpose and intention
OF the North to extend the Missouri compromise
line as above Indicated the passage of the Oregon
bill could only be regarded as eyincing the acqn-
esoence Of that line. But the developemen;s OF the
present session of Congress have made it manifest
to all that no such purpose or intention now exists
with the North to any considerable extent the
truth of this, we have ample evidence in what has
occurred in the House OF Representatives, where
the popular feeling is soonest and most intensely
felt.
Although Congress has been in session but little
mole than one month, greater number OF meas
ures OF an aggressive character have been introduce
cd md thaN ,foI, Aap Hos,
have been for years before. And what clearly dis
closes whence they take their origin, is the fact
that they all relate to the territorial aspect Of slave
ry, or some other OF nature and character init
mately INJECTED with it.
The first of this series ofaggressions is resolu-
ton introduced by member from Massachusetts,
the object Of which is to repeal all acts parts Of
acts which recognise the existence ofslavery or au-
thori ze the selling and disposing OF slaves in the
District On the question Of leave to bring in bill
the vote stood So for and 81 against leave. The
next was resolution offered by a member from O.
hio nstructing the committee on territories to re-
port bills forthwith for excluding slavery from Cali.
tornia and New Mexico.f 1t passed BY a vote Of
l07 to89. This was followed by bill introduced
by another member from Ohio, to take the votes of
the inhabitants OF this District on the question
whether slavery within its limits should be abol
ished.
The bill provided. according to the admission OF
the mover, that free negroes and slaves should vote
On the question to lay the bill on the table, the
vote stoed-for, LOG; against 10. To this succeed
ed the resolution of a member from New York in
the following words:
Whereas the traffic now prosecuted in this me-
tropois OF the public in human beings as chattels
is contrary to natural justice and the fundamental
principles OF our political system, and is notori-
ously reproach to our country throughout christ.
endom and a serious hindrance to the progress Of
republican liberty among the nations of the earth
Therefore
s.Resoved, That the committee for the District
Of Columbia be instructed to report bill as soon
as practicable, prohibiting the Slave trade in said
District
On the question of adopting the resolution, the
vote stood So for and So against He was followed
by member from Illinois, who offered a resolution
for aboishing slavery in the Territories, and all
places where Congress has exclusive power of le-
gslation that is in all FORTS magazines, arsenals,
dock yards and other needlnl buildings purchased
by Congress with the consent Of the legislature of
the State.
This resolution was passed over under the rules
of the House without being put to vote.
The votes III favor OF all these measures were
confined to the members from the Northern States.
True, there are some patriotic members from that
section who voted against all Of them, and whose
high sense OF justice Is duly appreciated; who in
the progress OF the aggressons upon the South
have, by their votes, sustained the guarantees of
the constitution, and of whom we regret to say
many have been sacrificed at home by their pari-
otto course.
We have now brought to close narrative of
the series OF acts OF aggression and encroaehment
connected with the subject Of this address, inciud-
ing those that are consummated and those that are
still in progress. They are numerous, great and
dangerous and threaten with destruction the great
est and most vital OF all the interests and nstitu
tons Of the South. Indeed, it may be doubted
whether there is single provision, stipulation or
guaranty Of the constitution intended for the secu.
ry of the South, that has not been rendered almost
nugatory. 1t may even be made a serious ques,
ton, whether the encroachments already made,
without the aid of any other, would not. if permit
tee to operate unchecked, end emancipation, and
that at no distant day. But be that as it may, it
hardly admits Of doubt that if the aggressons
already commenced in tina House, and now in pro.
gress, should be consummated, such in the end
would certainly be the consequence.
Little, in truth, would be left to be done after we
have been excluded from all the Territories in.
GLIDING those to be hereafter acquired after
slavery is abolished in the District and in the n,-
mefous places dispersed all over the South, where
Congress has the exclusive right Of legislation, and
after the other measures proposed are consummat-
ed. Every outpost and barrier would be carried
and nothing would be left but to finish the work of
abolition al pleasure in the States themselves
This District, and all places over which Congress
has exclusive power OF legislation, would be asy-
lums for fugitive slaves. where, as soon as thew
placed their feet, they would become according to
the doctrines ofoGr northern assalants, free; un-
less there should be some positive e,iactmcnts to
preventit.
Under such state of things the probability is,
that emancipation would soon follow, without any
final act to abolish slavery The depressing effects
Of such measures on the whole race at the South,
and the hope they would create in the black of
speedy emancipation, would produce state ofieel
ing inconsistent with the much longer continuance
OF the existing relations between the two. But be
that it may, it is certain, il emancipation did not
follow, as matter Of course, the final act in the
States would not long be delayed. The want OF
constitutional power would oppose feeble resist
ance The great body of the North is united against
peculiar institution. Many believe it to be sin.
full, and the residue, with inconsiderable excep.
tons, believe il TO be wrong Such being the case,
it would indicate very superficial knowledge OF
human nature, to think that. after aiming at aboli-
ton Systematically for many years. and pursuing
it with such INSCRIPTIONS disregard OF law and con.
stltliien, the fanatics who have led the way and