The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-03-02
THE CONVENTION.


the Congress Of the United States -
As Citizens of Massachusetts, assenbledin Faneul
Hall, Representing thousands in all parts of the Com
monwealth, we take it upon ourselves to address YOU
upon great question about to be decided by Con-
Sress and by your votes. The magnitude of the
question, the precedents of three generations the
genius Of republican institutions ali assure us of our
right to address you, from this place and in this man
ner, and warrant us in looking for respectful con-
sideration at your hands.
But before we utter word on the great subject of
the present issue, justice to cause requires that
we relieve ourselves from certain imputations indus
trIously circulated against us. As defenders of the
TREE SOIL doctrine, we are slanderousy reported
10 be dlsunlonlss, agators, fanatics; and is one
OF the tricks OF the times in politics set off the Free
SOIL party OF the North, equivalent to the pro-sla
very dlsunlonlsts of the South If this were So we
should not deserve attention from men sworn to sup
port the Constitution. But so far is it from being
true, that we assert now, in the most solemn man
ner our determined allegiance to the Constitution
OF the United States. We assure you, and beg YOU
TO assure our brethren IN Congress, Southern as well
as Northern, that whether victorious or defeated in
THIS issue, we mean to sustain the Union and the con-
stltution thereof We ask you to assure the Chief
Magistrate Of the Union and all the heads of depart
ments that to no citizens OF the Republic more than
to the Free Soil men of Massachusetts, can they look
for faithful support in all proper and legal measures
for maintaining the integrity of the United States
1t is under the Constitution, and within the Union.
that we mean to contend to the last against the ex-
tension OF Slavery. Nor do we dream, nor have we
ever dreamed oflnerferng with Slavery in the States
we understand as perfectly as Fir. Calhoun himself
that Congress has right to interfere with the
domestic institutions South Carolina than TO inter
tere with the domestic institutions of Massachusetts
we are simply the defenders, in this crisis, of the
ftOnn- hnpn rn1k Il
ed down from our fathers-the principle of the pro-
hibition ofSavey in the territories as the only means
of securing the end of sNo new slave States no new
slave territories
Bear with us moment, while we recaptulate the
HISTORY of this maxim, to draw from it lessons and
warnings for the exigency of the present hour.
We have been told by our fathers, it is our ami-
liar learning in Massachusetts, no one of your number
oouois hat when the confederation and constitution
were formed, when the great concessions were made
10 the slave States, 1t upon the understanding
that there were to be no rev slave States, no new
slave territory. 10 this result the ordinance
OF 1887 was passed prohibiting slavery forever in all
the territories of the United States These territories
all lay north ofthe Ohio river; all In the latitude Of
the free States. Why was prohibition necessary
Our ancestors knew that cupdity ofsave dealers
the force OF habit and prejudice with southern men,
the desire TO- increase the slave market and to add
to the weight Of the slave States in the Union, would
subject the territories to at least the chance Of being
| Overrun with slavery
timothy Pickering, writing to Rufus King on the
ON OF March l7S5, speaking of the failure to carry
the prohibition when first attempted, in 1854 saws
congress once made this important declaration
nat all men are equal; that they are endowed, BY
theT creator, with certain inaienable rights; that
among these are lye liberty, and the pursuit of han
PtReSS; and these truths were held to BE- seeuide0f
These great truths were echoed through the United
states. Nevertheless, proposition for preventing q
VOCATION OF these truths in country yet unsettled
and from which such violence might easily have
been excluded, did not obtain! What prete6ce lar.
gument there could be none) could be offered for il:
4 re)ecuon! should, indeed, have objected to the
period proposed (the years 1900 for the exclusion
OF slavery; for the admission of It for day or ar
hour ought to have been forbidden. 1t will be in6n
itey easier to prevent the evil at frst than to eradi
cate or check 1t in any future time How woulc
congress wish the New States to be settled? by slave
orby freemen? To suffer the continuance Of slaves
I'LL they can gradually be emancipated in States al
ready overrun with them, nay be pardonabe because
unavoidable, without hazarding great evils: but to in
tfoduce them INTO countries were none now exist
countries which have been talked of-which we have
Doasted Of as asyums to the oppressed of the eartI
can nerer be forgiven.--F Gods sake then le
one more effoit be made to prevent so terrible RI l.
amity.'' '"i
Charles Thompson, the distinguished Secretary q
Congress, IN letter to Judge Peters, about the same
Time, says, snow, it seems the measures necessar,
to be taken torender useful the cessons and purchases
are to be obsructed by the men of the South
those OF the east and north wish to keen Slavery on
OF the New States. Sure it would be unpardon.
able In Congress, in erecting New States, not "a
guard against the introduction ofSlavery, which has
direct tendency to the corruption of manners and
OF every principle of morality andI piety.''
! Thus we see that in the last century thc
principle OF prohibition began to meet with opposition
from the South, and it insisted upon by the whole
North, with the aid of the greatest and best men Of
the South, as the only sure mode of preventing the
extension Of slavery. Here were the germs Of the
great slaye-extension party which now embraces al
most the entire South. -
history has shown that the precautions takcn bv
our ancestors were not vain In spite of the probi-
biton, repeated attempts were made TO introduce
slavery into Illinois, and Congress was pe,itioneJ 70
rescnd the ordinance, under the auspices of no less
man then General Harrison, and but for the aid which
mr.. Randolph and other Southern men gave to ,ba
North, the attempt might have succeeded Nail
ing, under God, but the PROHIBITION. saved tbeso
New States from, at least, long and fearful
WIN the demon Of slavery. History shows tbnt he
introduction OF Slavery into new Countries is NOT nre-
ceued ~ Legislative institution Slavery lilo al