The North-Carolina standard., 1850-02-06

negroes into the mines of California in such numbers,
that have no doubt but that the majority there
been deprived of all chance of this by the northern
movements. and by the action of this House, which
has, by northern votes, repeatedly from time to time,
passed the Wilmot proviso, in effect to exclude
our institutions, without the actual passage of a
law for that purpose. 1t is mere farce therefore,
without giving our people time to 20 into the coun-
try. if they desire to do so, to allow the individuals
there, by vote, to exclude whole class of our cit
izens. This would imply that the territory belong
ed to the people there exclusively, and not to all the
people of the United States.
Compared with this great question. the abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia is of little re-
lative moment. One effect, however, of the anti
slavery agitation here is worthy of passing notice.
Within the last two years, since the matter has be-
come serious has seemed notmprobable that the seat
of Government might be removed from the District.
As this would be extremely prejudical to the inter-
ests of the citizens here, many of them have far
changed in their feelings as to be willing to allow
slavery be abolished, yielding the force of the
pressure from the North; besides, many of their
slaves from time to time taken away by the Abo-
tionsts, to satisfy them that such property here
is almost worthless. A great impression was made
on them by the coming in last year of northern ship,
and its carrying away seventy slaves at once See
ing that there chance of getting Congress to
pass any adequate law for their projections most of
the States have done, they seem to be forced to as
it is most surprising that the people Of the southern
States should have borne, with so little complaint,
the loss of their slaves incurred by the action of the
free States. The Constitution Of the United States
provided for the delivery of all such fugitives. and
Congress passed act to carry it into effect but
recently most if not all of the northern Staes have
completely defeated these provisions, by forbidding
any of their citizens to aid in the execution of
the law, under the penalty of fine and imprisonment
for as long term usually as five years. There is
@h~l1 81 ~>f%1
States which can regard these laws constitutional.
For though the States not bound to egislate afr
matively in support of the Constitution of the Unit
ed States, yet it is clear that they have right to
pass laws to obstruct the execution of constitutional
provisions. Private citizens not usually bound
to be active in execution of the law, but if two
more combine to prevent the execution Of any law,
they are subject to indictment for conspiracy in all
countries where the common law doctrines prevail.
If the several States could rghfuy legslate to de-
feat the action of Congress- they might thereby COM
pletely nullify most Of it's laws In this particular
instance such has been the result; for though the
master is allowed to go and get his negro if he can,
yet in point of fact, it is we'll known that the free
negroes, Abolonists, and other disoderly persons,
acting under the countenance and authority of the
State laws, able usually to overpower the mas
ter and prevent his recapture.
The extent of the loss to the South may be UNDER
stood from the fact that the number of runaway slaves
now in the North is stated being thirty thousand
worth, at present prices, little short of fifteen mill
ions of dollars. Suppose that amount of property
was taken away from the North by the southern
States acting against the Constitution /: what COM
plant would there not be what memorials, and
Legislative resolutions would come down upon us !!
How would this hall be filled with lobby members
coming here to press their claims upon Congress
Why, sir, many of the border counties in the slaveho
ding States have been obliged give up their slaves
almost entirely. Itwas stated in the newspapers the
other day, that few counties named in Maryland
had, by the efforts of the Abolitonists within six
months, upon computation, lost hundred thousand
dollars worth of slaves. gentleman of the highest
standng from Delaware, assured me the other day that
such property in the same way. hundred thousand
dollars is heavy tax to be levied on single Con-
gressional district by the Abolitionists.
Suppose proportional burden was inflicted on the
northern States. How would Massachusetts bear the
loss annually of one million one hundred thousand
dollars not only inflicted without law, but against an
express provision of tho Constitution Ave may in
fer from the complaint she has made of slight ncon
venence imposed her by that regulation of South
Carolina which prevented ship-captans from carrying
free negro servants to Charleston.
This whole action on the part of the North is not
only in violation to the Constitution, but seems to be
purely wanton, or originating in malice towards the
South. 1t is obvious that they do not want our slaves
among them because they not only make no adequate
provision for their comfort, but, in fact in many of
them on pain of Imprisonment, &c. 1t cannot be a
desire to berate slaves, because they have never to
my knowledge, attempted to steal negroes from Cuba
or Brazil. 1t is true, however, that having the right
now to come among US both by land and water, they
have greater advantages and immunities For if they
went into foreign country, they would incur the
risk Of being shot or hanged, as robbers and pirates
usually are.
Sir, if any evils have grown out Of the existence
of slavery, they have not at least affected the North
During the days Of the slave trade, which (as for
merIv had occasion to remark) was continued down
to 1903 by New England votes in the conventions the
northern shp-owners realized large profits by purcha-
sing negroes the coast of Africa at thirty or forty
dollars per head and selling them to southern plant
for several hundred dollars. The bringing in OF
unhealthy to have been cleared by white to
be brought under profitable cultivation. The price
of cotton has thereby been brought down from fifty
to ten and even five cents per pound. An immense
amount of capital and labor is employed proftably
in its manufacture at the North. In England, also,
not less than six hundred millions of dollars is TINS
invested, and vast population exists by being en-
ployed in the manufacture. 1t is ascertalned that
at least five millions of white pefsons Europe and
this country, get their employment, are fed and ex-
ist, on the manufacture Of cotton alone. The cheap
southern production of the raw material not only is
the Of thus giving subsistence to great portion
of the population of this country and EoroPe but rs
clothing the world at a cheap rate. In addition to
cotton rce sugar. coffee, tobacco. and various tropi-
cal productions supplied at cheap rate for north
ern consumption. On the other hand, our slaves sell
dom come in competton with northern labor, and are
good consumers Of its productions. While the North
has derived these great advantages the negroes them
selves have not been sufferers. Their condition not
only compares most advantageousfy with that Of the
laboring population of the world but is in advance
of the position they have been able. at any time, to
occupy at home. The researches of GliddoH and
other antn show that four thousand
in Africa they were slaves, and black they now