The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-12

same right to take their slaves there that the peo
pie or the North have to take any property peculiar
TO their region that in both instances, according
to the spirit of the Constitution the degree Of
protection is extended to the one description Of
property that is extended TO the other.
do not propose to enter into an elaborate argu-
meBt to show that Congress does not possess the
constitutional power to interdict slavery in the Ter
riories of the United States but will offer a few
thoughts on this subject.
Iargue, sir, that such introduction by Congress
would be contrary TO the spirit of the Constitution
from fact which understand to be admitted by
every body-that the States of this Union equal
In dignity and in right. The old thirteen States
were bound together by the articles
but, to "form more perfect union," they adopted
our present Constitution. They asserted in their
Declaration of Independence that they were free
and equal, which they afterwards maintained, and
their sovereignty as States subsequently ac-
knowledged by England. When the Constitution
formed, therefore, the original thirteen States
stood on terms of equality; and that instrument
not having been 80 changed since as to produce
an inequality of right either among the States or
the citizens of the States take il for granted that
they equal in dignity and in right yet If this
argument be correct, would ask northern gentle
men If they are administering the government ac-
cording 10 its genius and its spirit-if they
rying out the intentions of the trainers Of Con.
stitution, when they seek to exclude nearly one
half Of the people of the United States from par
ticipation in the benefits and blessings which may
accrue to them by emgrating with their slaves to
territory, for the acquisition of which they fought
as gallantly and bled as freely as the North
When they come with their interdictions, seek
ing to appropriate the whole of this territory, be-
cause they may have the numerical force to carry
their proposition; when they seek to increase their
own power by diminishing that of the South--to
increase their own wealth by diminishing that of
the South,-I say, when they thus come, not in the
name of justice, in the name of that equality of
right that belongs to all of the States but in the
disgusting name of might, of power, of numbers,
think you that they are then administering the
Government, SO far as Legislation is concerned ac-
cording to the spirit of the Constitution On the
contrary, they not destroying the sovereignty,
the equality of the States, and consequently vio-
latng, with 0ltsfyefched arm, the very Consttu-
ton which they profess to revere, and under whose
protection they have been blessed and shielded from
injustice for the last sixty three years9 But even
if Congress possessed the constitutional power to
exclude slavery from the residue of this newly
acquired territory, deny that they have the moral
power TO cohsummate an act of such manifest in
justice. The Constitution Of the United States was
formed to " establish justice, insure domestic tran
quillity, provide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare" &c. Sir, how can the North,
according to their manner of constituting the Const-
tuition, "establish justice" when the very of
policy which they propose is fraught with the most
agrant injustice to more than 600 900 of reemen,
constituting the entire southern portion this Union?
How can they ensure domestic tranquility TO the
country, when the very end which they avow to be
their chief object will have direct tendency to add
fuel to the flame which northern fanatcism has al
ready kinded and famed, until the hall in which
meet from day to day is so filled with heat and
smoke as to induce the fear, here and elsewhere,
that the confiagration has already commenced, and
that ere long shall see the temple wrapped in
hames' How can they promote "hs general tDel
faye," when the very interdiction which they pro-
pose consults not ks general tDeare" but the ,pel
fare Of the North TO the manifest dishonor and detri
msni Of the South? They cry out, Constitution,
Constitution "let stick to the Consttution'--
and yet they violate, with an incorrgibe indiffer
ence, the very preamble to that instrument, be-
cause they refuse to "establish justice when they
hold the scales in their own hands and have il in
their power to do SO. They refuse to sinstue do
nestle tranquity," when they have itin their power
to "pour oil on the troubled waters" and quell the
strife and discomfort that threaten the harmony of
these States. They refuse TO promote The general
toeBe," when they have it in their power TO settle
this question in manner in which "te general
irefars' will be properly consulted. They say this
Territory already free; that by the laws of Mexi-
CO, slavery abolished there before we acquired
it; and yet, in wild spirit of fanaticism-n un-
holy lust for the gratfcationo of sectional preudces
they leap the legitimate bounds Of justice, of
equality, Of every thing in fact that belongs or
dinary courtesy and proprety, TO say nothing Of
State sovereignty, and usurp the despotic preroga-
tive OF declaring country 10 be free which they
say is already free, when they know very well that
such declaration is aggressive, and must have the
effect TO the indignant feelings of the South.
Is il not enough, if what they say Is true that the
country is already frees Is il not enough if what
they further say is true that natures God has laid
proviso on that Territory moro potent than that
which bears the name Of WiLmot? II as they saw
God and the laws of Mexico have dedicated this
Territory TO the Free Soiiers" why do they seek
10 do work Of supererogation? Why build a mud
fence to protect fortress which they say is inn
prcgnabei Why not organize a Territorial gov
ernment for New Mexico and the residue OF the
Territory not embraced in the bounds Of California
without the Wimot proviso, and let the people of
the South test all these barriers 10 the introduc-
ton OF slavery Of which northern men speak?
But sir what is the object Of this wholesale cru
aad Ia naf A frnra De-
sylvana Mr.. SrEvEss) came out boldly in a
speech here few days since, and avowed his OBJ
ject; and suppose, in avowing his, he avowed the
object of all those who in favor of the interdic
ton of slavery in the newly acquired territory. He
said his object 10 confine the institution of
slavery in its present limits, and vcntured the pre-
diction that IL itwere thus confined, in twenty five
years the States that now tolerate would abolish
It, Sir, can il be possible that honorable members
who avow these objects would willingly expose the
States TO the alternative Of surrender
ing up fifteen hundred millions of dollars worth
Of property seeing their fertile, their highly cul
tivated, their beautiful lands crimsoned with hu.
gore? Can il be possible that northern fanati-
cism has gone thus fari They seek TO do by indi-
rection what they acknowledge they have not the
power TO do directlyabolish slavery
in the States. IL this infraction Of the spirit Of
the Constitution The gentleman speaks Of sur
the slave States with Gordon of free
men, to witness suppose with cxultation the fierce
conflict between the slave and his master. Why
not go step further, IL this be his object, and
with his Gordon Of freemen cross the line, avow
himself the champion Of the slave break the letters
that bind him, and make the bondman the peer of
his master? An enterprise OF this sort would at
least have the merit Of boldness and decision and
the people Of the South would know eracfiy how TO
meet il. Established by Divine authority, the in
stitution Of slavery is destined TO remain until the
end for which il was first ordained shall be accom-
plishcd.
Alasl what stay is there to human state9
Or who shun inevitable fate'
The doom was written, the decree was past,
Ere the foundations Of the world were cast.
Sir, suppose the honorable gentleman's object to
be fully ccomplished-suppose the slaves Of the
South TO be cmancipated could never associ-
ate upon terms Of equality with the people of the
South; the people Of the North, am persuaded,
would never so receive them. They could not be
clothed with all the immunities of the white man,
and while they would thus be nomnally free, they
would be the viest Of all slaves the slaves Of their
own wicked passions. They would never be clothed
with the elective franchise in the South they could
never hold office there, and il is not probable that
in the North they would be invested with more
rights than in the South. marked inequality
urould atil exia What H.. az.