The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-26
Mr. Buchanan on the Slavery Question.

1t i commonly, and no doubt correctly I'M
derstood, that Mr.. BUcHANAN'is in favor of ad
iusting the territorial slavery question by ex-
tending the Missouri compromise line Of 30
deg and 30 min to the Pacific ocean. But. in
extending the line, is he in favor of an express
recognition by Congress Of the right Of slave
holders to enter and COLOMBO the territory south
Of it? Without such recognition. an adjustment
on the Missouri compromise line is all hum
bug, 50 far as practical results are concerned.
When that compromise took place, all the ter
rtory to which il applied was slave territory
Its adoption IN that case, therefore, was, in ef-
feet. the application Of the principle Of the VIII
line, and Of the principle Of non-inervention to
the territory south of it. Simply 10 extend the
Missouri compromise line through our recent
acquisitions to the Pacific. would in the Ian
guagc of Col. GENrRY. "be 10 enact the vii
mot provso in about four-fifths VI the terrific
~, and leave the residue, south Of that line,
subject 10 the operation of those Mexican laws
which abolished slavery previous 10 our con
quest, and which, according 10 the opinion Of a
large majority Of iurists remain in full force and
effect. ! am aware said he. in continuation
" that gentlemen distinguished for legal learn
ing hold that the Mexican laws are null and
void but whilst this question is undecided by
competent Judicial authority, slavery is as er
fectually excluded as il Congress had prohib-
tied it by express provisions u law. No slave
/ hnld f.Lg hot
try with the certainty Of sublecting himself Ia
a long and expensive lawsuit. that would
most probably evcntuate in the emancipation N
his slaves" This is undoubtedly true The
extension Of the line, therefore. by Congress
TO the Pacific. without abrogatng the Mexican
laws in force there, or opening the territory
south Of the line. by express enactment, to the
introduction Of slaves. would be a mere mock
| cry II would moi be- an adjustment Of the
question upon the principle Of the Missouri
compromise, which principle clearly implies
the right Of the two sections Of the Union Il
spectively assigned 10 them. This, however
is not what Mr.. BUcHANAN means when he
expresses himself as being in favor of the adop.
ton Of the Missouri compromise line. as q
proper mode Of adjusting the present contro.
versy-that is, if we are to Judge. from the fol
lowing extract Of speech made by him in thi,
place. short time previous to the last Pres
dental election:
The Wing party, at the present moment, cal.
eulate upon carrying Pennsylvania by division il
the Democratic party ia regard to the question o
slavery in new Territories In this expectation
] am convinced they will be disappointed Demo
crats will never abandon their principles and IN,
candidates Of their party upon question merely
transient in ts nature, and which. no matter how
il may be decided by Congress, can never produc'
any practical rcsult--can never, in point Of fact
introduce slavery either into California or New
| Mexico.
"For my own part, more than year ago, in
published letter 10 Berks county strongly recon
meuded the settlement Of this question on the an
cient basis Of the Missouri compromise. believe
then that this would best promote the peace snt
harmony Of the Union; and ! have since seen nc
cause to change my opinion. Although still pre-