The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-01-12
From The N. o. BuRstin.
Georgia..

The following resolutions have been
introduced into the Legislature of Geor.
! gia, on the subject Of the present excl.
ting questions connected with the subject
of slavery.
With some OF the principles Of the
resolutions, we fully agree, but to some
we cannot give our assent.-We agree
with the doctrine that Congress has no
power to prohibit slavery in auy State or
Territory, but we equally deny the
doctrine that Co gress has the power to
establish it in either; the right TO eslab-
lish or prohibit, remains exclusively with
The people Of the State or Territory, and
there we wish to see tbat power lett un-
disturbed by the action of Congress.
We consider it monstrous doctrlne TO
assert. that Congress has the power to
establish slavery in a State or Territory
against the wishes Of the people, and
particularly where it does not already
exist, but on the contrary, where II IS
already prohibited by the existing laws.
Congress has no more power TO say that
slavery shallexlst lnNew Mexico or Gal.
lornla, than to say that il shall exist in
Massachusetts or Pennsylvania, and 1t
likewise has no more right to prohIb'
1t 1t lhele than 10 prohibit it In Virgin
ia or Louisiana. When the question was
first stated as regards slavery IN these
new territories, we thought that the
Southern doctrine was fully understood
and proclaimed and that it was TO be a
strict non-interven'ion on the part OF
Congress on the subject, leaving the
people OF the territories to settle the ques-
ton as to them might seem best. Our
memory has strangely deceived US If
Ihls was not the footing on which Mr..
Calhoun declared in the Senate it ought
to be placed, but we are unable at pres
ent TO refer TO the debates Of that period,
to know if our impressions are correct.
But now it appears by the resolutions
introduced into the Legislature Of Geor-
gIa, tho right Of the people of California
TO form aconstitution prohibiting slavery
is denied, and although every man, wo,
map and child there may be opposed to
the institution, yet if congress agrees to
accede 10 this their unanimous desire, it
is TO be considered as just cause for the
dissolution Of the Union! We cannot
subscribe to any such creed, nor do we
believe that a majority can be found 10
support it any one Southern State, no
not even in South Carolina.
All our territory west Of the Missis.
sippi'was acquired by purchaser under
the treaty Of 1903, for the cession Of
Louisiana and according to the fourth
o. the following resolutions, the right is
claimed for the South to carry their
slaves iato that portion Of this purchased
territory consisting Of Iowa, Minnesota,
and NSbraski, and to hold them and
their descendants there forever, as
slaves contrary to the constitution Of the
former Stass, and the laws Of the two
latter terrNsries! Is there any one re-
ally prepared to assert or Justify this
claim, and to say that a refusal on the
part of that State, and territories. to ac-
knowledge it, is cause for dissolving
the Union!
The whole question, however is an
abstract one. There is no practical
bearing in it, for from the FIRST, no one
could seriously have expected that the
present people Of these new territories
or the population that would emigrate
into them from other sections Of the
Union, would agree to the admission Of
slavery. Neither the climate nor the
general circumstances of the country
render it necessary, and the feelings,
habits and laws, are all opposed to 1t.
Under these circumstances is it not per.
feclly Quixotcal 10 attempt getting up
an excitement and camor which can
have no good result, as it can be ques-
tion to wAssh there can be not only an
unanimous opposition in all the free