Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-03-09

Letter 10 He Hon. UiHidm y. .NelS0n, .nenlOcr
Of The House Of Representatives..
New YoRK, 1lth February, 1850.
M Deu Sir AS one of your immediate
constituents, permit me TO express TO you
INV views on the resolutions lately submitted
to the Senate by Mr.. Clay. They are skill
fully drawn, and their true import seems to
me TO be generally misunderstood, and in
many instances, Intentionally misrcpresented.
Various considerations combine to render
these resolutions acceptable TO that class OF
our northern politicians, who arc anxious TO
be popular at home, without iorleiing their
share of the patronage which is dispensed
at Washington, by the slave power The
resolutions are eight in number, and will
examine them in their order.
|. This proposes the admission of Califor-
MIA as State, without the imposition by
Congress of any restriction on the subject of
Slavery, with suitable boundaries" These
words imply that the present boundaries are
unsuitable, and must be altered. Let me
now call your attention to the true reason for
tis reservation about boundaries, and re-
speeding which the resolution is silent Du-
ling The war, and before the cession of any
66ter TORY, the House Of Representatives pass
.-eo tfe WiImot Proviso, prohibiting Slavery
in all the territory that might be acquired.
On this, the south, with one voit G, declared
that they would not submit TO the exclusion
of slavery south of 36o 30'. The legisla-
ture of Alabama resolved that they would
not recognize "any enactment of the federal
government which has for It's object the pro-
hibition of slavery in any territory to be ac-
quired by conquest or treaty SOUTH of the
line of the Missouri compromise" At u
public meeting in Charleston, and at which
believe Mr.. Calhoun was present, il was re-
solved that il would be debasing and dishon-
orable to submit to the prohibition of slavery
"beyond what is already yielded by the Mis-
souri, compromise" and innumcrabe have
been the offers and efforts of southern poll
ticians TO extend the compromise line TO the
Pacific. Hence il is not the exclusion of
slavery in California to the north of that line,
that offends the south, and TO admit this anti
slavery state, bounded on the south by 80 ,
30, is doing no more than what the south
has consented should be done, aud is in no
sense n compromise. But the free state of
California extends south of this line, and
hence her southern boundary is unsuitable,
and hence Mr.. Clay's resolution makes ta-
cit provision for depriying the state of so
much Of her territory as his southern friends
have resolved shall not be consccrated to
freedom. Mr.. Foote, of Mississippi, observ-
ed in relation to this very resolution, 81 see
no objection to admitting all California dbope
the line of 36 30 into the Union, provided
another new slave state be laid off within
the present limits of Texas" To this laying
off another new slave state, Mr.. Clay's COM
promise opposes 10 obstacle Had Mr..
Clay proposed the admission of California
with dts present boundaries" his offer would
so far have been compromise, as to con-
cede something TO freedom ms considera-
ton for the surrender of the Wilmot Proviso.
SECOND RESOLUTION.
2. The next resolution declares that "as
slavery does not erist by lar, and is mol likely 10
be introduced" into any of the conquered ter
ritories, they should be organized under ter
Titorial governments, without any restriction
on the subject of slavery. The proposed as
sertion by Congress that slavery does not ex-
ist by lac in the territories, is hailed as an
all sufficient balm TO the consciences of those
who recoil with horror at the idea of heing
in any degree responsible for the extension
of human bondage. And what, let me ask,
is this declaration, but the enunciation of q
bald truism? We all know there is no law,
Mexican or American, recognizing slavery
in the territories Mr. Clay adroitly avoids
drawing any inference from this acknowl-
edged fact, but expects that the good people
of the north will draw for themselves the in
ference, that because slavery does not exist
by law, therefore it is prohibited by law
Property in elephants does not exist by la,t
in New York, but still il exists, because il is
not prohibited by law. Mr. Clay well knows
that Mr.. Calhoun and the great mass of the
shareholders contend that IN The absence of q
prOhibitory lac, men, women, and children
as well as horses and sheep, may be held n,
property in any territory ofthe United States
and this doctrine Mr.. Clay himself nowher,
denies. Nay, further, Mr.. Calhoun insists
and believe truly, that slavery neUer hG
been established By Lal0 in any cOuntry-tha
gjlv property in man has been acquired, then