The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-15

it, nor bought it, nor possessed it, She had not ac
quired by any OF the ordinary modes oil acquiring
property or dominion over people or countries
She made herself title by act Of her own Legisla-
ture, our Government acquiesced In II, maintained
il by the sword, and finally became estopped from
disputing its validity Much Of IL was inhabited
by an ignorant mbecile half civilized mixed race,
hostile to and despised by the Texans. These peo-
pie claimed 70 be entitled to protection against the
rights of Texas under the treaty OF Guadalupe Hi
dago The pretension, in my judgment, was ILL
founded, but ii had numerous formidable and zeal
Gus supporters Under this state of facts the bound
airy bill introduced and passed by which Texas
offered ten millions OF dollars for cession 10
the United States of her right to the soil. and juris-
diction Of considerable portion of this country.
Ii Texas accepts it, as hope she will, the contract
will be complete and a difficult and dangerous
question will have been honorably adjusted This
measure, proper in itself, generous 10 Texas,
so necessary TO the peace OF the country, ID vio
lenly assailcd by the malcontents under the pre-
text that it surrcnder5 vast number of acres of
slave territory 10 free soil The complaint is with
out the least foundation. IL includes the admission
that the country coded belongs 10 Texas, and IL
now slave territory. grant IL; but how does in
cluson In the limits Of the territory OF New Mexico
make ii free soil
The grant is not accompanied by any prohibition
of slavery, and there ia no such prohibition in the
bill for the territorial government Of New Mexico
The Mexican laws against slavery cannot affect 1t
if il belongs to Texas, but the Texas laws in favor
OF slavery can, and do fix It's character, and the
transfer 10 the United States will not alter It, But
80 far from the objection being well founded, the
South is the actual gamer by the transfer. ny one
OF the resolutions annexing Texas to the United
States, il is stipulated that Texas may be divided
into States, and II is expressly provided that slave
ry shall be forever prohibited in such state az may
be formed out of that part OF Texas lying north OF
500 3d. But by cedng that part Of Texas to New
Mexico, it is placed under the law OF that Terri
tory, which, as have before shown, permits 1t to
come into the Union with or without slavery, as
10 dot
slavery imposed by the compact OF annexation ID
removed and the Wilmot proviso, for the first time
in the history Of our Government, ia actually re-
pealed The South has, therefore, not only recov
cred the great principle compromised away in
1920 but she has placed under Its Just operation a
tract OF country nearly as large as South Carolina
in which slavery was forever prohibited by the
compact of Texan annexation. j do not say that
slavery will ever go there, but do assert that all
legal impediments, both 10 its entry and contnu-
ance there, are removed,a great principle is sus-
tanned, and truth ID indicated by the measure
complained of.
Another important consequence springs out OF
this annexation of part Of Texas TO the Territory
of New Mexico; slavery is established by the mu-
nicipal laws of Texas the country ceded by her re
tains this municipal law, II contains nearly the
whole of the civilized inhabitants of the Territory.
In that large portion of California which is now en-
braced within the limits of the territorial govern
ment of New Mexico, il is believed there does not
reside single civilized man of any nation or colo
ny; the extensive valley Of the Colorado, which Is
supposed to be the most valuable Tor agricultural
purposes of all the country acquired from Mexico,
has not even been explored; there never was
any organized Mexican government established
over il; therefore, admitting the Mexican law
against slavery to obtain de jHs, in that extensive
country, different law prevails In the civilized
portions coded by Texas The two different laws
upon the same subject cannot EXIT in the same
territory of the United States. In this conflict OF
laws the law of the civilized must prevail over the
law of the savage portion Of the inhabitants; hence
the municipal law of Mexico, existing at the time
of the conquest that portion Of the country oc
cupied by savages, must give way 10 the Inunlci-
pal laws of Texas, existing at the time OF the ces-
sion, over the civilized portion. Besides, the Con
situton and laws of the United States, not totally
inapplicable, extended over the whole territory
and there is section in he New Mexican Terrific
rial bill declaring that no citizen OF the United
States in said Territory shall be deprived OF hit
| life, his liberty, his property, except by the
| Judgment of his peers and the laws Of the land.
These are the main features in the territorial bills
having any relation to slavery. Utah ID inhabited
| by that sing ular and remarkable people called
! Mormons the form of government presented by
them to Congress silent upon the subject OF
African slavery but is understood that 1t already
exists among them, and ia protected by their laws
| Under this state of facts, and because these pro-
visions were in the territorial bils, and because
prohibitory provisions not in them, voted fo
| them. They may remove all legal impedimenti
to the introduction and enjoyment OF slave proper
~ in the territories. believe such will be the eli
|
which embraces a much greater portion OF the &C
QUESTION, both in extent and value, than hes sout
Of SO deg 30 min, and therefore, taken alone, lie
| better division for us than the Missouri Compro
mise line 1t will be the effect in both New Mexico
| and Utah, If there be particle OF truth In tn
constitutional opinions OF those who have Tor TIVE
| years made war on me for demanding legislation
| and who have heretofore denied, and still deny tn
existence and validity Of any Mexican law agains
slavery. Even though such may be the effect Of
these bills, preferred direct repeal oil the Mex
can law, and direct legislation for the protection
and safety oi slave property IN the territories, ant
voted for, and endeavOred to obtain such legisla
! ton. preferred IL because IL would have been al
open, direct, and practical assertion OF our righ
| to legal protection, and the duty OF the Fedora
| Government 10 give that protection 70 our slave
| property wherever its jurisdiction was exclusive
| and paramount. IL would have removed all doubu
| and Quoted all fears upon the subject. IL would
have condemned and repudisted that political here
| sy called non-intervention, where adoption by tn
South will forever settle the question of slavery
| tension against her, and will finally achieve thu
bloody exodus of slavery itself from it, prcsen
| limits.
| Some well. meaning and patriotic men tell us &
cling TO non Intervention our only safety, be
cause, ii VIC concede the power To Congress 10 le
gisate for our protection, Il will lcgisate for the
destruction Of our property. II this be true, thos'
who are now for secession arc right, and ought q
secede. We are invited 10 commit the gigantic
folly Of discharging Government from the duty
Of protecting us in the enjoyment Of our property
Which was the main object Of its creation, and rem
der our system almost the only one for its oontinu
ance, because, unless We do, IL will destroy IL.
have never heard better reason given for a reyo
luton in any age country. II admits that th'
Government is incapable Of discharging the frs
and highest duty Of every political systom. Thi
admitted inoapacity OF the Government to die
charge the duty Of protection 20 the citizen, # true
abrogntes the obligation Of allegiance, and make
revolution a duty. But hold that this assumption
il not yet proven, and We should continue 70 ADM
the right 10 legslao for protection, and 70 dc
msnd tie exercise whenever and wherever ncCo5sa
ry, until IL shall be used against ne then Il will b
time 10 protect ourselves. We, together with th'
rect Of the people Of the United States pay ~ leas
thirty millions for the protection Of the property
the people; We spend ten millions per annum 10
n navy ~ watch and protect IL from every DANCE
in every sea VIC spend near ten millions more 70
an army - be used Tor the same purpose "
spend other ten millions in sending ministers an
Commercial agents all over the world, and in othe
incidental charges incurred for its security an
protection yet VIC told that, Of all tlo.items
material wealth owned and possessed by our pee
pie, slaves alonc-which are greater in yslu
than all tic rect besides that We possoss-shall b
put out Of the protection Of the laws aud undcr On
law Of the republic. The reason given for this is
fanciful and absurd as The position is unsound.