The southern press., 1850-08-31

violation oil the OOnStitutOn. III u uis-
elimination which the friends Of the Constr
: tuition can never sanction--a distinction which
the friends of social equality, and government
! impartiality, can never agree to--a ban OF
prescription, to which the rights, honor, and
safety Of the South can never permit her to
consent or submit. And, yet, if this provi-
sion Of the bill should be adopted, such must
be its operation This, no mln can fail to
see. 1t is silent as to ell other kinds OF
property-leaving them, as they properly
are recognized, and entitled to be protected
whe ever they may be.
But in regard to this particular kind-an
interest so vital to the South, making spe-
cal and express provision that il shall be
neither recognized nor protected-that "no
law shall be passed in respect 10 IL -
The next point in this connection, upon
which would remark. is the position as
sumed by Mr. Clay and his followers on
this subject, that slauery does not noto erist
in the territory tce hare acquired from Mer
ico and cannot layfully be Carried there, ,tcith-
out cypress legislation for The purpose =
This position is extraordinary enough, when
we consider that the territory has been ac-
| quired by the common means and common
exertions Of all the people Of all the States
means and exertions which the people Of the
slaveholding States, and the slaveholders
i themselves, contributed as freely and as
largely as any others even more freely and
more largely In this view alone, repeat,
the position must, in the eye OF reason and
/ equal rights, seem neutrality-suspicious.
/ e e., VII ord arxy
in the nvidious distinction which it draws
between similar rights in dife ent States
But if it be extraordinary and Objectionable
4 in this view, what shall we think oft for the
\ reason ~ upon which it rests 1t rests,
says Mr.. Clay and his followers, upon the
ground that, before we acquired the territory
The Lurs of Merico had abolished slarery,
/ AND THOSE LAWS ARE STILL IN FORCE -
! The laws of Mexico still in force in this ter
ritory, in derogation and denial Of the rights
Of those who first won it with their arms, and
then bought it with their money, ito the in
jury and exclusion of those to whom it be-
longs by the double title Of conquest and of
purchase It might not seem becoming in
one so humble and obscure as myself, to say,
\ and therefore j will not, as others have said,
that such position is absurd. Yet ! do
think it is utterly unfounded in justice or
sound sense And do not stand alone in
this opinion. When, to the amazement Of
many, and really believe Of most in the
Senate, this position was there assumed, Mr.
CALHOUN at once pronounced it to be Soon
summate folly" Other distinguished sena-
tors have since denied its truth, and exposed
its weakness. Mr.. BERRIEN, in his able
and elaborate speech, in the Senate, Feb
ruary ll:h and l2ta, speaking on this point,
says:
Unquestionably, Mexican laws on the
same subject, with whatever authority they
may have been enacted while California and
New Mexico were part Of the Mexican
:. Republic, ceased instantly upon their trans
fer to the United States to have any opera
tion or effect" ,aaaa q
And Mr.. SouLE, in his admirable and
conclusive speech in the Senate, May 81,
has SO thoroughly analysed and exposed
alike its essential character and necessary
results, as to ensure it's certain and everlast-
| ing condemnation So well has he per-
formed this useful task, that am sure
cannot here perform a better or more ac-
ceptable service than to quote his own clear,
forcible, and eloquent words. Hear him !:
81 would now call the attention of the
Senate to so much of the remarkable speech
Of the honorable senator from Kentucky (who
opened the debate upon the report and bill
of the committee) as relates to the Mexican
laws prohibiting slavery, remaining in force
4 in the ceded Territories. With the senator's
usual manliness and candor, he avowed that
. unless he had been convinced that the Mexi-
can laws prevailed in the Territories, and
that, by virtue thereof, slavery had no ex-
istence or protection there, he could never
have brought himself to cast his vote in favor
of the Territorial bill as it stands. Hewent
further; and ask the deliberate attention
of Southern senators to the prophetic warn
ings he put forth. He not only announced
his opn conpiction that these laws remained
in force there; but, while we were Aattering
ourselves that quite a different conviction
might be wrought in due season in a certain
quarter, he ventured the imposing announce
ment that vast majority, not only of the
people, but of the jurists of these States,
concur with him in opinion upon that ques-
ton. Well, sir, if that be t case--f it is
gravely announced by one whose own opin-
ions always carry with them SO much weight
and WELD so much influence, that vast
majority Of the j,rists Of the country are al
ready with him upon this important consti-
tutional and legal issue-how can the honor
able senator as us Of the South to vote with
| him, and in the way of compromise, too,
| implying an acknowledgements of the present
existence there, (and if not there, power
in Congress to put them there,) Of prohibit
tory laws against the institution of slavery,
which are absolutely odious to us, and which
the tenth section Of this bill not only recog-
nizes, but renders irrepealable'
ask every Southerner who listens to me,
how he can vote for this bill without virtually
conceding poWer in Congress to impose
the Wimoi-propiso upon these Territories,