The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-30
TIE UNION.

who labor-the merchant. the csptalist-all who pay
iaxes- interested in excluding the cored population.
contact with Ignorant mpoyiden inferior race. with
whom il is politically and physically impossible for the
The eamor raised and he alarm intended 10 be created
against what is termed the slave power and against slave
territory, have ever appeared TO TO be quite useless
for good There is no such thing in our government as
the saye power and such power exists in any way,
further than that similarity Of interests OF common
danger may produce concert OF action 10 protect SINH
lar rights The slave interest," far as political power
is concerned as intangible that OF the landed inter-
es the moneyed interest. or the commercial interest
The fact that in the compromises of the constitution the
slave population, on the restricted RATIO ingredient
the basis OF representation without possessing itse
political power, is really in derogalon of slave power
and is surely no more obnoxious TO censure than that
women, children, aliens, and panpers ingredients in
the basis OF representation, without the right Of voting
themselves. IA tt 9i A
Then. again. the effort to exclude slavery from the
Territories by act OF Congress 10 have had
Importance attached to II than Il merits. We admit the
right In the States Of the Union TO manage their local
aairsn their own wayto define the rights, duties and
obligations OF their residents; and why not yield this
right this common sense principle, to the people who
settle the Territoriesto these who Immediately il
not exclusively interested In these regulations The OBJ
ects proposed to be attained BY the Wlmo, Provso are
to prevent The increase OF slaves, and to improve their
condition by combining slavery TO its present geographical
limits. But the present slave territory is capable OF sus
tanning ten times the present slave population and hence
the proposed measure would have little effect for many
generations to come in checking the increase oil slaves
as TO the moral right OF restraining BY legal regulations
the natural increase OF this branch Of the human family
and surely y can hardly be expected to improve the con-
dinon Of the slaves by pack ing them closely
Much has been written Of the alleged cruel treatment
OF the slaves to awaken for political effect the tender
es, sympathcs OF the human heart; and no doubt there
cases Of cruel oppression but which il is not
right our business Don Quixoe like, to attempt
relieve But after all, here stands the great prominent,
sred',abs TACT that, while other sayenodns countries
and of hard labor and ill usage by fresh and
nued imporlalions from Africa. the coored population
of the United States during than forty years
importation have increased since the declaration Of in.
dependence, some tour-loda conclusive proof that in
the main they are well used.
Immediate emancipation, if il could be effected with the
consent OF the masters, the free negro population
naming with the white, it is believed would coniuce 10
the benefit OF neither race--he white nor the black
The capacity OF the negro race for high state OF inn
provement and civilization remains TO be tested. TIE
negro has been in contact with the white since the
Bible times without Improving his condition, or advancing
his country the scale oil civilization lie
TO have made progress in Africa in three thousand
years and is question whether he has not al
ained in servitude higher state OF civilization Than
he could have reached in Africa from his innate
resources alone. The ways of Divine Providence
are often insrrutabe to the human eye; and time
may yet show that this system Of slavery is but a
state Of probation and preparation OF the black race Tor
higher political and social condition; u may yet prove
that by extensively colonzing coored population 10
from barbarsm-may become civilized and
and that the amazing but yet dormant OF that
segment Of the earth be brought 10 light and be de-
veoped for the good OF the hunan races.
At any rate, high and imperative duty, wise and
sound policy, demand OF the ulflmen OF all
sutional obligations Every attempt TO evade these OBJ
legations, resist the laws for enforcing them, should be
frowne downrepressed by the irresistible force OF pub
lie opinion. The alr fabric OF government, gio
rous Uniongoous Tor the good has done and The hap
pnessi still promises the hope Of the world
be sustained al all hazards; and, for pre-
pared to make this the paramount political object superior
to party ties, above local and personal considerations
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID HENSHAW
Hon. FRANCIS C. GRAY, and the committee.