The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-11-23

slayeholding States, led on by New England
against the Southern Or slavehOlding States,
has begun 10 partake Of the latter eharaeier.
z Recommended in conflict Of interests, about
manufactures, navigation laws, local aPProPtia-
j, lions, &C., and has ended in war Of exter-
mination against the institution Of domestic
slavery, or inther, against the States in which
The system exists.
The hostility II slavery has now become the
nll-ObsorbIng, all.controlIing element Of POliti-
cal action and party movement, bFth in Con-
gress and throughout the Northern States,
Political parties unite, separate, and are mods
fed with reference 10 il. II is the main ques-
ton in The selection of candidates for all Off
ces. II is the active element Of religious,
benevolent, charitable, and even literary assoc
Citations, and the spiceiwhich seasons private So
ciety. The Constitution OF the United States,
the rights Of The States, the gravcst questions
Of public policy, all are construed ana deter
mined with reference to this question Of do
nestle slavery; and the Congress Of the Uni
ted States, whose powers are limited mainly to
the regulation Of national and external objects,
are now found d%evoting nearly all their time to
subjects Of a domestic nature, over which it
was never intended that they should exercise
jurisdiction.
1t might be interesting to trace the progress
of the abolition, or aBti-slaveIy excitement.
from its small beginnings to its present over
shadowing influence, when it actually sways
the who E machinery Of Federal Government.
But it is sufficient, in this connection, to state
the question as it was, during the last session
OF the Legislature, and TO present forcIbly the
changes which have since occurred,
By the war with Mexico, we had acquired a
vast and valuable territory. Its area is large
enough to constitute fifteen States Of medium
size. A portion of this territory, fronting for
more than 1000 miles upon the Pacific ocean
abounds with good ha bors, which command
the rich Of the Indies, of China,
and of the Southern archipelago. 1t contains
too, within its bosom, inexhnustible beds Of
precious metals. No country ever discovered,
has suddenly presented so many brilliant at
fractions for adventures, and none has risen
into notice with more rapidly. The exclusive
pc session and enjoyment of this vast and
rich territory, soon excited the %avarice and
lust for power of the North, and for a time, all
anti-slavery schemes were merged in the lead
ing one of excluding the South from this pint
possession. The whole force Of the contest
was turned upon this point. The North de-
%terinined TO exclude slavery. The South
seemed equally determined not to submit to
such insulting and unjust discrimination.
The firm and decided position Of the slave
holding states enforced respect, and for q time,
seemed to promise security and protection
against the contemplated outrage. In tho
mean time, while the rival sections maintained
attitude, a deep pol teal intrigue was de-
vised and set on loot, to effect indirectly the
purpose OF excluding the Southern States from
the common territory. The transient and
population which had poured into rhe
were instigated and encouraged to
usurp the sovereign domain of the b.st and
valuable portion Of that country cut Off
the Southern States from all participation
and to demand from Congress the sane
of their Illegal proceedings, and almis- !
sion into the Union as a State. Encouraged (,
by the Federal administration, il the way of
whose political schemes these questions Law as
Stumbling blocks, this stupendous plot to de.
fraud the Southern States by an abuse of the :
to admit new States, not"ithst 1ndIng
its monstrous injustice, was beginning to de- .
veIop its progress during your last session Of
the Legislature, So p%nIpoble did its real pur. :
pose appeal to those who bad closely watched
its progress, that both our Senators in Congress-. :
and all our Representatives, in an official som. 1
municatIon addressed to me, to be laid before :
the Legislature and the people, declared, that
they regarded this measure, the admission OF
Cali ornia, as the Wilmot Proviso in another
1t was too grossly unjust to be urged 4
a measure by itself. Its deformity was TOO i
APPARENT Even IFS principal sponsors did not n
IN the commencement venture to advocate the r
proposition alone. To break the force of the :
blow, and to pOlliatei its effects, they connected 7
1t with other measures, some Of them Obiecg I
%''onabIe, and others practically useless and
immaterial. II was called a compromise, an !
adjustment, and many patriotic men in the :
South were, no doubt, misled BY The false, d
hollow, and deceptive appliances, which were, !
without %scruple, resorted to, to bolster up and /,
sustain it. :
Such was the state Of controversy at the $
period OF The adjournment of our Legislature. e
It was still hoped that the outrage would not e
be cOnsummated; at any rate, the Legislature c
did not think fit to anticipate so important 4 [
con''hgency, bat deemed the precaulion suhi. !
Cinni IN lpava 10 ,u;,b -. -- 4lr fHrH",