The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-11

FtN7 NV Ahfhtfff W VIM NNiA ~ Aft
proposition regarded lin what spiri;
will Il be sccepied, lit is accepted at
oil, by northern menl When wcshall
have answered this inquiry, Il will be
seen whether there IL learcn enough in
this little lnmp 10 IegUeR the whole
loaf.
Mr.. WEBSTER is positive that we can
introduce slaves into the terrific.
W. "rhe laws Of God" he thinks, will
forever forbid it. lie, and those who
60 with him, will not vote for the "pro.
vlso," because 1t is unnecessary. They
are opposed, uncompromisingly oppo>
sed, to the introduction of slaves into
the territories and they are ready to
do anything that may be found ueees-
sary TO keep them out. 1t is easy to
see what they will do, If we commence
Introducing our slaves. They will at
once say, "the laws of God" having
failed us, we must try what virtue
there is in ihefWilmot proviso." Mr..
Clay, and those who fellow him, are
quite certain that "we are already ex-
cluded by the laws Of Mexico" They,
too, are opposed TO the introduction Of
slavery into the territories, and stand
ready 10 see IL excluded. The north
ern men who stand out against the
compromise, insist, and will continue TO
insist, on the Wilmot proviso, as the
only certain guarantee that slavery
will be permanently excluded, All,
all are opposed to our going in with
our slaves, and all arc ready TO employ
whatever means may be necessary 10
keep us out. 1 assert The fact distinct
W and enlphdticaily, that we are told
every day that If we attempt to intro
duce our slaves at any time into New
Mexico or Utah, there will be an i'm
mediate application of the "Wilmot
previso," 10 keep as out. Mark you,
the proposition is TO give territorial
governments to New Mexico and
Utah. These are but congressional
acts, and may be altered, amended, ex>
planned, or repealed, at pleasure.
No one here understands that we
ARE entering into a compact, and no
tncT;hern man votes for this compro.
mise, with the expectation or under.
standing that WI are to take our slaves
! into the territories. Whatever adds
! tional Legislation may be found necos.
sary hereafter to effect our perfect ex-
%clusion, we are given distinctly TO un>
dcrstand will be resortod to.
Put there is yet another difficulty to
be overcome, n more serious obstacle
than either "the laws of God" as Mr..
Webster understands them, or the laws
Of Mexico" as understood by Mr. Clay.
In regard to the first, | think Mr.. Web.
sier Is wholly mistaken, and il he is
not, am willing 10 submit; and in re-
gard to the second, | take the ground,
that when we conquered the Mexican
people, we conquered their laws. But
MI. Clay's bill contains a provision as
prohibitory as the "proviso' ITSELF
The territorial legislature Is denied the
right to legislate at all in respect to
African slavery. If a masters slave
%absconds, no law can be passed by
which he may ocove him. II he is
MANNED, he can have no damages for
the injury. If he is decoyed from his
service, or harbored by a vicious
neighbor, he is without remedy. A
community "a shareholders may desire
TO make laws adapted to their peeul-
lar wants In this respect, but Congress,
by this compromise Of Mr.. Clay's, de
MES them the right TO do 50. They
shall not legislasc in regard to African
slavery. What now becomes of the
hypocritical cant about the right ofthe
people to regulate their own affairs in
their own wayf
With these facts before us, il be-
comes us to inquire how much we give
and how much we take in voting for
Mr.. Clay's bill. We admit California,
and, being nee in, the question is set.
tied SO far as she is concerned. We
can never get her any by any process
short of a dissolution of the Union
We give up a part of pro-slavery Tex.
as, and we give il beyond redemption
and forever. Our part of the bargain
is binding. Our follies may rise up and
mock us in after times, but we can ne>
yer escape their effects. This much
we give ; now what do we takel We
get Il government for New Mexico and
Utah, without the Wilmot proviso, but
with a declaration that we are exclu.
ded already by the idus Of God and
the Mexican nation" OF get it with a
prohibition against territorial logisla.
lion on the subject of slavery, and with
a distinct threat constantly hanging
ever Us that If we attempt to Introduce
slaves against these prohibitions, the
-Wilmot proviso" will be instantly ap-
piled for our more efiectual exclusion.
Such is the compromise. Such is
ahe nr0npSpd bargain EoA, von cul