The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-12


all Ahose favorable 10 the object contemplated in
The call HiH be in attendance.
The Prospect.
We said in our last, that if the present bills in
progress through Congress pass, and the South
ern States submit, the non-slavcholding States
can in six years amend the Constitution, do
away with the three-fths basis Of representation,
and abolish slavery; and that, too without as
Stunning any new position or principle, or any
which has not received the sanction of one branch
of Congress. We stated that we could prove
this position by plain mathematical reasoning,
and fair deduction from the principles assumed
by our enemies.
We are aware that many will be startled Mt
this statement and that the public mind is not
fully awake to the real dangers which threaten
US.
When propositions for compromise and tad
ustment were made in the United States Sen
ate and advocated by Southern mon, the contid-
ing spirit of the Southern people induced many
to believe that those propositions contained
something tangible and substantial, and that a
way would be opened by which the slaveholding
States would be enabled to participate in some
degree, at least, in the advantages to lie derived
from the vast territories conquered from Mexico.
These delusions are dispelled and the stern
truth is forced upon all, that the whole of the
territories Of the United States are devoted to
Free-sosm.
We have laid before our readers the opinions
Of Mr.. CLAY, Mr., WEBSTER, Mr. BADGER, Mr..
ATcnlsoN, and others, on this subject, but as
we wish this matter to be well understood, we
will give the evidence of Mr. CHASE. which is
conclusive. That gentleman said in the United
States Senate:
at has been said here, on every side of the
chamber, that every fo't Of the soil which the
United States acquired from Mexico will be
free soil Senators from the South have urged
it, and Senators from the North have not denied
it,"
This matter is hardly debateabIe If Cali
fornia is admitted, all inducement for il slave
holder to move to any of the territories is taken
away. Can any man point to single indivi-
lu"i "ho SoiitShPlatSo LioNlIS Will iiS HepTOcS
to New Mexico or Utah ?
1t may be said that the Wilmot Proviso is
not attached to the territorial bill in the Serate
That is so. But it is expressly understood that
sary; it is not abandoned.
There were but thirty-fivo votes on that
measure; Northern Senators absenting them
selves to avoid passing it. And why? They
feel sure of the territory without it, but they
will pass it, if there is the least necessity there
for.
The Mexican laws are arrayed against us the
people of the territory have been melted to de-
clare against slavery; the territorial bill gives
the writ of "habeas corpus' to the slaves, and
the Judges are TO be appointed by President
adverse to the South and, finally, if it were
necessary, a State government would be formed
before sufficient number of shareholders could
60 into New Mexico to have any influence in
the formation Of a constitution. Who will 20
there!
We assume, then, the position, that there is
not the least probability that another slave
holding State will ever be admitted into this
confederacy
1t will be years before there will BE- popula-
ton sufficient to divide Texas, and, at this time,
a majority of the North are opposed to carrying
out the compact of annexa,ion
Necessary to our argument is Il correct I'M
Outstanding Of the present relative political
strength Of the slaveholding and nom slavehold-
ing States.
There are sixteen non-slavcholding States
and fourteen saveholding States. The former
have thirty-two votes in the United States Sen
ate and the latter twenty. eight. In the lower
house Of Congress the Northern majority is up
wards Of forty, and it is supposed that, by the
census now taking, it will reach between sixty
and seventy.
But this should be borne in mind, that tb
strength of the North is entire, whilst that of the
South is divided. There are four slaveholding
States which are tending to abotionism, and in
which it is not considered rcprehensible for their
representatives to act in conjunction with the
enemies of slavery. Bullet the present measures
pass, and the South submit thereto, and it will
be evident to all that the fate of slavery is sealed
it will no longer be considered honorable to be
attached to slaveholding State, and aboltionism
will make rapid progress in the doubtful States
Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina and Mis-
souri, are already considered lukewarm, in our
cause, and there are those who, from the course
...E q.
Of New Orleans, are deceived as to the true posi-
ton Of Louisiana. Inc .s. ,seegn ~
We look at things practically. The political
power is in the hands of the North, Northern
man is in the Presidential chair, ard there is not
the least probability that there will ever be an