The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-01-11

ions and all fanatieism is partial rather thar, com.
plete insanity. People may have very unreasona-
BILE notions of marriage and yet form pretty good
political constitution.
The slavery Question.
We make the following extract from the mes
sage Of Governor Johnson of Pennsylvania, on the
subject of slavery, etc.:
Z" On the application for the admission of new
States into the Union, the subject Of the extension
OF slavery will claim the attention Of Congress-
Our Southern brethren, united by long association
and habit with this institution and depending upon
1t In large degree for their domestic comfort and
commercial advantages, will not willingly allow Of
Its exclusion from territories belonging to the Gen
eral Government. No disturbance is contemplated
OF their relations Herewith, in States where It now
exists Holding their slaves by compromise and
concession, 1t would involve on our part breach of
ialth, and an Interference with the sovereignty Of
sister Republics to iptermeddle with their social
policy, or to controvsrt the legality of their domes
TIC relations. Whatever injury may be inflicted on
Northern interests from the jealouses incident to
the existence OF the institution, and the effort to
prostrate Tree labor sacred regard for our pledged
ialth admonshes us to suffer, rather than attempt
reformation where our authority will not be aeknoy
LEGGED he extension of the evil beyond its pres
ent limits, dlscloses very different feature. The
consent OF the free States of the Union to its fur
ther progress, would evince ignorance Of their
oL the Justice and humanity,
and an indifference to the character and dignity Of
their common country. Where these are implica
ted, 1t Is an abandonment of duty to compromise I"
Governor Thomas of Maryland treats of the
same subject in the following strong terms.
Resolutions of the Legislatures Of the States of
Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, New
Hampshire and Vermont, in relation to the subject
of slavery in the territories of the United States
are herewith transmitted, and will be found to pre-
| sent the true issues between the Northern and
| Southern sections of the u Unon upon-that danger
Gus and threatening question, in manner that
cannot fail to commend itself to your most thought
iul consideration, and to elicit solemn declaration
| oil the policy which Maryland will feel bound to
adopt should choice Of alternatives be precipita-
ted upon her The dark and baleful spirit Of abo-
htionism, which has hitherto contributed so fear
fully to ALLEVIATE the affections of the people Of these
states, to disturb the harmony and 10 endanger the
permanence of the Union, is still progressing in its
mad career, unmindlul of the compromises which
alone impaired vitality to the Constitution, and,
regardless alike Of the admonitio1s of patriotism,
the dictates Of Justice and the equal and ,rndena-
BILE rights of all the members of this confederaey.
Concealing its lust for political power under the
speclous garb OF an enlarged philanthropy, while
luxuriating upon the labor of the slave it wages
unceasing and relentless warfare against the rights
OF his master. What was once considered ant
treated an mpotent faction of wicked or deludet
iorbearance too often Affords has now assumed tn,
character OF a formidable sectional organization
resolved, unless the signs of the times are strangely
deceptive, not only to appropriate to its own exclu
slve use the common property of the United States
but by torcibly depriving the Southern States o
an participation IN its enjoyment, to disgrace anC
| degrade them from an equal rank with the othej
| States of the Union
The constitution of the United States recogni
zes, without limitation, the institution of domestic
slavery, guarantees its existence and vndcates the
right oil the owner to the possession and service OF
the slave and it cannot be doubted that if the
| power, now claimed to be exercised by Congress,
| 10 prohibit the emigration of the people of the
slave holding States, with their property and effects
o all kinds, to any territory owned by the United
states, had been asserted at the time when the
constitution was submitted for ratification TO the
| States, that instrument would not have been
| adopted, nor could the Union have ever been
formed. If the union of the States can only be
preserved by an unconditional surrender of clear
constitutional rights secured to its members, if the
federal government, instead of system of liberty
equality and law, is to be perverted into an engine
OF force, oppression and fraud then, indeed has the
| day arrived when the South at least must pause
in sorrow and anguish, to calculate its value. The
crisis, though impending, is not yet come and the
| evil hour of disunion so much to be denrecated
may, IT is devoutly to be hoped be forever arrested
Non=intervention is all the South has ever asked
and, however reasonable the request, it has been
more than once coldly, if not Indignantly, refused
The time for reason and argument seems "a
have gone by, and the perpetuity of this mighty
republic, with all the countless blessings which Il
is capable Of imparhng, must now rest upon the
firm, united temperate, but determined action o.
the Southern States and, to this end it is believed
TO be the duty of the representatives of the people
OF Maryland to reflect the sentiments of their con
sttuents by the solemn declaration in advance, O
the unalterable determination Of this State in the
event OF the passdge by Congress of the Wilmo
Proviso or any similar scheme, to make common
cause with the South and to resist to the end the
execution of measure palpably violatiye of her
rights and so pregnant with injustice, disgrace and
degradation