The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-18

the Constitution has left undsr the exclusive con.
troll Of municipal Legislation
am aware Of the diversity of opinion which
exist in reference to reee measures Of Con-
gress for the adjustment of the territorial ques-
tiors to which have adverted. Men, animated
by the same sentiments and principles, differ
honestly in opinion rs to the precise effect of
some Of those measures. Time will solve every
doubt 1t has appeared to me that these diver
sites OF opinion call for the exercise of mutual
federation and forbearance. cheerfully accord
to our representatives, who differed as to the
best means OF terminating the contest, equal
credit for recttude and patriotism The nature
of the question made it impossible that the views
of all should be gratiied We may well rejoice
in the admission of California as free State.
In some respects, the territorial bills, and the
terms of settlement with Texas, did not accord
with my wishes and opinions. But we must ae-
quiesce in the constitutional action Of Congress,
rs we acquie ced in the annexation of Texas
and the treaty with Mexico ...... .
yield the more cheerfully, in the confident
hope that the people of New Mexico, who have
already declared against the introduction of
slavery, will in due tire come forward and sue
cessfuly assert their right to admission into the
the Union asa free State. Opposed, asI ha, ever
been, and always shall be, to the extension of
slavery, trust the future action of the Govern
ment will be such rs to produce no new con-
ficts involving the assertion of this principle
1t is a principle which pervades the Northern
mind, and our Southern friends must not ask
our people to renounee it, May we not hope,
then, that the rapacious spirit, of conquest which
opened the fountains of bitterness and aiscord,
may be arrested; that our Government will
pursue genial and conservative policy in future;
and that the friends of the Union the wise,
the rational and patriotic everywhere - will
unite to resist all wild schemes of extension,
which may threaten to reproduce the dangers
from which the country has been rescued
In surveying the measures of Congress con-
nected with the slavery question, we should re-
joice in the prohibition of the slave trade in the
District of Columbia. / hail this as a great
measure of patriotism and humanity It re-
moves from the Capital traffic which shocked
the sentiments of the people, and brought re-
proach upon our national character.
should be wanting in candor if omitted to
say that deplore the passage of the fugitive
slave law, in its present form. Recognizing to
the fullest extent the constitutional obligation
which it is intended to enforce, regret the fea-
lures of this bill which are calculated, not to ar
rest agitation, but to make it more intense and
universal. 1t could not have been well consider
gu ana neeuS eSScuIlI IUOQllCatlOHS. lie Sulll-
mary operation of its provisions conflicts with
all our notions of personal right and security,
derived from the common law and recognized
by every free constitution.
So then the united Wing party of New York,
not the Sewardites alone, is to 60 for essential
notifications Of the fugitive slave law, which as
| it stands is "not calculated to arrest agitation
but to make it more intense and universal
! They rejoice in the abolition of the slave trade
in the District" the removal from the Capitol
of traffic which shocked the sentiments of the
people, and brought reproach upon our national
character" -and they are opposed to the future
extension of slavery. at is principle phich
perrades the Northern mind, and our Southern
friends must not ask our people to renouncc IT,"
Thus perish the straws and shadows and
and pretences of the Compromise, which the
Southern submissionists have relied on. They
! have conceded California law, which they now
insist is irrepealable. They have conceded a
Texas law, which if acceptable to Texas, is
equally irrepealabe. They have conceded the
abolition of the slave trade in this District,
which there is no adequate vote to repeal. And
in return for all this, they have New Mexico and
Utah territorial laws, and Fugitive slave law
the repeal of all which is inevitable-if they are
found to be effective.