The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-03-06
/" Gou-aesu CUT RattSe Aamu.' 2,


would resist, in the most emphatic man
ncr, the attempt to make any man who
is now free a slave; but I tcgard them
as too intelligent to believe that hu-
manity, either to the slave or the mas
ter, requires that they should be pcnt
up within territory which, after time,
will be insufficient for thcirsubsistence
and where they must perish from want,
or from the collisions that Fould occur
between the races. Nor can Tsuppose
tnat they think it would be injurious to
New Mexico and California for our pco.
pie to 20 and settle among them.
Prominent northern statesmen, both in
this House and in the Senate, have de-
scribed the population of those Terri.
tories, and have representedi it as being
not only inferior to those Indian tribes
that we know most ofviz: the Cherokees,
and Choctaws, but as being far below
the Flat Heads, Black Feet, and Snake
Indians. cannot, therefore, suppose
that they really believe that those terri
tories would be injured by having in
fused into them such state Of society
rs produces such persons as George
Washington, John Marshall, and thou.
sands of other great and virtuous men,
living and dead. Your opposition to
our right will be regarded as resting
on the lust for political power Of your
politicians, OF Oil the rapucisy of your
people.
The idea that the conquered people
should be permitted to give law to the
eonqGerors, IS SO preposterously absurd,
that do not intend to argue it. Doubt.
less these people would be willing, not
only to exclude shareholders, but all
other Americans, if, by simple vote,
they were allowed to do SO. may
remark further, that but for the anti.
slavery agitation, our southern s.ayehol.
ders would have carried their negroes
into the mines of California in such
numbers, that I have dla doubt bnt that
! the majority there Meuls have made ii
! In slayetnhl q sil, bare been
deprived Al! Eeha4Sc sf Ills hy tlle
northern movements, and by the actor
of this House, which has, by northern
votes, repeatedly, from time to time
passed the Wilmot prcviso. SO as in
effect to exclude our institutions. with
out the actual assage of law for that
purpose. 1t is mere farce, therefore
without giving our people time to &C
INTO the country, if they desire to dc
so, to allow the individuals there. by Q
vote, to exclude whole class of ou,
citizens. This would imply that the
territory belonged to the people there
exclusively, and not to all the people Of
the United States.
Compared with this great question
the abolition of slavery in the Dis,ric,
OF Columbia is Of little relative moment
One effect, however, Of the anti.slavery
agitation here is worthy of passing no
tlce. Within the last two years, since
the matter has become serious, it has
seemed not improbable that the seat Of
government might be removed from the
District. AS this would he extremely
prcjudiclal to the interests of the citi
zcnS here. many CT them have so far
changed in their feelings as to DC willing
to allow slavery to be abolished, yiel
ding to the force of the pressure from
the North; besides, SO many of their
slaves are from time to time trken away
by the adoli'ionists, as to satisfy them
that such propcrty here is almost worth.
less. y great impression was made on
item by tie coming in last year of a
northern ship, aud its CARVING away
seventy slaves at once. Seeing that
there was 40 Chance of getting Con
srcss topass any adequate law for theiI
protection, as most OF the States have
done, they seem to be forced to assent tc
some extent to The northern movement.
Slr, It is most surnrising that the people
OF the southern States should have
borne, with 80 little complaint, the loss
OF their slaves incurred by the action
OF the free States. The Constitution
OF the United States provided for the
delivery Of all such fugitives, and Con
srcss passed an act to carry it into
elect; but recently, most, if not all of
the northern States, have completely
defeated their provisions, by torbidding
any one OF their citizens to aid in the
execution of the law, under the penalty
OF hne and Imprisonment for as long a
term usually as tive years. There is
probably no onc'Icgal mind in any one
OF the free States which can regard
these laws as constitutional. For though
me states alc not bound to lcgislatc
aifirmatlvcly in support of the Constitu.
ton OF the United States, yet it is clear
that thay have no right to pass laws to
obstruct the execution of constitutional
provisions. Private citizens are not
usually bound to be active in execution
OF the law: but IL two n, morn nan,h;na q