The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-08

From IN. southern Banner, tszr.3 July 90. i
ArHrss, Gal July IS, 1850
III; Howell Corr winch sSss's sss s ss 'sS
WIN, H. HULL
~ WAsHrHcros crry. nth July, 1859
DEAR Having received number Of letters asking
my opinion on the various propositions which have been
suggested for the settlement OF the slavery question
have determined. in reply TO your letter. make this
communication as an answer to them all.
L. Ss s Sf
ties. il Is necessary that we should consider their origin
and progress brief analysis Of these points will aid
object Is, az il should be- the eucdaion Of truth DO
propose go further back in our history than the
QUESTION OF our Mexican Territories, although review OF
the annexation of Texas and the which led TO
the war which resulted in these acquisitions, would not
be wholly uninstructiye in the investigation In my anx
iey 70 economics time, shall forego any disposition
duge in the train of reflections which this branch OF the
subject would naturally suggest i is a duty which
leave il where they have placed it. ~
When the war with Mexico was brought TO close,
found ourselves the result OF that memorable con-
fict, the owners Of vast territory, almost wholly un-
peoped, and represented abound in mineral and other
resources which were likely. with its other natural ad
ysnages to renderi!s settlement and future policy an
sections OF the Union As diversified the charac-
interests, and preudices OF peoescaitered over
preudices. and educated with thoughts. feelings, and
passions the SOIL climate and habits OF
extended domain would naturally produce il was yet
found that there existed but element Of discord which
likely to have any material effect in the adoption Of
the proper policy to be pursued in reference to this
and vast addition 70 our territorial limits
il is hardly necessary TO say that the institution oil Al
can slavery in the southern States constituted this only
element The people of the South. with unparalleled
unanimty, asserted their rg, under the guarantees and
provisions Of the constitution to remove into these COM
Territories the purchase Of their blood and treasure,
with their brethren Of the North, and to carry
with them their slave property just as the people OF other
sections OF the Union could remove with their property Of
any other character The North, on the other hand assert
ed that was ,heir rght and dry prevent ne settlement
power claimed by them to reside in the Congress Of The
United States. They declared that Congress had the
power and should exercise il, TO pass laws prohibiting
the people Of the South from emigrang to that country
with their slaves. Such law was proposed, and has
been urged from that day % the present me with all the
power and influence winch fanatca zeal and sectional
prejudice could bring to bear In its favor This law is
known to the country under the familiar title Of the Viii
mot object and PURPOSES being such Y
principles which the two sections Of the country had ar
rayed against each other-the South declaring her
SoE the same aaa s sa at sCSfh her e
stiatonal right and duty TO prevent BY congressional
This controversy, thus begun, raised the question Of
the constitutional rights Of the South in relation this
matter. The South, with conscious confidence in the
constitutional right which she asserted repndated the
idea that Congress was the proper forum before whom
this issue was to be tried She would not recognise in
Congress constitutional arbite Of her rights, under that
solemn compact which holds together and prescrbes
our various duties and relationships under the federal
government aud therefore firmly resolved not TO submit
amey to such Judgment as Congress might see fit to pass
OF those rights which she declared TO be solemnly guar
antied to her by the constitution Of the country.
II is not necessary for the purposes of this invesga
ner for the Constitutional ascertanment OF these rights
Il is sufficient know that the South denied to Congress
the sSesel:s Of any such power i was thus then aa
NORTH utterly denying that the constitution conferred
any power upon Congress either to exclude from the
common Territories OF the Union, 10 decide upon
constitutional RICH, in regard TO them We asked no recog
milton Of the frs principle laid down AZ the hands OF
eongress-for thai would have involved US in the alb
sury of seeking congressional action at the very time
that we denying the power TO act but dad demand
conformity 10 the second position which we assumed and
that was that Congress- could not and should BY its
legislation or in other words, by the adoption OF the
Wilmot Provso, exclude from participating in the set
clement OF these Territories with properly OF every
description. 4
gave prompt and satisfactory response With us, they
denied the power which had been claimed for Congress
egslaie the subjects with us they regarded the peo-
pie upon whose happiness and prosperity such Legislation
10 operate more III and appropriate tribunal for
the decision Of 90 momenous question the nature
and character OF the laws and institutions under which
they were to live AT what time this power could be
properly exercised by the people OF the Territories was
point upon which diversity OF opinion existed but all
agreed IN uenynk cxbtcnCc III Sonkfcoo. SOutu
and portion Of the North being thus agreed upon the
great point nj ssueto wit: that Congress could not
additionally tegats upon the sass-we very naturally
set to work agree upon bas of action We erected
platform conormable to our agreed opinions that plat
form was NORTHUMBERLAND and powerfully
pressvs of the principle II intended TO represent
Those northern statesmen who thus noby and generous
" responded constitutional demands took upon
themselves the discharge Of labor and duty OF ordi
nary magnitude strong current OF passion and pre-
JUDGE had been set In motion by the nhammaiory APP
peals OF sectional partsans II sweeping everything
before In its ruthless and threatened to bury
who might have the temeriy to throw himself into the
breach and attempt to arrest its onward progress but
there were men OF iron nerves and patriotic hearts, who
dared 10 do their duty In this trying crss They met this
maddencd spirit OF aggression with stern and unbend-
ing defiance They had counseed with us around The
affairs OF our common country. and having agreed with
ne that the doctrine OF HoNiETERvEETloN the doc
trine OF THE CONSTITUTION. they went forth, panoped in
that sacred armor do battle in the Of truth and
JUSTICE and right They return 10 u.s. after hard
and desperse bat triumphant slrugge with the fruits OF
vctory-snA we told, Touch them not, for they
will turn 70 ashes on your lips." il
In the progress Of tins vexsd question: we have given
still substantial evidence Of confidence IN the
constitutional principle We have asserted. and our willing
ness TO abide BY lie operation. II was upon this
Of settlement known as the sCisyton Compounds bill"
Is unnecessary for me 10 examine the details OF that
bill Tor win deny that its only merit which com
mended Il TO southern support, was drawn from the
consideration that itrepudsled congressional legislation
the subject Of slavery and left the adjudication Of the
Constitutional question OF rights in the Territories 20
the only tribunal having jurisdiction the subject