The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-06-27


will perceive that the territory proposed to
be surrendered BY Texas lies throughout
lis whole extent along the western frontier
Of the Indian territory. This is o a
slaveholding country and must Be consid-
cred as a part Of the South, Place along
their whole western boundary two non
sIaveholding States, and how long will the
Indians be able to maintain the institution
Of slayery2 If the agency of Congress
is not used to abolish directly slavery in
the Indian territory, this end can be easily
accomplished by the very means now in
operation against slaveryiin the Southern
States, which the Indian will have but lit.
lie power TO resist. The effect win bethal
the Indian territory, large enough for two
more States, will be controlled by the non
sIaveholding States. Thus by these two
points in the report, the South will lose
four large States in Ga~Iifornia-two il
Texas and two III the Indian territory
Nor is this all. Ths non slaveholdins
States will be brought to the western Poun.
dairy Of Missouri and Arkansas, along theiI
whole extent, and will bound Texas on
her whole northern and western frt Htier
| Thus the southern States viii be hemmed
in BY the non-slaveholding States on their
whole western border--a policy which they
have declared essential TO the end oil abol-
ishing slavery in the southern States
What can compensate the South for such
enormous wrong and spoliatioD2
But this is not the end Of your conces-
sions BY this report, We must not only
yield to the interests, but to the prejudices
Of the northern people. Slavery existed
10 the District Of Columbia when Con-
gress accepted the cession of the territory
composing it from the States OF Maryland
and Virginia. No one can suppose that
Maryland and Virginia, slaveholding
States then, and slaveholding States now,
could have designed to have given Con-
giess any power over The institution Of
slavery in this territory. Independently
of the wrong to the people Of the District,
to emaneipale their slaves, it would be an
intolerable evil to have a District between
them, where emancipation prevails by the
authority Of Congress. Congress, in the
bill reported as a part ofthe so-called com
promise, now begins the work Of emanci-
patton by declaring tat if any slave is
brought into The District for sale, he shall
be liberated and Free" If a slave is lib.
Grated because he is brought into the Dis
trict. the nex step, to hberate him because
he Is in The District is not difficult. The
power to emanCipate the slaves in the Dis
trict Of Columbia is thus claimed and ex-
ercised by Congress. Many of the abl1
men Of the South have denied that Con-
gtess possessed any such power, whilst
all agreed, that for Congress to interfere
with this institution, whilst slavery existed
in Maryland and Virginia, would be a
gross breach Of faith towards those States,
aud an outrage upon the whole South.
How long will that facility which yields to
the prejudice against The buying and sell
ing Of slaves be able TO resist the greater
prejudice which exists against the holding
Of slaves at all in the District Of Columbia
For all these sacrifices to the interests
and prejudices Of the people Of the North
the South is rendered the last measure o.
the compromise-the fugitive slave bill as
they propose to amend it. To understand
the extent of the concession the South re.
ceives on this point, we must look to the
rights the constitution confers.
The trainers Of the constitution were
perfectly aware that the general govern
ment could have but little power tossecurG
10 them their fugitive slaves ia the non.
s~laveholding States. The whole interla
police Of the State must be under the con.
troll Of the State, and BY this chiefly could
slaves be recaptured. The constitution
therefore, not relying on the legislation 0
Congress alone, requires that a fugitivt
slave, escaping into a non-slaveholdine
State, shall "be delivered on claim of III,
party" to whom he belongs. Fugitive slaves
are put on the footing of fugitive Grim.
mails, and are to be delivered up by State
authorities. If these authorities do moi
enforce the requirements Of the constitu
ton, and aid ia the recaptute and recovery
Of fugitive slaves, Congress can do liltl
to enforce them. The bill providing fc
the cooperation OF the United States gov
ernmeDt 10 a State, is practically quite in
sufficient to accomplish this aim. VIII;
can they do in such a State as Pennsylvt
mia TO recover fugitive slavesf Yet
Congress does all that it can do, by legisli
IL.