The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-11-28

dOIuulh dC4uiiCu ItuHi wv hlNl
Even this is not all we have to COM
plain Of. By one Of The bills Of the
series, ten millions Of dollars Of the
public monies raised by taxation from
the industry Of the country, havesbeen
voted, to purchase from Texas por-
ton Of her soil, for no other apparent
object than to convert il to free soil
purposes" Would it be a greater
stretch Of power to apply the Federal
treasury to the purchase Of their slaves,
to make them freel
/ will not, however, dwell upon
these incidents. My purpose leads me
to examine the act of Congress admit.
ting California, with reference to Its
character, its bearing upon the politi-
cal destiny Of the country, and its eff
fects uponthe Southern States in a pc
cunlary point of view. To commence
wiz the last. The value of slaves de-
pends upon the demand for their la
Dor. The history of the cultivation Of
our great staples shows, that this value
is permanently enhanced by the open
ing Of new fields of labor. The inns
mense profits which have and still con-
tinue to reward we'll directed industry
IN the gold mines Of California, exceed
ing those which have ever flowed from
mere labor, unmixed with capital, or
mechanical skill, would have furnished
a demand for the application of slave
labor, nexhaustlble in extent and in<
finite in duration. Had this wide field
for investment been open t6fthe slave
labor Of the Southern States, wages
would have risen, and consequently the
value of slaves at home would have
been greatly enhanced. Many hund~
red millions Of dollars would have been
added to the capital of the Southern
States, had they been merely permit
led to avail themselves Of the benefits
to which they were entitled under the
CSnstitution Of the United States. -
Had the common territory, acquired by
Joint valor and purchased by joint
treasure, been honestly aud fairly open
to their use and occupation as joint pro
prietors had equal, even-handed jus
lice been extended to them, they woulc
now be rejoicing and exultant in th'
activity, energy, general prosperity anc
above all, confidence in the future
which would have been impaired by
such expansion. To this estimate o
the pecuniary interest, lost to the Soutl
by the unauthorized interference o
Congress, may properly be added The
probable enhanced price of our grea
staples, caused by the abstraction of
portion of the labor, now employed il
their growth, and threatening in time
over production. Had these profitable
and permanent fields of labor, been lef
open to us. all fears Of such results
would have been forever dissipated.
These estimates of pecuniary inter
est are fair and just. They are found
ed upon the fixed opinion of almos
every we'll informed person among US
that had the Government dealt justly
and left these territories free and oper
to the people oflhe slaveholdipg States
for a reasonable time, large portion
of them would have eventually come
into the Union as slaveholding States
But deeply as this measure may have
affected our pecuniary interests, It is
far more important when regarded in
its political aspect. The admission Of
California has furnished for all time tc
come, most dangerous precedent o.
Executive interference, in the creation
Of States, By its admission, i is nov
conceded. that the first body of adven
turers who may chance 10 assemble or
the public domain, may usurp absolute
dominion over it, aad appropriate it te
themselves, regardless of the rights o.
the people of the sovereign States ol
this Union. The precedent IS now sci
that no legal authority, civil organiza-
ton, enumeration Of inhabitants, quail
, l0CdtIOuS OI GICGlOLoJ ~ flN--
tiles are necessary to constitute aState
or to admit her into the Union Provl'
ded the institution Of domestic slavery
be excluded. .,
Who cannot see in this violent, hast
' and unprecedented act Of ushering
State into this Union, the purpose o.
unsettEng the equilibrium between
the slaveholding and nonsslavehUldinq
States? And how long will il be, be.
fore this monstrous precedent will be
resorted to, to create and introduce
other new States for tie purpose OF at
tanning other antl-sEavery objects Fl
The whole character and structure %
our Government has been changed by
this act, and the principle admitted that
new free States may be created ad
lh5itam. Aud how has this been donel
| assert. by most Hagrant violation
not oulyof lbep principles Of justice and
equality, but also by breach Of the
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