The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-22

determine for themselves whether slavery shall or
shall not exist within their limits. !" This is GER
tainly true. Then let leave it to this ssole and
exclusive determination" This will satisfy the
South, provided we make the "needfu rules and
regulations" as to other subjects, and do not by
system Of on-dcfiom drive the unprotected people
Of the territories, untimely into the determination
Of this question:. s tqf,sF r
This is the proper constitutional mode, and the
one that should be adopted. Ifgentlemen will not
agree To this, then they divide it as was done
in relation to the Louisiana territory. This
acquired, and afterwards divided so was Texas
divided by continuing the same line; and now
continue the same line This line, when established
in 1920, was understood TO be the line of separa-
ton between the slave and non-saveholding States
Of the Union, and has been SO observed by the
South ever since, with unwavering fidelity. Mr.
CLAY, who acted an important part in the estab-
lishment of that line, sud, IN 1887 s65g
BY the compromise which took place on the
passage of the act for the admission Of Missouri
into the Union in the year 1890, it was agreed and
understood that the line Of 36o 30' of north latitude
should mark the boundary between the free States
and the slave States to be created in the territories
Of the United States coded by the treaty of LOUISE
ana. ,* A* y But Florida is south of that line,
and consequently according to the spirit of the
understanding which prevailed at the period alluded
to, should be slave State. Itmay be true that the
compromise does not in terms embrace Florida,
that and it is not absolutely binding and obligatory;
but all candid and impartial men must agree that it
lght not to be disregarded. i, 81 d ,Hi
Now, sir, il Mr.. Clay's opinion is worth any
thing, (and it should be to these gentlemen, for
they have for many years taken great pleasure IN
doing him honor,) then are they uncandid and
partial, for they not only !" disregard, but are
using their most strenuous efforts for its destruction
AS remarked, this has ever been, and is still
called compromise; but 1T should be remembered,
that it was mainly made and enforced by the
North. 1t is Northern measure forced upon
the South against her wishes and notwithstand-
ing this, 1t has met u strict compliance, except
only from it's authors. At the close Of the revo-
lutionary war, all the territory belonging to the
United States, except the district of Maine, was
slave territory. The South yielded to you the
territory now composing the States OF Ohio, In
diana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, coun-
try which now has greater resources than had the
whole Union at the time of the cession now an
empire to itself; reserving only territory
for four new States, to wit: Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Alabama and Mississippi. Was this not
liberal? The Louisiana territory was soon after
acquired, which extended from the Gulf Of Mex
leo to the Pacific ocean. This was all slave terri
tory; but small part was inhabited by slaves,
but they might be lawfully held in any part of it.
In 1920, you forced upon the South compromise
whereby you took to the North two-thrds Of this
acquisition. In the first case, the South gener-
ousy ceded you the larger portion ; in the second
you took still graeter share, and, from love of
the Union, the South submitted. And now, sir,
we are to adjust the third great acquisition be-
tween these two sections of the Union. In the
Missouri case, the North had the power, and In
asmuch as by the law existing at the time Of the
acquisition, slavery was permitted In the whole
territory, it not only divided the territory but
by positive legislation excluded slavery from
that portion which was claimed for the North.
THE how into od lapal nd inst NOuy
sir, vast country hay been acquired and one in
which, they say, bY} the laws existing at the
time of the acquisition, slavery is excluded and
the North has still the power to dispose of this
territory. 4gt Ehs
And how does it propose to adjust iii Sir, in
asmuch as the North, to secure to ,erself the lar
ger part Of the Louisiana purchase, would and
did abolish slavery in such part as she claimed, If
she had power to do this, and if a spirit OF fair
ness prevailed the same power would authorize,
and justice would require, that she should now
legalize slavery, by positive law, in so much of
the new territory the South should be equitably
entitled to. Upon Northern principles this could
be properly demanded (; and if it were to be deter
mined upon the simple rules of Justice, as between
individuals it would certainly be so decided. Yet
the South is not asking this; she is only asking
that Congress will not exclude her. The North
says to her, you are excluded by Mexican laws;
nature has excluded you, and to make certainty
still more sure, we will exclude you, not from a
part merely, but from every foot of that territory,
north and south, east and west. In the first
case, they received the territory bounty; In
the second they took two-thirds, and calledit
compromise; and now, in the third and last case,
they claim to take all--and claim it as right.
The North regards California as already secured
to the non-saveholding States; and one of their
most distinguished men, Mr.. WINTHROP, but
few days since said it was ga thousand-fold the most
important and valuable part of the territories ac-
quired from Mexico;" and yet claiming to have
this, the North is still using all means to deprive
the South Of every possibility to acquire even
share of the refuse territory that remaiDs and it is
required, that we must even yield to this, adm
surrender this bare possibility of obtaining
foot, upon pain of being called disunionsts--yea,
even traitors TO the Government. And if we sub
nit, what is our reward, We are to be told that
we are peaceable citizens, and that, inasmuch as
we are IN possession of a part of the domain of
the Union, and by the plain letter of the Consti-
tuition cannot be disturbed, we will be graciously
permitted to have that of which they have not the
ability to deprive u.s. If we give up our rights in
the territories, they will permit rights in the
States. And if we submit to this, how long will
even this be Observed If we would give up all
claim North of the compromise line, we were told
we should have all South. This is repu-
dated Now we are told, SNAKE no claim to the
territories, and your rights will be respected in the
States" and how long before this will be disre-
S"ucui hoHs VIC nave Vlcucu, uiiu yiclueu, uiith
our duty requires that we shall make stand in
defence of our rights. Every consideration Of
duty and interest demands it. Let US, then, pass
some general measure, either extending the COM
promise line to the Pacific or establishing strictly
and permanently the doctrine Of non-interference,
and thus give peace to the country.
Sir, more than seventy years ago our fathers
asserted mans capacity for selfgovernment;
the civilized world has been ever since OBJ
serving, with anxious interest, the progress of
this experiment, and hailing with joy the ever
evidence Of its success; until, by uni
versal assent the world is almost prepared pro-
nounce it complete, and that it is no longer specu-
lative, but fact demonstrated. And now, sir
upon the eve of this glorious contamination, the
North has become SO transcendental in its moral
ty, that in zeal for lower race-a race that has
been in slavery to itself from its earliest history
race, too, which has made its highest attain
nents in human excellence in the humane bond
ige OF Amerlca---they are willing to extend this
,ower OF self-government to this inferior race
SO blind IS Northern zeal, that they are ready for
his dlsunion, to sacrifice the hopes of the world
nr frnA 4 Il .,.l.I