The southern press., 1851-08-09
ssessA q Hen. jefferson Davis.
(coEcLUDED.


(coEcLUDED.)
The next proposition was to divide the terri
tory of Texas. The annexation Of Texas was
first produced before the people of the United
States in the presidential canvass Of l844. II
was then argued that by the annexation the
South would gain by this territory what she had
lost by the Missouri compromise He was an
earnest advocate of the annexation. With the
particulars Of this annexation they were all ac-
quainted. The war with Mexico arose out of a
disputed boundary. Mexico was whipped, and
the boundary of the Rio Grande was claimed,
but then strange to say, Texas was threatened
to be whipped If she claimed the very boundary
that had been fought for, and which had been
declared to be hers 1t was stain upon the
credit of the country's history that would be
carried 10 posterity and the threat against Texas
implied the worst of all crimes against nation,
viz: that of waging war upon weak State for
the purpose of gaining plunder and robbiny it
of its territory. If the territory belonged to
Mexico, the Americans had no right to il, but II
Gas was the CASEY the territory belonged TO Texas,
then what sin to threaten to whip Texas be-
cause she claimed it. For the deep feelings of
respect and yeneration for the dead Of Missis-
sippi, those who had fallen bathed in blood for
their conntry's honor, he denounced such a
threat. And when he heard it. he felt horror
atithe imputation cast upon those who slept in
their soldier-graves He felt that they whose
patriotism and courage had never been doubted,
ought not to have their names blasted for having
taken . part in war Of piracy. Had such q
charge been sustained and allowed to pass over,
the history If the United States would have been
tainted with the charge that her PEOPLE had
committed foul wrong. Thus it would have
stood: @the United States made war upon Mex
leo to claim, on behalf of Texas, the territory
to the Rio Grande. and having gained victory
over Mexico, the United States refused to allow
Texas to claim the boundary that had been
fought for and obtainedm AS he had already
said, the dead Of Mississippi who fell in
the bloody battles; and those who returned
home with the laurels of victory after their slf
fering and fatigue in war, they compelled him
to assert that the United States, having gone to
war for Texas to recover boundary named,
could not, in honesty, honor, or justice then
proceed to dispute the title of Texas.
The object was to make the territory free soil.
The anti Shareholders saw that the north west
portion of New Mexico probably would not form
State in century, but they determined to fas-
ten upon it, and the caterers of the North en-
deavored to make it constitution by which it
might become non-slaveholding like California.
The Southern money and Southern men were
employed in obtaining this vast territory, which
now was divided and turned over, and said to
be subject to all conditions to make it free SOIL
with the future view of bringing in another non-
slaveholding State, and TO still further cripple
the institution of slavery. 1t was not for him
but for the people to decide what course should
be taken, but it was to him too clear that JUS
tice would not be meted out The people Of
kox, ~ 10 alx
determination would they hold to their former
platform or would they retreat from the ground
they took. Surely, however, they did not blame
him for opposing Congress in giving title of
free-soil to slaveholding territory, when that
very territory had been earned by joint efforts of
the South, and when the South had paid her pro-
portion of $l0,000,000 for its purchase and, as
it would seem, to say the least, TO give up
good title for doubtful one.
The next bill that followed in congressional
order, was measure in palpable violation of the
Constitution of the country. He held that the
bin for the prohibition of the slave trade in the
District of Columbia was TO all intents and pur-
poses violation Of the letter of the Constitution
This Constitution was framed by men who
well knew something of the effects of power
used by government to confscate private prop
erty, and feeling the evils that arose from such
powers they took good care to guard against
them. They protected private property in the
most careful manner, and prevented the oppor-
tunity of converting private property to public
use, without making due compensation therefor.
When the bill was first mooted there appeared
to be considerable uneasiness with regard to the
kind Of punishment TO be inflicted upon the
master who should offer for sale in the District
fine was at one time thought of, but subse-
quently the criminal intent of offering negro
for sale il was ordered should be punished by
con6scation of such property. This unjustifa-
bic interference with one of the great boons
Of the Constitution, made the step which was to
lead 10 adjustment of the slave trade between
the Statas il struck blow at the institution OF
slavery by fixing an odium upon il; and il was
intended to recognise principle Of q most dan
gerous character. BY this bill slavery in Rich
mond, in Savannah, in New Orleans, and every
where in the South, was stamped as a wrong
discountenaned by the government; and IL
bore tokens that future interference might be
made 10 control slavery at home, for if Con-
gress claimed to interfere and prevent the sale
of slaves in one place, it might also claim to
put It's foot upon slavery in another place. But
the same bill in another view Of its provision
violated ornamental principle Of the Constitu.
ton.
The American policy was essentially free
trade pohcy-the government adopted and re-
cognized the doctrine Of free trade. Each State
at one time 1uld raise barriers in the shape of
duties for transferred goods; but such barriers
were found 10 be injurious, the government
swept them away, and free trade existed in
place. (Cheers.) In the measure Of Congress,
however, principle of direct opposition to free
trade was recognized, and its absurdity was
shown by the decision Of Judge Baldwin, who
was of opinion that the owner Of slave had the
asme right to take slave across non. slave
holding State, as he would have to take bale
ofgoods or any other property. But although
this decision gave the right TO take a slave
across free-soil district, yet they could not re-
move negro across neutral ground-the com.
mon territory for alias government had said,
"if you have the intent TO sell your slave, at any
place or at any time after crossing the District
Of Columbia, your slave must be forfeited.
Strange M II might seem, this was the provision
and he would ask were they contented with il
What would they think Of a slave Of MARYLAND