The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-04

upon the soil and the sovereignty without right to
| ether, were but instruments in the hands of
| Congress-, 10 carry out its determination TO ex-
clude slavery from the shores of the Pacific.
Though Congress has the undoubted power to ad-
mil new States, II Is in VAIN TO look in the cOnsti-
tu,l, for sanction Of these irregular proceedings
they were unauthorized, fraudulent and void, and
| W have yet TO learn that the confirmation of
void act can give il validity.
Tbs bills forming territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico are no departure from this line of
| policy, to exclude all further admission Of Slave
States. Congress was ready enough, by inter zen
non, TO shut out slavery from California; but was
firm 10 the principle OF non nterven tion as to the
repeal OF the Mexican law in regard to slavery in
/ these territories. The law was deemed as effect
ual for the exclusion of slavery as the Wilmot
proviso. The territorial legislatures are forbidden
20 touch the subject, and il is thus rendered GER
tain as anything future can be, that these terrific
nts, when they come into the Union, must come
| in as free States.
by this action Of the government the Southern
States have been deprived Of all benefit from the
country acquired from Mexico. The men of eve
~ CLINE under heaven has free access to these
regions, with all his capital, except the citizen OF
The Southern States. His capital consists chiefly
Of slaves, and if he should co. he must leave them
behind. The blood, and ire assure, and vaor of the
| South, did more for the acquisition of the territory
than any other portion of the Union. Had these
vast acquisitions been made in the absence Of a
constitution of union, by thirty States, equal
sovere'gnties, what would b. said of the attempt
| of these States to appropriate the whole of these
territories TO themselves, to the exclusion OF the
/ people Of the fourteen slaveholding States! Can
any legitimate action of the government Of the
| Union result in what, without the Union, would
! be undisguised plumber! Is this discrimination
against the rights Of the South just! And if not
Just, will the South sit down under it, in uncom-
| planning acquiscence!
But il is not in regard to territory alone that the
recent acts OF Congress have done injury to the
South. BY this same action of the government, the
| balance q
| Union has been destroyed. A permanent sectional
majority in both branches of Congress has been Sc
cured, hostile to the institution of slavery. The
struggle for equilibrium, which lasted for thirty
years, has been ended. The North has now the
power-has it likewise the will to crush this inst-
tuition He must be blind to the warnings of the
| lions of this will The church, the pulpit, the
schoolmaster. the press the public meetings, the
legislative halls of the North, and all the depart
ments of their State governments, with few
bright exceptions, are all against this institution
Where, then, is there room for hope, except in the
united action and counsels of the South!
We pass over the abolition OF the slave trade in
the District Of Columbia, with but single remark
1t poren,ous sign of The times. Ii lis the car.
rying Of another outpost, preparatory to the final
attack upon the citadel itself
Another most significant sign is the opposition,
| so generally manifested at the North, ag ainst the
Fugitive Slave bill. This right to recapture fu2-
tive slaves already guaranteed by the constitution
was the only sembance OF good extended to the
|
and this will not be permitted to remain on the
| statute book moment longer than aicism can
| gather strength to take it off Even now il is in
practice, to q great extent, nulhed and set at de-
faHce.
The habit of discussing slavery in Congress,
without any view to its protection, fills the coun
| try North and South with agitation. Indeed, ag-
tation is pursued as a system, and there seems to
be fixed determination to keep il up, to continue
it, and To increase II, till slavery Is swept from the
land. The object OF the constitution, as declared
in its preamble, was to establish JUSTICE provide
| for the common defence, and insure tranquility"
IL has failed in securing these vitality essential ends
| North and South the country is rent with dissen-
sions on The subject of slavery. Congress, so far
this head, is but the arena on which the passions
| find place for their exhibition. What spectacle
lie thus presented to the world The institution of
slavery is assailed and the safety of the Southern
| States endangered, not by any foreign power, not
| by natural causes operating among ourselves, but
/ by the fanaticism and lus, Of power Of our asso-
GATES in confederacy constituted for our pro-
| Il ciiCn.
No one nation or State is permitted to interfere
| with the domestic institutions of another. THIS
| principle was propounded at very early day, as
espt ciay the policy of this continent It has kept
out interference from abroad. IL is quite appli-
cable 10 the sister States Of this confederacy as to
foreign nations, except in regard 10 those objects
which are confided TO Congress by the constitution.
Yet, in violation Of this principle, the people of the
North do not hesitate TO seduce slaves from our
| service to protect them from recapture, and to
prepare their minds for instruction. The national
legislature will afford us no redress, because per-
manent regional majority IL against us IL a TO
| reign nation were TO do these acts, and make no
| reparaton, il would be just cause OF war. This
principle has been more than once asserted by our
relation 10 this very description Of pro-
perry, and az often recognized by Great Britain.
Without the cor sltuton, and without The Union,
| the acts OF the Northern people, above set forth,
would be cause OF war. As II 10, the constitution
| is the rampant behind which abotionism affects 10
enuench itself, and commits these acts with impu-
lity. So far from the constitution aiiording pro-
ecuon 10 slavery, and Justice 10 its owners, as IL
was intended to do, IL is converted into an instru
me NJ by which deadly assaults are made upon the
institution the compact al | MON rs thus failed
IN practice, TO attain the ends for which IL was
aied, II is time 10 seek for security in amendments
| of its provisions, or in some other mode
Is IL right that those who have pecuniary or
social interest in the subject % slavery. should be
| permitted constantly to az tate the question of
slavery in Congress, solely with view 10 its de-
lie il right that slavery and the slave trade, so far
| rs they are connected together, should be abo-
| shcd in the District OF Columbia
Is IL right that the Fugitive slave hi and with IL
the constitution upon which II IL founded, should
be disreRarded and set al nanght
il Il right that the common treasure of the States
should be expended by free.so majority in Con-
press, in purchasing the territory OF slave-hold-
ing State TO line south, which, II extended east to
The Atlantic, would leave more than half Of the
State Of Mississippi north Of III
Is II right that the Morrill, which, ia spirit Of in
justice to the South. restricted its institutions
a line OF 20 degrees 20 minutes by a compromise,
thirty years ago, should now be permitted, in a
spirit much more unjust, but by another COM
promise, to drive to line further south, by
about two hundred and seventy miles
Is II night that the people Of the South should
be excluded from the territories acquired from
Mexico
Is IL right that they should acquesce in a system
which restricts the institution oi slavery 10 its pre-
sent limits which will result IN creating free soil
barrier west and south, beyond which II cannot
pass, and which must end IN its final destruction.
involving the people Of the South in universal and
ifremedable ruin
II all these are right, then the South has no pre-
- NJ cause Of complaint, and should not utter a
murmur. But fthey are wrong, IL behooyes the
South TO consider how It's rights are to he rnain-
tanned, and what are the means 81 remedy and re-
dress
The frs, obvious step in the progress Of remedy