Southern shield., 1851-07-26
4 LINE versus NON INTERVENTION

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 There Is one position assumed by Col. Johnson in this canvass which appears to us not to have met with the notice it merited He opposes the doctrine of non-interven- tion, and desires that line shall be drawn across this continent, from ocean to ocean. between the North and the South. Or to to use his own words, "I demand that a line shall intervene between North and South, and from ocean to ocean," Now we will consider this sentence under two heads.
 First, what the South is to lose by posi- tive legislation on the subject of slavery in the territories. If we yield to Congress the right to legisIate on the subject at all, we cannot deny the right to prohibit as well as to admit. President Polk, when he signed the Oregon Bill with the WiImot Proviso incorporated into it, recognised the power of Congress to legislate on the subject. But MT. Calhoun and other Southern men arose and denied 10 Congress this power, and insisted on the doctrine of non-intervention as alone that which was constitutional and under which the South could exist. The Clayton Compromise was prepared on this basis in lo4S, and was approved by Mir. Polk, Mir. Calhoun, and large majority of the South ern members, including the entire delega- ton from Mississippi. We have not been able to obtain the vote in the House on the Bill and cannot say how Col. Johnson voted; but as we never find his name recorded as having voted differently from Jake Thomp- son of Mississippi, we have no hesitation in expressing our firm belief that Col. Johnson voted for the Clayton Compromise, if he voted at all. We repeat, then, that the only course 10 be pursued by Congress which will guaranty to the South her rights in the territories, is to preserve the doctrine of non-niervention. For if we of the South once acknowledge in Congress the right to legislate positively upon the subject, we place ourselves at the mercy of the first interruptions Northern majority who in the magnitude of their power, may deem pro- per to say that slavery shall not exist in the Territories at all. First, the question then is, what will the South lose by this panacea of Col. Johnson's? She loses the only prin- ciple that secures to her equality in the Ter ritores Because so long as the RepreSen- tatves of the South can rise rise in their seats and say, slavery in the Territories is sacred subject; Congress must not disturb it," so long are we equal as regards those Territories; so long is~the power and the right of the Southern man as great as that of his northern brother. But once admit that Congress has the right to say slavery may 70 into Utah or New Mexico, and we at once admit the right to say that slavery shall not go into these Territories. For the power to ADMIT necessarily carries with it the power to PROHIBIT.
 Secondly, what has the South to gain by non-nterventionl If Congress leaves the question undisturbed, it rests with the peo- pie of the Territories when they apply for admission as States to say whether or not slavery shall exist in their limits. This be- ing the case, it depends upon the soil and the climate whether or no slavery will exist If the soil and climate are adapted for slave labor the Southern man will go there with his slaves. The man from the North who finds slaves there, ard sees their adaptation for the cultivation of the soil, will desire tc become slave owner, that he may rear some fthe advantages of the genial soil and cline. Every man who is able to own slaves, and all those who expect to De so will be interested in making of this Terri torv a slave State, and when the day o voting comes, they will be found supporting those delegates who are for slave State This will be the result whether the Terri Il tory be North or South of 36, 30. But ever , if we admit that the doctrine contended ioI by Col. Johnson will be supported and sus
 tained by Congress through all time' slayer! can never go North of that line howeve | well adapted country may be found 10
 slave labor And without soil and clmat' agree, slavery can never go to any terri