The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-14

-
North -l,Il5,625 l,ll5,625
The South acquired by the
treaties of Louisiana and
Florida 225,277
BY the annexation of Texas 2l5,0OO
Total acquisition of the
South - 440,277 440,277
Total acquisition of the
| South = 67534S
| A thousand thanks to Mr.. Derby for his can
dor! AT last we know what New England means
| by concession to the South 1t is to allow her
about one-foWth of the common territories, and
to exclude lisr from the other three-fourths
| And a compensation for the Northwest territory,
is to buy a vast empire with taxes of which she
pays three fourths, and give her only one-fourth
of the purchase | know that Websters die
tionary had gone far to change the old English
language into New England dialect but their
new meaning of concession and compensation. to
say nothing of an " erceSS given to the South"
being 67534S square miles less than what was
given to the North, prove that Massachu sets is
still progressive. j have frequently heard of
Northern concessions to the South, and have al
ways been puzzled to know what they we're
| rejoice at least to learn!
The review next asserts that slave labor lost
very little in the exclusion from the Northwest
territory for the land was adapted to free labor
The Ohio gave the best boundary between the
| free and the slave States" (p. 372) Now, can
see no geographical or political reason why the
short line from Virginia to the lakes, between
Ohio and Pennsylvania would not have been
still better boundary on the contrary, it would
have united the whole valley of the Mississippi
in its institutions and interests. And as to the fit
ness of the land for free labor will not enter up
on any theoretical reasoning, but simply remind
Mr.. Derby of few facts Four fifths Of Ohio,
Indiana, and Illinois lie directly between, and
parallel to Virginia and Missouri, where grain
and tobacco are proftably produced by slave
labor moreover, there were number of slaves
in this North west territory ia 1897, and the
inhabitants, who may be supposed to know
something about their own interests repeatedly
petitioned Congress to permit the introduction
Of slaves. In 1902 special convention of
delegates for the respective counties petitioned
Congress for a suspension of the sixth article of
compact contained in the ordinance of 1887.
In 1905, majority of the members Of the Lee
gisatye Council and House Of Representatives
demonstrated with Congress on the subject In
1903, the Legislative council and House of Rep
resentatives passed sundry resolutions, which
were laid before Congress- declaratory of their
sense Of the propriety of admitting slaves" !
quote from the resolutions of the same legsla-
tive body (for Indiana territory in 1907, which
proceed 10 repeat the petition, as the citizens
Of the territory decidedly approve of the toer-
alton Of slavery" The resolutions of 1906,
which purport TO be unanimously adopted, de-
clare that the measure would meet the appro-
baton Of niDe-tenths of the good citizens" of
| this territory; that " 1t would be equally advan-
| tageous to the territory, to the State from
whence the negroes would be brought and TO
the negroes themselves" and that at the time
of the adoption of the ordinance of 1897. sla
very tolerated, and Slaves generally possessed
by The citizens then iJihabiting The co,intrv,
amounting to at least one-haf the present pop
ulation." These facts prove that but for the
ordinance Of 1887, those States would now be
slaveholding and Mr.. Derby has nothing to OPP
pose to them, except the baseless theory that the
country was unsuited to slavery. Let us here
notice that these resolutions of the territorial
legislatures all assume that the progress of their
population was materially retarded by the pro-
hibiton of slavery, which discouraged emigra-
ton from the slave States, for as the committee
Of the House CT Representatives Of the United
States say, in their report Of February 14th
1906, shareholders emigrating into the Western
country, are now compelled to seek settlements
10 other States or countries permitting the intro
dDeiion of slaves" But despite the wishes of
the inhabitants, and in utter disregard Of non
interrenfiOn, (Which has never been recognized
until its effect was against the South,) Congress
persisted 10 maintaining the prohibition. The
effect uas 70 fIl up that territory with emigrnnts
from foreign countries, instead Of our own
Southern States
Not c0ntent with such arguments as these,
our reviewer attacks The title Of Virginia TO the
Northwest territory. lie informs VA not only
That Kentucky lies west ~ Virginia" but he
adds, that large part Of Ohio, Illinois, Indi-
ana, and all Michigan, Minnesota, and Wpcon-
sin, lie west Of New York and New England,