The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-27
mr. Wehster,s speech.

that expedition his given birth. Buffalo is th,
principal city Of northern New York, region
where Sewardsm and Free-soilism predominant
And this speech is the apology of the Cabine
TO that section for the Compromise measures
We are glad to observe that Mr.. WEBsTEl
appears to see that the Union can be- preserves
=" not by coercion--not by military power
not by angry controversies" by such Al
administration of the powers of the Constitu
ton, as shall give content and satisfaction to al
who live under it, and draw us together, no
by military power, but by the silken cords o
mutual, fraternal, patriotic affection" Now tn,
Union can be preserved on easier terms thar
Mr.. WEBSTER indicates. Ii can be preserved
by justice--simple Justice which will not, in
deed, "give content and satisfaction to all VIII,
live under it" but will give discomfort to many
but such, as we believe, is the strength of th,
sentiment of attachment to the Union, that if i
be coincident with justice, it will prevail agains
all that fanaticism, faction, and sectionalism
which would be discontented with any observ.
ance of justice between the two sections.
Whilst, however, we agree with Mr.. WEE
sTER in the sentiment with which he commences
his speech, and will even compromise for much
less, we are compelled to dissent empbaticay
from some of his most important subsequent
positions. We do not object at all to his dec
laration that the South will not get any conces-
sion from hm--a not hairs breadth of it."
We do not ask any concession from Mr.. WEB.
sTER, or the North We ask no favors We
insist only on justice.
Mr.. WEBSTER insists, with crushing cogency,
on the clearness the Importance, and the hon.
esty of observing the constitutional stipulation
for the restitution by the several States of fugi-
tives from labor But Mr.. WEBSTER, as well as
multitude of modern commentators on the
Constitution, North and South, is utterly mis-
taken in supposing this was concession to the
South, or one of the compromises of the Con-
stitution. 1t was no such thing. AT the time
the Constitution was adopted, African slavery
existed in all The STATES but one, and hence this
provision operated in favor of all the States, and
it did not operate against even the opinions OF
any. For, although there was then sentiment
of hostility to slavery, it controlled no State.
But bMides this, it must be considered that at
the very time this Constitution was adopted, and
at the very place it was framed-at Philadelphia
large numbers of poor foreign emigrants
were arriving, who paid their passage by selling
their freedom for a term of years. On the ar.
rival of ship with this class of people, the,
pere sold al auction, in Philadelphia, in New
York, in Boston, and in other Northern ports
for the money to pay their passage, and the sue
cessful bidder was the one who offered to tax,
them for the shortest period of servtude, ant
pay the vessel for bringing them over.
When white men were thus publ ely sold in
the North, although for limited time, and AT
ricans were held in all the Northern States but
one in endless bondage, it is manifest there was
no sentiment of opposition to slavery suff-
GENTLY powerful to control the vote of any State
in the convention and il is manifest also, that
since-as is aoeA knopn-there was greater
tendency of these white men, who were called
Redemptonsts," to escape from service"
than among slaves, and since these Redemp
tionists went almost entirely to the North, it is
plain that the provision of the Constitution re-
specting fugitives from service, was eren more
favorable TO the North than the South. 1t is
certain that it was adopted without any oppo-
sition, either in the Federal convention that
formed, or the State conventions that ratified the
present Constitution. And it was generally
observed in good faith by both Northern and
Southern States, until change of circumstances
rendered it no longer important to the North,
but still more important to the South, and then
it was practically nullified, and, notwithstanding
the recent fugitive law, is still practically null
lifted. For fugitive slave property is at this
day and hour absolutely ralueless in consequence
of Northern bad faith
Mr.. WEBSTER says:
"Gentlemen, contend, and have always con.
tended that after the adoption of the Constitu
ton, any measure of the government calculated
to bring slave territory into the United States,
was beyond the power of the Constitution, and
against its provisions"
the acquisition Of Louisiana and Florida and
he avows and exults that he opposed the annex.
alton of Texas, and the acquisition of Califor-
min, Utah and New Mexico.
Mr.. WEBSTER is confused in this part of his
speech. In one passage he denies the constitu
tional power of acquiring slapc territory in
another he says, that "it was not the design or
scope OF the Constitution to admit ne,o States
out Of The foreign territory" and that for one he
"never would consent that there should be one
foot of slave territory beyond what the old thir-
teen States had at the time of the formation OF
the Union" The acquisition of new territory
ofany kind under the Constitution may be a de-
bateable question,--was once debateabe ques-
ton. But Mr.. WEBSTER is estopped from de-
nying this constitutional power, by his own pub
lie avowal of plan to obtain from Mexico the
port and barbor Of San Francisco, made before
fho oto u,;tb tLaf