Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-06-10

Iighifu! subjects Of legislation are still
left open TO them, and if the people in
the Territories have not intelligence to
itgislate to regulatea domestic affair OF
this kind understandingly, and as it
should be legislated upon, | shall de-
sPair Of guiding them in this way with
leading-strings three, thousand miles
long"
Extracts from a letter of the Hon.
james Buchanan, dated Washington,
25th August, 1877:
"Neitler the soil, the climate, nor.
the productions of that portion OF Cal
ilornia south of 50 deg. 80 min., nor
indeed of any portion of il, north or
south, is adapted TO slave labor; and,
besides, every facility would be there
afforded TO the slave to escape from
his master. Such property would be
utterly insecure in any part of Cali
fornia. 1t is morally impossible, there
fore, that majority of the emigrants
10 that portion Of the territory south
Of So deg. 80 min, which will be
chiefly composed OF cur fellow-citi-
zens from the eastern, middle. and
western States, will ever re-eStabiisb
slavery within its limits. In regard
to New Mexico, east of the Rio
Grande, that has been already settled
By the admission of Texas into the
Union. Should we acquire territory
beyond the Rio Grande, and east OF
the Rocky mountains, it is still more
improbable that a majority Of the peo-
pie of that region would consent to
s'e-cstabii&t slavery. They are them
selves, in large proportion, color
ed population; and among them the
negro does not socially belong to de-
graded race"
A summary of the opinions Of these
public men will show that
Gen. Cass maintained the unconsti-
tutionai:ty Of tie Wi!mot proviso;
That slavery was abolished in the
Territories acquired from Mexico
That the right TO take slaves there
did not attach 10 these cessions, un-
der the constitution, By the mere act
ct annexation and that the people Oh
the States AMI Territories, ior the
time being, ought to have the right to
determine the question OF slavery for
, themselves.
Upon all these points the views OF
Mr. Dickinson correspond with those
Of Gen. Cass. And SO did tie views
OF Mr.. Douglas, except that be be-
iieved Congress had the constitutional
right TO pass the Wllmot proviso, but
be considered its exercise altogether
linexpedjent and -uncalled for, and
would have voted against it had he not
nave been instructed by the legislature
OF his State TO vote for it.
bIr. Duchanan's opinion respecting
the constitutionality of the Wiimot
proviso does not appear. Whatever
it may have been, he no doubt consid-
cred the measure a dangerous and In
expedient one, and would have voted
against it had he been in Congress.
His opinion upon the other point
may be adduced from his letter.
! tie considered slavery abolished in
the Mexican territories. lie did not
believe that the mere act of annexa-
tion gave constitutional right TO takt
slaves there; for he maintains that
that right could only exist from lis re
establishment by amajority OF the emi
grants or people residing there. O
course he is speakingo of ihelegal siatu:
utes or condition OF slavery, and oflts
legal restorGtson by competent author.
ity; for otherwise no action of n ma
jority of the people, operating through
their local government, could be rec
essary, because, if the constitutions
right existed, any man could avai
himself Of it, and hold slaves ther,
without any legislative action upon th'
subject.
Mr. Buchanan draws no distinction
between the power of the local gov
ernment OF Territory OF OF q State
10 establish Or abolish slavery bu
evidently includes both in his PROPOSE
tion-for he is speaking of what vii
be the immediate effect of annexation
upon this question, and of the proba
bic action of the people, whether oil
settlers or enligranis, with regard to ii
Otherwise, indeed, all action would b.
ioreciosed for if the country mus
remain free until the establishment o
4 State government, that very position
would determine the question forever
IS in that event no person holding
Slaves could take them there under th,
territorial governments, and the coun
try would be settled, and lis constitu
ton controlled by those opposed to til,
institution Of slavery.
ltwoild perhaps not weaken TIN
/ opinions so ably expressed by the dis
{ tinguished gentlemen, which / have
thus extracted from the record, by ad
ding those entertained by the distin
!. gnished senator's from q slaveholdins
State.
1ir. Underwood said, (Congression
al Globe, vol. y, part Cd, page $50:
"aTy opinion. moreover. is, that W,
ought TO leave the question of SLAYER,
70 the decision OF the people &C th
; Territories through their own legisIa
fures. Tn;
is acting upon the great America
Eprincipie-the right Of self-goyern
!, ment."
Dir. Clay also said, (Congressiona
Globe, July %. IS5O1