The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-02
CHAs. A. WHITE.
SLAVES FOR NEW MEXICO.


have the honor to be- most respectfully, yours,
VIM S. MEssERyy
SLAVES FOR NEW MEXICO.
| New YoRk, February 10th - The Trib,sne's
Washington correspondent teegraphs that Judge
Baker, OF New Mexico, is in that city, for the pur
pose OF purchasing slaves to work the mines Of New
Mexico.-Boston Daily Journal Telegraph report,
When / take into consideration the purposes for
which the above Geographic despatch was
the country, and when reflect, that involved in
those purposes is great national question concern
ing and interesting the Territory of New Mexico.
OF which am citizen, feel have no right to be
silent if one word of mine contribute aught to
relieve the apprehension Of the public mind upon
the subject of "savcry in the Territories" III ca
throw out one idea or fact that shall find place
in the hearts understanding of any of the read
ers Of your paper, and that idea fact shall be the
means Of bringing to the support Of the Union one
earnest and devoted friend, not of the isolated idea
of the Union only, but of the Constitution, the laws
and the institutions of the country, shall be hap
Ply in the opportunity afforded by this notice.
No question ever occupied much of the pub
lie mind or ever awakened intense and all
absorbing feeling as that of the extension
extension Of the institution of domestic slavery into
our newly.acqured territory and must say that
no public excitement that the world has wit
messed, no tempest of sentiment or feeling that
communities have ever before manifested,
can be more unnecessary than that growing out Of
the application of the ''Wilmot proviso" TO the
new Territories. II would have been more useful
and equally tit and appropriate, far fact, sub
stance, and natural law concerned, can and
will influence and act on the affairs Of this
try, Tor our politicians to agitate and our legisa-
tors to debate upon the propricty of rolling back
the waters of the Mississippi to its sources al
lowing them to flow, as they have ever flowed, into
the bosom of the deep.
The "Wimot proviso" was never needed for
New Mexico, nor would the people of that Terri
tory thank any man for ENGRAVING useless
appendage upon her bill of rights. Phlanthropic
:.
fit and proper for them to do SOY engraft that pro-
viso upon the free constitutions of the New Eng
land States; or if their philanthropy takes wider
range, let them attempt to engraft il upon the
laws OF Canada; but trust Now Mexico will
never be encountered with it, We too boast Of IA
higher iaw, nn earlier and mighticr proviso than
Mr.. Wilmot ever thought Of. We have The es-
and the spirit Of provso which spreads itself
ali over valleys, hills, and mountain. tops,
running down our streams and rivers, embed
ding itself into our soil, chngng close to our
sources OF subsistence and wealth, mixed up
with our climate, engraved on every stone, writ
ten all over our vegetation. We have the pro-
viso of nature and of natures God TO protect
us against the institution OF domestic slavery.
We need no gratutous philanthropy, no hu-
man legislation, TO shield from the whitening
influence OF an institution for which we
have necessity or respect. This is the question
which has caused the great heart of this great
country to throb almost to brcaking This Is the
learned dust which wise and good men have thrown
into each others eyes, until their vision nearly
destroyed, and their senses lost For many long
months were the represent natives Of the most
lighiened and prosperous people the world ever
knew, engaged In an angry, useless, and worse
than useless discussion OF mere human contri
vance to guard a natural law, until Mr.. Webster
.os~ IN la. place. Sostsfned by the manliness and
strength Unconscious rectitude, warmed by the fires
of pure, enlarged, and disntercsted patriotism
and offered himself a sacrifice upon the altar of
the public veal, should such sacrifice be required,
and declared that he would not, merely for the pur
pose OF wounding the pride of the South, stake
pd,rs 10 redHrm an ordnance Of nature, 10 re-
enact the soiu Of God 4"
When that memorable declaration was made the
scales fell from all bot the eyes of wful fanati-
cism, blind zeal, and ignorant prejudice. Califor
ma came INTO this great Union wrapp d in her
| robes OF freedom and Of ligbt-the blessings of
! civil government were vouchsafed TO Utah and
| New Mcx!co-the purity and integ rity of the Con
stituton was sustained-the North lost nothing
the South gained nothing-so rice per.o, the angry
pillows oil human passions were lulled TO rest,
con once took the helm of the ship of State,
and the noble barquc rode safely into port
| Born and educated in New England, il was but
natural that should acquire an aversion to an in
sututon at war with the spirit and genius Of New
England habits and thougbts-n five years resi-
depce in a sayebolding Slate has taught me cha
rity Tor the opinions and rights of others without
In the lenst kening my early nvicions; twe,
years residence in Mexico has afforded OPP
portunity OF standing upon neutral ground, and
there have learnt to place more reliance upon
the t1H Of God than In political aboIiuonisn, or
eutution as whitening in ts influence and IA banc
To- in its character as that Of domestic slavery
whilst claim TO be as sincere in my aver
sion to that institution, and to go as far any
70 check its further srowth-whilst claim 10 be
good and ne true a Frcesoor rs he who may differ
with me as to the to be employed for the nc
complishfnent OF that end, IL Ia because am q
Frcesoilcr IN sentiment, and because am opposed
10 the institution Of slavery that opposed to
any restrictions upon slavery in New Mexico. ]
desire and hope, az long as New Mexico remains a
Territory, that her organic Law shall remain just
IA II is, as far as the question Of slavery is con
ccrnod. have no fear of slavery therc--the South
/ will never force it upon Slaves cannot live in
New Mexico; "if their lungs receive our air, that
| moment they are free" II the people OF the South
send their slaves there, they will convert them.
selves into colonization sociefy for the Liberation
OF ns many slaves as they send TO us for II Is n
elfcvident proposition that tohsn s'druy ceases 70
6e profitable u must m The perv mature IF things
10 tJisf. Now, slavery never can be profitable in
New Mexico, therefore IL is not probable they will
be carried there; and, If carried there, they will
| free themselves, their masters from necessity
| most free them. As it is with New Mexico so is
IL with the whole of that portion of old Mexico
4 which southern fanatics talk OF nnnoxing 10 the
"new Confedcracy"
II IL "fSod fact'-it IL n liked law Of nature
that domestic slavery never be profitable beyond
| the Nueces. Nature, standing upon her impassa
Die barrier, commencing upon the banks Of the
river Nucces has said TO the institution of domestic
slavery, "ihus far, no further shat thou go"-there
the new area OF freedom commemorative the old
area Of slavery ceases. Shielded by the immutable
laws OF nature, free principles and free institutions
have spread Themselves to tho waters Of the Pacific
"1hrt Dey 10 day-bere they ,oW remain for
ever"
Then why lbis uselcss agitation, this unhealthy
excitement We have Constitution, the model
md perfection OF human wisdom. We have a
Union growing out of that Constitution, such as
good men and angels love TO gaze upon-a Union
long enough and broad enough to give n quiet,
peaceful, aud happy home TO the worlds afflicted
children. We have liberty which in former days
was deemed Utopian, and which in our day is with
out parallel-a liberty protected by iotc; liberty
indwclling in the hearts of the people; "A liberty
protected by written lave, emanaung from the
gcnius and wisdom Of the people. Under that
Constitution in this great and glorious Union,
warmed by the fires and guided by the lights OF
that liberty, we have grown TO greatness, prosper
ity, and power, unbesrd Of and undreomed Of even
in the widest flights Of poetic fancy. This u the
Constitution, this the Union this the Liberty which
northern fanatics would pull down, and from their
ruins raise an altar and inscribc thereon, "IO fht
Unknoton God" because they in their folly believe
themselves wiser than the God Of Nature This ia
a.. I,,.. ...,t ,t~I ...1 so. Iagb