Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-07-01
From tbs st. Louis News.
GEN. SCOTT ON SLAVERY.

Inasmuch as Gen. SCOTS opinions on the great
disturbing subject Of slavery are 10 be attacked,
and his defeat for the Presidency mainly sought
for on that ground, we shall at once put our
readers in possession Of his views on that sub |
iect, as declared some years ago in a letter TO
IT. r. Atkinson, Esq.i OF DanviIle, Va.
We may remark however, that the whole
slavery question, in every possible phase that il
may have assumed in by-gone years, is changed
by the passage Of the Compromise Measures.
All the old issues are superseded, and by the
adoption Of their respective platforms the two
parties % the country have buried those issues
with the past. The Compromise Measures
abolished the slave trade in The District Of Co
lumbia, secured the Slave States in the cOnsti-
tuional right to reclaim fugitive slaves, and left
10 all new States the right to adopt or reject
slavery as they choose in forming their State
Constitutions 1t seems almost impossible 10
find out way in which slavery questions in any
shape may again agitate the Union, provided
THE Compromise be strictly adhered TO.
The Wing National PlatfoTm expressly adopts
the series Of acts known as the Compromise
Measures, as a "fnal settlement" in ''principle
and substance" of all slavery questions, which
have in past time put the peace Of our country
in peril; and Gen. Scott distinctly accepts and
wholly endorses that platform.
Whatever, then, may have been Gen. SCOTS
former opinions or expressions on the abstract
questions presented by the existence Of slavery
in this country, they have become wholly sub
sidiary TO the "fnality" doctriLe Of both great
political parties. They are superseded -ab-
sOrbed in the one paramount ruling proposition
of the present day, that slavery agitation, in no
shape or form, at no time and in no place, is
again to be introduced into the halls Of cur ma
tional legislation.
With this preface, we introduce Gen. SCOTS
former opinions of slavery as an element in our
civil Institutions and as an abstract question Of
political economy; remarking that for ourselves
we do not find one sentiment therein contrary to
individual or to State rights, to sound morality
and universal Christian philanthropy. Gen.
Scott has not IN this matter, written line that
ANY intelligent man in Christendom would wish
ito see blotted out. His visws are those of JEFF
Iferson, the prince Of American Democratic phi
Ilosophers:
ain boyhood, at William and Mary College,
and in common with most, il not all my COM
panions, became deeply impressed with views
given by MIR. Jefferson, in his Notes on Vir-
ginia," and by Judge Tucker, in the Appendix
to his edition of Commentaries in favor of q
gradual emancipation Of slaves. That appendix
Il have not seen in thirty odd years, and in the
early impressions are fresh and unchanged.
Hence, if had had the honor of a seat in the
Virginia Legislature in the winter Of 1881
when bill was brought forward TO carry out
these views, should certainly have giyenit my
hearty support. -
suppose / scarcely need say that, in my
opinion, Congress has no color of authority, un-
der the Constitution, for touching the relation Of
master and slave within State. / hold the
Opposite opinion in respect the District of Co
lumbia. Here, with the consent Of the owners, T,
or on the payment of "just Compensation y
Congress may legislate at its discretion. But
my conviction is equally strong, that unless it
be step by step with the Legislature of Virginia
and Maryland, il would be dangerous 10 both
races in those States and in this District.
have from the first been Of opinion that Con-
gress was bound by the constitution TO receive
TO refer, and 10 report upon pctitiOnsrelating tC
domestic Slavery as in the case Of all other pc
titions but have not failed to see and TO re-
gret the unavoidable irritation which the former
have produced in the Southern States, with the
consequent peril to the colorcd race whereby
the adoption Of any plan Of emancipation has
{ everywhere among us been greatly retarded.
own, myself, no slave; but never have at
: ltached blame to masters for not liberating thei
Il slaves-knowing that liberation, without send
4 ing them in comfort TO some position favorabl
v to the "pursuit of happiness" would in mos
: cases be highly injurious to all around, as wei
,e as to the manumittug families themselves, un-
70 less the operation was general and under tn
r. auspices Of prudent legislation. But am per
; suaded that il is high moral obligation of mas
= tiers and slave-hOlding States to employ all III
N means, not incompatible with the safety of bot
a. colors 10 meliorate slavery even to extermina
Is ton"
in The G. w. Kendall, with two barges in toW
heavily laden with railroad iron, arrived at th
Is foot Of the Louisville canal on Saturday nigh