Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-12
WASHINGTON, d. C.
WEDNESDAY, JULY -, 1854.
TERRITORIAL EXPANSION THE POSITION OF
THE HON. GERRIY SMITH.


THE HON GERRIr SMITH.
From the organization Of the Government
this Republic has been steadily extending ii
borders. Territorial expansion is the law 0
its being. Wise craftsmanship will recognls'
this law Just craftsmanship will labor to 30
cure its fnl6lment in such way as shall re
spect the rights Of noighboring nations ane
prevent it from, being prostituted to sectiona
and wicked purposes.
The Slave Interest comprehends the power o.
this law, and would become its sole admins
traitor. 1t understands tho strength Of the
popular passion for more Territory, and wonlc
make that feeling tributary to its own selfish
schemes.
Conservative men, unfriendly to Slavery
and yet shrinking from a direct issue with it
hayo sought to restrict it, by opposing the ex
tension of our Territory; thereby arrayine
against them the Supporters of the Slave Pow
on on one hand, and the Champions Of Pro
grcss on the other, while at the Same time
they failed TO command the syInpathies or co
operation of the moro earnest foes of Slavery
To this class belonged Daniel Webster and
his Disciples
Another class Of mon, disiiking Slavery, but
with no fixed principles in relation to il, car
ried away by visions Of Territorial aggrand
izoment, have never hesitated at any scheme
Of acquisition, no matter although projected
by the Slave Interest, and in all probability t.
he made subsarvient to its intolerabIe preten
sions
To this GLASS belong General Cass and such
Democrats Oh no represents.
The Anti-Slavery men Of tho country, or
CANNED hitherto as the Free or Independent
Democracy, recognise fully the Law Of Terri
torial expansion and its necessity, but they
claim that it's operations must always be con
trolled by Justice, always directed to the ex
tension Of the area Of FREQ Labor and Free
Labor Institutions. They respect tho popular
passion for Territorial growth, they sympathzs
with it, but would consecrate its energies t
Freedom. They 60 for the annexation of free
territory, by honest means, and for keeping i
FREQ by adequate means; and they 20, too
for the annexation of slave territory, wher
otherwise expedient, provided that Slavery b.
prohibited therein before or at the moment o
acquisition.
Their position is precisely antipodal to thai
Of shareholders, who seek the annexation o.
slave territory ,peaceabIy if possible forcibly i
necessary, with the determination to keep il
slave territory at all hazards; and also for the
annexation Of free territory, but, only, wher
there is fair prospect of planting slavery
therein, and with the paramount purpose t.
establish il therein.
These four classes, it might be thought, fair.
" comprise all the citizens of the United
Statcs-andso we thought until we read the
following paragraph in the speech of Gerrii
Smith in relation to the Gsdsden Treaty.
In reply to remark Of Mr.. Benton, be said
"Buf, with all Difference to that distinguish
cd gentleman, who is even more full of learn.
ing and experience than he is of years, am
willing to admit, that the more land We get
from Mexico, (by righteous means,) the better
would, that the treaty gave us whole prov
inces; yes and even al Mexico.
I" Poor Mexico needs to be brought under
radically transforming influences. Indeed, she
is perishing for the lack Of them. 1t is for her
life, that she cease TO be an independent ma
ton and not only 80, but also, that she become
a part Of our nation. For, Say what we will
Of it's faults and crimes, land look with very
great sadness of heart upon some of them our
nation is the mightiest of oil the civilizing and
renovating agencies, that are at work in the
worldn
An abstract declaration or aspiration, in
itself innocent or praiseworthy, uttered in Ger.
tain circumstances, without proper qualifca.
ton, may prove decidedly mischiovous We
fear Mr.. Smith has illustrated the truth Of
this remark in tho foregoing paragraph. II
might be beneficial 10 Mexico, were her several
States at liberty to-day to act upon a PROPOSE.
ton for their admission as States into this
Union--and we should apprehend no danger
under such circumstances, Of tho extonsion Of
Slavery. Those States, having excluded the
institution, would not tolerate it. Bot, there
is no question Of this kind before either coun.
try. No such policy is dreamed Of. The policy
proposed by tho Slave Interest is, to secure q
Southern route for Railway to the Pacific, &c
as to forward itsscheme for betting tho continent
and establishing a seaport on that coast and
to obtain from Mexico, through some pensioncd
agent like Santa Anna, from time 10 time, &c
much OF her territory as is 6t for slave labor
and may be assimilsted readily with the slave
holding section Of our Republic. This is the
only practical question in regard TO territorial
acquisition, 80 Gar as our relations with Mexicc
are concerned Now, wc submit that the un-
guarded declarations Of Mr.. Smith in tho fore
going paragraph, 40 far from initiating against
must give aid and counteuance TO, this policy
Had General Cass uttered thom, they would
have boon in keeping with the doctrines Of thai
school Of Progrossiyes who claim that terrific
rial acauisition. no matter how or for whal