The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-22
1.-THE AGGREssIoNs OF THE SLAVE POWER"

of Law. ..--~m
"THE AGGREssIONs OF THE SLAVE POWER"
Opposition to the acquisition of territory and to the ad
mission of States into the Union has been charac-
tersc trait of the enemies of the democratic party
since the purchase by Mr. Jefferson of the Louisiana
tory. 1t in the early party conflicts involving these
questions that the South and the West harmonized feel
ing and in interest (boh being devoted to agricultural
pursuits) and cultivated fraterna sympathy which has
as yet lost but little of it's original strength
1t not account of the institution of slavery
much from considerations of Commercial jealousy of
the performance OF the agricultural interest that the fed
erass opposed the acquisition of territory. The
question of slavery never became the prominent element
opposition to the admission OF States into the Union
until Missouri made her application
There was more of political calculation than of phlan
thropy in the objection Missouri as a slave State 1t
hoped that tue western States did not recognise
slavery in their constitutions they would sympahize with
the North in its entislsvery positions and thereby that
the strong bond which existed between the South and
the West would be broken. The same object now actu
ates the political leaders who constantly appealing to
the people of the West and seeking to excite their peju
dces against the South upon the oeiterated allegation
Of Eths aggressive character of the slave power
There never a charge repeatedly and 40 conf
IDENTIFY made that unioupded and easily reued
that which attributes spirit of aggression the south
people. Fanatics may listen such allegation but
those capable approaching the truths of history
be deceived by it. We propose to repr briefly the facts
" history TO ezpoae anee more the sy of the charge Of
aggression upon the North by athe slave power"
The most effective argument that aboltonists mske
against slavery is the fact that the oraaaee of 1887
a suggestion pf GF. Jefferson. But Mr.. Jefferson
southern man. and the territory which the ordinance
applied owned by Virginia apd slave terri
tory. Surely Mr. Jeifersons proposition aggres
sion upon the North
When the confederation formed all the unoccupied
territory within its limits except what composes the States
Of Vermont and Maine, belonged to the southern States
Within the limits OF the "od Thirteen eleven States
have been added to the Union and Of these ALL except Yer
mont aud Maine given by the South OF the nine
States thus formed Of slave territory majority are
free States-vz Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and
Wisconsin. The South his rot only liberal in fur
nshiug territory for States but in agreeing that
majority of them should be free States Slavery the
law of every inch Of the territory Of the FIVE free States
just named and il Virginia and the South had been
aed by the spirit Of aggression falsely charged upon them
these States would have into the Union ex-
crpt slave States.
We turn now to the facts of history in regard TO the
new States admitted outside Of the territory Of the cold
Thirteen" Louisiana territory acquired by south
President or the aboitonsts would say, by "he
slave power" When we remember that this acquisition
extended from the Gulf Of Mexico the head-waters Of
the Mississippi about ~ deg. 30 min Of latitude Il need
not be added that the acquisition for the Union and
for slavery Besides Mr. Jefferson made the acqui.
ton and aboitons viii suspect him Of being Rcuated
by pro slavery objects in the purchase The purchase
tanned about 100000 sq91e me' or s3soooooo acres
its limits would embrace hrfUe States large ndi
Eoay part Of dis Vasi empire slapt trrtory.
The subsequent disposition OF this territory far from
showing that the South aggressive 6re the charge Of
aggression ndsputabTy upon The North. When the peo
pie Of Missouri in accordance with the then existing law Of
the territory and in the exercise Of the principle OF self
government applied for admission into the Union they
repelled by the North because their constitution did
prohibit institution which had existed In the terri
tory long before Its acquisition The South surely
guilty Off aggression in insisting upon the right Of Mis-
into the Uuion Of equality with the
other States. .-----------s-
But when the North persisted In this aggressive resist
auce Of the admission Of Missouri The South submitted to
division Of the territory BY the Of this submits
sion all the remaining Louisiana territory north Of &c deg
30 min was orspr dedicated free soil whilst so much
a was south Of that line dedicated slavery but
was left TO the decision Of the people who might inha Il
Ia order for Missouri the enjoyment Of unques
anable right the South agreed surrender free soil
than oneg Of the entire Louisiana pprchsseand yet ahe
slave power constantly charged with aggresssns upon
the ge North In the division the South gave to the North
Of 100000 square mIea territory large enough
for four such States illinois, In other words the South
gave up to the North enosgE territory make een free
States and retained enough make dpea which by the
terms Of the Compromise might be either slave free
States the people living II might choose This Is the
kind Of aggression BY which the slave power has sought
to encroach upon freedom and 70 limit its area
Az Florida papably essential TO the interests Of
the whole confederacy II Is hardly necessary TO say that
was no proslayery propagandism that negotiated its &C
QUESTION although Il acquired BY southern Presi-
dent II was acquired with slavery existing 10 II and lie
accession has added only more slave State
| We turn next TO the annexation Of Texas. We know
that this great met the most violent opposition at
the North and during its tendency hed up BY anti
slavery men southern Issue Il true however
that Il was sectional issue but Texas Was annexed BY
the united voice Of the national democracy spreading over
and covering the whole Union But for the sake Of The ar
gument let Il be conceded that Texas acquisition
Of othe slave power win the subsequent disposition o.