Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-09-15
The Richmond Enquirer-its Positions and
Arguments.

The Richmond Enquirer, of the 18th instant,
contains a labored article, of Sophomore
character under this head What the South
gains by the repeal Of the Missouri restric-
tion." Among the positions contained in this
article, we propose to advert to few speci-
MEMS as follows:
1.-THE repeal of the Nilsson i restriction, besides
Offering atonement and reparation for an aifront
upon the South opens the Federal domain to the
free expansion and development ofnegro slavery"
The "Missouri restriction" it will not be de-
MED by any constitutional lawyer, was 00ia
and inoperatiUe when viewed as a law. 1t was
not competent for the Congress of 1920 to
enact law restricting the admission of future
States. AS a compact or agreement entered
into between the northern and southern Rep
resentatiyes to heal the discussions of that pc
Rod, it may be regarded by many as having
some claim to respect. AS law, it was entitled
to none. But the Enquirer assumes that ats
repeal opens the Federal domain to the free
erpa,.siop and Development Of negro slGoery."
This Is true in one sense: it removes the restric
ton imposed by an inUalid act of Congress!
But will negro slavery expand (under the laws
which govern its expanson) into the North2
We suppose that naturally, African slavery
win expand in that direction where it is more
profitable. Such has been its history,-and
hence the whole North where negro slavery
formerly existed, is now free from it whilst
the South has received accessions by its migra-
ton from North to South. Is not African sla-
very more profitable in the South than in the
North? Are slaves taken from Louisiana and
Florida to Maryland and Delaware9 Are they
taken from, mississippi to Missouri Are they
taken from Alabama to Kentucky2 Yea or
uou Mr.. Enquirer? Immigrants from Ken
tuckv and Virginia to Missouri take their slaves
with them, for their oacn se,-but do Virgin
;ans and Kentuckians send slaves to Missouri
for sale? Or do they send them to the South?
Do not the natural laws of trade-the laws of
interest and proft-the laws of demand and
supply, govern this subject? May we not as
anme without the fear of contradiction, that
the above mentioned laws are continually
draining the more Northern slave States, such
as MARYLAND, Virginia, and Kentucky, and that
such drain is towards the tropics Why the
Enquirer surely knows, that tactS In the past,
warrant the theory on which Mr.. Buchanan
voted for the acquisition of Taxas-to free the
Northern slGoe States!
If the Enquirer will advert to the speech of
Mr. Buchanan in 1914, on the annexation of
Texas, he will find, [see Congressional Globe,
part 2, VOL IS, of the appendix that Mr.. Blu
chanan said as follows
ain arriving at the conclusion to support this
treaty had to encounter but serious obstacle,
and that was the question of slavery Whilst ever
have maintained and ever shall maintain, in their
yixor the constitutional rights the Southern States
over their slave property, yet felt strong repug
nance by any act of mine to extend the limits of the
Union over new slaveholding territory. After ma
ture reflection however, overcame these scruples
and now believe that the acquisition of Texas will
be the means oflmiting, not charging the dominion
of slavery.
am the government OF the world, Providence
generally produces great changes by gradual means
There Il nothing rash in the counsels OF the Al
mighty. Nav not then, the acquisition Of Texas
be the means of gradually drawing the slaves far to
the South, to climate more congenia to their ma
ture: and may they not finally pass off into Mexi-
CO. and there mngle with race where no preju-
dice exists against their color ? The Mexican ma
groes blended together in every variety, who
would receive our slaves on terms ofperfect social
equality. To this condition they never can be adj
mittsd in the United States.
"That the acquisition of Tsras Mould, ere long,
convert Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri,
and probably others Of the more Northern SLAVE
States into free States, entertain not doubt.
But should Texds be ANNEXED TO the Union,
causes sciH be brought into operation oltich must
i,evita5ty remove slavery from ,Ohat may be called
the Earn,ing States"
Now the Enquirer win not deny that Mr..
Buchanan is wise and shrewd man, and these
arguments Of this Statesman scatter 10 the
winds the positions taken by the Enquirer;
that Slavery WiU ezpa''d North into Kansas !
And, in vieu of the natural tendency Of sla-
very towards the tropics, where it is more
profitable than at the North, and with Mr..
Buchanan's arguments superadded thereto, how
can the Enquirer insist that the repeal OF the