Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-11-19
The N ew Constitution Of Oregon

DoD1D " give Our once D trtei
The N ew Constitution Of OREGON
Oregon il 80 remote from the At
lantic States, and even from us on the
Western side Of the "Father Of the
Waters" that but little interest has
been taken in the doing Of her people
or the development Of her resources.
consequently, many who arc filed to
OVERLOOKING with information respect
ing Kansas aud Nicaragua, look upon
Oregon as terra incogn,fo, almost with
out the pale of civilization. Oregon,
however, is emerging from the cloud
which has hitherto shut her out from
public view, for she is discussing a Con
stitution lately formed, preparatory to
knocking At the door Of the Union for
admission. Thst constitution is speak
ing witness against the folly Of the only
"principle" the Black Republicans ever
professed. The Black Republicans do
not pretend that a prohibition by Con
grcss of slavery in Territory would in
terpose a perpetual legal barrier to the
existence of that institution when such
territory should become state, but
their doctrine is, that if slavery be
prohibited in a territory it never would
nor could be established when that
territory had outgrown its Pupilage,
and entered the Union as State. They
have exhausted reams Of paper, and
myriads of lungs in advocating their
theory, but after all it is blown to the
Winds by the action Of few pioneers
on the Pacific coast. Some ten years
sgo when Oregon was organized as a
territory, the WiImot proyiso was in
fashion, and that plaster was applied
TO her back as sure preventive against
the contagion Of "thc peculiar institu-
ton" Now, if there be anything in
the Black Republican argument, sla-
very being prohibited by act Of Con
gress, ought never to gam foothold in
Oregon; and yet it bids fair to be es-
tablished there as firmly as free schools
or trial by jury. The Constitutional
Convention submitted the constitution
and the question Of slavery to the peo-
pie, aud by the last advices VIC learn
that the probabilities are that the adj
vocates Of slavery would triumph.
Those favoring the institution are com
posed Of no one party, nos do they
come from any particular section OF
the Union. In Oregon there is no
such monster as Black Republican
party-the people of that territory not
having yet drawn party lines the con-
test, therefore, is simply between those
who believe slavery adapted to the
wants Of Oregon, and such as arc Of a
different opinion. A correspondent
of the New York independent com
plains that the opponents of slavery
base their opposition on the ground
that negroes could not be profitably
employed and that they would be
likely to escape, ''thus abandoning
the impregnablc position that slavery
is morally wrong" On the question
Of proftableness the advocates of
slavery have decidedly the advantage
for farm laborers and servant maids
cannot be had at any price. lnvoIun-
tary servitude mnst therefor be intro
duced, or the fields will remain uncul-
tivated and the duties of the household
unpreformcd. Like circumstances will
produce like results; no matter though
the records Of Congress be encountered
by pile Of slavery prohibitions as
high as Haman's gallows, the people
Of any territory will establish slavery
whenever their wants require it. 1T is
not merely an usnrpation to impose
unconstitutional restrictions on the
scrritories, 1t is an act Of the ..veriest
folly that fanatics ever committed. Not
only are the Black Republicans wrong
in principle, but in facts also. Their
pet argument-that free territorie:
make free states--is demolished by the
action of Oregon. Let us hope tina,
that action may restore the rank and
file Of the Republican party to reason
The Senatorial Question.
The Gazette is out in denunciatior
Of all discussion as to the disputed sue