Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-09-14

among these Interesting tribes. 1t 10 to slave
~ they owe their wonderful advance In civil
ization. We are bound by treaties to leave
them undisturbed in their own governments
and not to include them in new Territorial
Governments or States. Perfect non-inter-
vention is our policy and duty as regards
them. Let them alone and slavery strength
ems among them every day. In the fulness
of time. and the ripeness of their civilization,
they may beck admission ss State, and must
come in necessarily as slave Suite, if the
South do their duty.
But it may be said this question may be-
come of practical Importance to the South
by the annexation Of new territory. But
this is not 80. Because the only Territories
we could annex would be Cuba OF Mexico.
put out of view entirely Central America,
for that region is too distant for annexation.
The time may come when it will be subdued
by offshuots from the South, but it will exist
as separate republic. AS regards Cuba, il
she comes to US at all, it will be as slave
community, and this question will have no
bearing upon her. As regards Mexico, Mr..
Calhoun uttered great truth when he said :
{" Mexico is forbidden fruit to U.S." He refer
red to the entire United States. The remark
is even more striking, confined to the South
exclusively, because for every acre OF land
adapted to slavery in Mexico, you would ac-
ouire hundred suitable only for free terri
tory. Texas could not diyid. herself to-mor'
row, without great danger Of establishing a
free State on her western border. lought,
perhaps, to remark that in Utah and New
Mexico the territorial legislature have recog-
nized slave property. Yet, in spite @, this
affirmative legislation, climate prevents slave
ry, that is, African slsveryAfor in Utah the
people are really slaves, and in New Mexico
peonage exists.
Under these circumstances, think am
authorized to consider this question of slavery
in tue territories as purely speculative. True
craftsmanship consists in the pursuit of the
practical, for government is o practical affair.
As we can gain nothing practical by the most
ardent and successful pursuit Of this question,
think it ia wise in us to dispose OF it for the
present by leaving it where the Constitution
and the Dred Scott decision now place Il.
We have the decision Of tho Supreme Court
asserting our right to take our slaves into the
territories. We have all the remedies known
to the common law for the protection of this
property in territories. These may be amply
sufficient. If so, then there is no necessity
for further legislation. If these remedies
prove insufficient then we can insist Upon
such further action by the Federal Govern
ment as may be necessary to attain the pur-
pose desired. For the present we can safely
leave the question where tEs constitution and
the decision Of the Supreme Court leave It,
This was, as understand it, precisely the
position taken by MIR. Calhoun, when he said
aThey (the Southern States are willing to
leave the whole subject where the constitu'
ton, and the great and fundamental principle
of sals.government place it." Such too, j
comprehend it correctly, is the position takeI
by Senator Davis, of Mississippi, on recen
! occasion.
AS regards tue revival Of the African slave
trade, think il is most unfortunate issue
Being clearly impossible IN rTe Union, fcan
| not zee what good can possibly result from
its agitation. Besides, tue tendency of th
agitation is to divide and distract the South
when, above all things, We need unity, har
mony and concert OF action at the South.
But if these considerations are not conclu
sive, think the objections to the revival o.
the revival of tue African slave trade insu
perable. To go no farther, we now have
100000 of slaves. In twenty-five year,
we will have 100000; in fifty years We
will have 100000; in sevent. live year.
we will have 32,0UO,0O0. Surely, in the fact
of such an increase as this, in periods SO shor
10 nation, we are under no necessity to
plunge into the ocean of difficulties which
will have to be overcome, to add to our SLAVE
population by new importations.