Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-29

States unsuited to slave labor while there was
In the South such deficiency to lead to the Sc
rlous contemplation of re-openng the slave trade.
With regard to the apprehension OF the South be-
coming overrun with slaves, thus converting it
into second San Domingo, he argued that the
tendency was the other way-that the demand al
ways exceeded the supply. 1t had been urged by
the gentleman from Albemarle, that in fifty years
the South would become Afrlcanized His own
opinion always had been that it would be hundreds
OF years before the South would require an outlet
lor me surplus OF her slave population; and to
sustain this view, he read from speech in the
Senate of the United States, by Mr.. Hammond, of
South Carolina, within the past year, in reply to
Republican Senator, (Mr. Doolittle, of Wscon-
Hammond assumed the position that the South
was capable within IT'S present limits, of sustaining
slave population of 200, 0O0 600, and utterly re-
pudiated the idea of a necessity for expansion in
this respect, although he did net surrender any of
the rights of Che South to future acquisition.
| He believed with Senator Hammond that 1.-THE
South was fully able to take care of ITSELF when
the question arises. lie conceived that it would
be for the interest OF Virginia to stop the drain of
slaves to the cotton States, and by the employ
NEST OF mere slave labor in the West, secure a
honogenousness of interest throughout The Sta te.
The cotton States were quite as dependent upon
US for their supply of slave labor, as we were upen
them for any market for a surplus of the nroduc
tions of labor.
1t was the duty of the North to speak out upon
the subject; the time for settlement had come.
and be thought i; should be comprehensive set
tiement the territorial question ought to be set
tied at once and forever. He was aware of the
apprehension at the South that the bred Scott de-
cfsion eouid Eot prevail permanently. The true
doctrine, ne thought was expressed in one section
OF the report OF the Committee, that "thc Terrific
administered by the General Government, for the
common benefit OF the people of the nited States
and any policy in respect to such Territories cal
cuated TO confer greater benefits on the people of
/ nTl f6aff ha I1,,sto
OF another part, is contrary to equality and preiu-
dlcla to the rights of some for whose equal benefit
the trust was created. If the equal admission of
slave labor and free labor into any Territory. ex-
partition Of the Territories ought to be protected
within the limits assigned to it, by theaws neces-
l.sary for its proper Developments
He ecestenaed that no species of property in the
united States should have more protection tn
the peculiar property of Virginia He claimed full
and perfect equality with the people of the North,
and would consent to no restriction that was NOT
applied to the property citizens in every section
he would not consent that VOLTS head should be
put upon the instution of slavery to attract to it
t0e opposition of mankind. These were his senti-
ments and they were such as he had always enter
tained. he then went into argument upon the
amendments to the Federal Constitution, proposed
by the Committee, which he considered decided
improvement upon the Crittenden propositions. in
so far as they afforded more certain protection to
slavery in territory south of So 80. Abiding to
the protection OF the common law, he declared as
lawyer that when the legal profession ceased to
be safe depository of private right, Republican
liberty would no longer be worth preserving. Let
taneScism how as 1t might, the rights of the peo-
PIE would De secure. With regard to future ac-
QUESTIONS OF territory, he laid down the position
that constitutional amendments were utterly val
ueess, for treaties would have to be made with
people living beyond the limits of our constitu.
tlonal law. We taa an example of this in the ac-
QUESTION Of Texas, during the administration of
the distinguished gentleman from Charles CITY,
lie Mr.. 3D. was perfectly satisfied to trust all
matters touching the acquisition of new territory
TO the hands OF Southern Senators. For himself,
he did not incline to any further expansion The
third section in regard to the protection Of slavery
IN the District of Columbia. and the inter. State
slave trade, covered the whole subject completely.
1t refused to the Black Republican rty the right
ever to eglslate upon the subject of slavery in the
States or in the District of Columbia. 1t proposed
to engraft upon the Constitution perpetual pro-
hibltion against the abolition of slavery anywhere.
except by the unanimous consent of ali the States
Ihis, ne thought, wosd drive the last nail iato the
ceeded to argue the point relative to the tax on
slaves, abiding to the position advanced by the
gentleman fion Princess Anne, lMr. Wises
Mr.: Wise rose to correct the gentleman, and in
so doing made a severe thrust at the late Peace
Conference, which called forth demonstration Of
applause from the spectators.
Inc Chairman warned the spectators that if such
a demonstt alton were repeated, the gallery and
lObbv Id be cleared.
Mr.. Baldwin went on to show that the slave res
not taxed as man for man, out according to the
ratio OF representation, and that there was no lima
itation in regard to that feature.
This led to another explanation from Mr.. Wise,
who argued that Congress was invested with the
power OF limitation. Taxation, direct or indirect,
rested wholly with Congress, and when the North
~ishedito lay tax upon slaves, they could only lay
it upon three-ff OF the slave population While
their own white heads were taxed per Capita
Mr.. Baldwin said he could not be expected to be
as well posted the gentleman from Princess
Anne, who had written a book upon the subject.
Mr.. Wise said he would be glad to take, as a pu-
pill, one who had not yet learned the A, B, c. of
Mr.. Baldwin supposed he would; and he appre-
hended that such pupil was Just the kind he would
be fitted to teach. [Laughter.]
Mr.. BALDWIN continued 20 argue upon the prop
osItlons, which he believed, covered the entire
scope in which the Constitution required amend
ment. AS every point of objection urged to the
Peace Conference propositions had been removed,
III spirit Ut difference to those who had criticised
them, he thought they ought now to command the
support of the distinguished gentleman from Chas.
City, and others who thought with him. He
MT. 3D. would not consent to final settlement
OF the question by a Border Conference, or any
other Conference but woua reserve it for the rat
iflcation or rejection of the people. He though.
when everything had been settled to the satisfac-
ton OF the Border States-when our Southern SIS
tiers saw that the question was settled in a manner
satisfactory to Virginia, they would return and
look the issue sternly in the face; and when they
thought of the stars and stripes under which they
mad marched In career of prosperity, they would
hardly refuse to come back. But should they re-
fuse, it would still be the duty of Virginia to look
alter her own rights, and take care of her own in
terests lie then argued that far as the agricutu
raj interests OF Va. were concerned, she would be
infinitely better Oft to remain as she was than to
secede from the Union. The Cotton States raised
neither breadstuffs nor live stock to any extent,
but they must have them, and would purchase
OF Virginia. In laying their tariff, they had left
these articles duty free. They were bound to have
them, and could not do without them. There
would be free access to their market, and he
could see no reason for seeding in order to get to
1T. 1t Virginia were IT, secede, there would more
over be a line of custom houses between hel and
the North, and protective tariff would cut us off
from all articles of material necessity that we
wanted to buy. He knew but little about manu-
features. in regard to which interest allusion had
been made. He did not, However, wish to intro
duce the ankee system into Virginia-those i'm
mense Iporations of which we heard SO much
He preferred the peaceful pursuits which at pres
emit characterized the inhabitants. He protested
against the breaking up of this great theatre on
which the experiment Of free trade was in progress
of splendid development
In conclusion, Mr.. Baldwin apoIogizad for hav-
ing SO long detained the Committee ia listening to
an exposition Of his views. When he looked along
the line ct his duty and saw the number Of steps
that were necessary to accomplish the object IF
his hope, his mind often quailed, and he trembled
with apprehension. He believed, however, that it
was his duty to walk in the path which he had
marked out If he performed we'll the patriotic
duty which he had undertaken, he could safely
leave the rest in the hands of the great Disposer
OF events. He would, therefore. turn neither to
the right nor to the left but would march straight
on, IN the line of duty and Of right, and leave the
result to God