Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-02-15


prohibition CT slavery therefrom. This limits
their complaint Of exclusion to the remaining
region south u that line. If we eXclude tho
Indian reservations, which arc covered hy sol
cmn treaties, this leaves nothing hut the tract of
lard which goes under the name Of New Mex
leo and Arizona Ii is from this tract they COM
plain of exclusion. 1t is in this tract they de-
mand constitutional guaranty for the protec-
ton of slavery, and in case Of refusal they IRE
ready to dissolve the Union.
Now would ask, how stands the fact This
territory has been organized more than ten years.
It hes been freely open 10 shareholders with
their slaves daring all that period. Slavery has
enjoyed all the protection that government IA
vorable to It in all its branches hrs been able to
extend over Il. The territorial organization has
rgirsed the bantling by every artificial process,
even TO the connection Of n terrible slayc-code,
which has but one obstacle 70 lbs exercise, and
that Is the absence Of al desire TO execute it, MS
well as the want Of slaves to whom 70 apply IT,.
80 It has been stretched over upon white people
What more could have been done for protection
If your constitutional amendment had been in
" ilstl iilbtf NbaNA TX NltN - u
adopted ROW? New Mexico Is under the shield
of the Supreme Court. Congress cannot prohib-
II slavery there in the face Of that tribunal
New Mexico has now twcnty-tro Slaves on the
surface oe two hundred thousand srrore miles
Of her extent And Of these only twelve are
domiciled. The remainder are but transient
residents. New Mexico shows then at this mo-
mont all that ten years OF protection Of slavery
have made her. She has slave code and
twelve slaves. And yet you want more protcc-
ton, and you threaten dissolution of the Union
II you dono' get it, forgetting, apprchcnd, that
II you execute your threat, instead Of getting
more you may lose MI that you have already
obtained. If New Mexico has gained only one
slave year during oll the time you have he'd to
PIT them there, it . scarcely likely that the
number will increase AFTER your protecting care
shall have been totally withdrawn. think it
needs no farther argument TO show that the
question whether this shall or shall not be slave
territory, is Ike that alluded to by the Roman
poet, ode lana caprna," or in other words, of
getting wool out Of goat
Isay then in answer to the demand Of
constitutional Guaranty of protection
to slavery in New Mexico, that you ere
asking for wha. in substance YOU enjoy
already, and what is good for nothing to
you if you get it. You viii not 90 with
your slaves to New Mexico, for the cx-
cellent reason that you are doing better
with them nearer home. Yet still, nv
this is all the territory left, about which
there is any contention between US, the
committee come forward with an in
ternefiate proposal TO settle it once for
all 10y making ii a state. This puts an end
TO all further strife about prohibition or
protection. The people OF the territory
have already the right granted to them
on the statute book Of determining the
question for themselves. You have on
your side possession, which they say
makes nine points in the law. We have
on ours the aridity of the surface, unra-
ul,f'z 10 u}, forms or agricuirural Ia,
and therefore unpropitious to slavery.
Let us abide by that result row which is
sure to come sooner or later. / for one
am free to say | Go not fear It. And
here let me quote remark made 10 me
personally on this subject by one OF the
gentlemen on the opposite side Of the
committee. He objected to this PROPOSE
ton because he said it put US both in a
false position. I should be censured at
home for voting to admit slave state,
whist he should meet with similar treat
ment for conserving TO admit another free
state. Now it seemed to me on the con-
trary that the very even nature of this
chance was exactly that which would
justly both of us in our respective action.
Yet ] confess should be very unwilling
TO enter into the proposition unless we
can all agree to regard it as putting to
rest forever troublesome cause of dis
sension. have no desire TO vote for it
if il be not acceptable to the other side.
Bot even if they should reject it, think
the offer ought at least to extinruish
every future complaint about the exclu-
sion of Shareholders from the Territories :.
and every pretense that the refusal toI
grant protection is good cause for their
present violent course.
The dissolution Of the Union would
scarcely tend to make more slaves in the
territories of the United States. very
much doubt whether il would enlarge the
number any where. Be that as it may,
if it be thought better to let New Mexi-
60 remain in its present condition, even
though II be sIsveholding beyond all
present power of change by Congress, /
ara content. On still other accounts OK
,spting as a settlement Of strife, / should
regard this as The most advisable course.
But in either course | see no objection to /
from its statute book. under
he authority expressly reserved to Con-
,ress, that portion of it so well described
~ my friend from Ohio. I cannot i'm
CINE that any calm, right-minded man of