Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-01-21

with its usual rapid steps.
he next event which brought the sub
tJect Of slavery into public consideration
vas the annexatipn of Texas. The Prcsi-
iential election Of 1894 was made to turn
almost entirely upon this single question.
tne EEeat majority Of the people Of the
Free States were much dissatisfied With
the result, but with their sense of duty MS
iS'tArns OF a free Republic, they submitted
WIN regret. but with no disposition to
make improper opposition TO The will of
tnS people i:i mrcLrdauce with all the
for of law. Between this period aud
that of 1921, the public mind was not HC.
titfted, nor the public peace ut all cndan-
gsred by discussions on Federal Iegislu-
ton touching the subject Of slavery.
4 The late w.'r with Mexico resulted in the
acquisition OF Tertiary. From the mo-
ment OF this acquisition, the question of
me oeeppauon Of the territory ceded b.
the treaty OF peace with slave or free la-
Dor, ngain called into action all the con-
plctEng opinions and ideas which have
geen, and perhaps always viii he, held on
ttae SUBJECT OF slavery, uRtil ull men shall
be agreed as TO the mora! and economical
bpriDcipleS on which it rests This struq-
Esle was attended with all thernngry dis
fchsSious which had SO sgnally, marked the
btwo previous contests. Then, as now.
sdlsunion was threatened, pnblic bodies re-
tsotEed on secession, and for two years
kschFcelS any other question of interest
was known or discussed in Congress Al
Length, in September, 1850. Congress act
I'd hh9uS on the subject, aud peaceful,
tHough IN some quarIers sl,lieu, Ncquies-
cence ioll"wed. The leading lnou, 'huw-
ever, OF all parties ut thNt time. vowed G-
Gellty TO that compromise, aud the pnl,Ii,.
{ mind had reason to hope that our lOuiu
Il ION having reached the Pacific Ocean. rn
tnre acquisition of territory would not-be
desired, and by consequence tins disturb
lnS question coHld not again arise. IL,
1891, however, by the repeat Of the law of
1921, known as the Missouri compromise,
and the attempt tn extend slavery where,
w thnt venerable law, it had been urohib-
tied, this disturbing question VA, again
opened Out OF the grave in which it hRd
been buried III 1850, aad this fearful sui
rlt OF dis"ord arose. The presentdeplor,-
Dle condition OF the country bears witness
10 the miSchicFs which it has wroupht.-
I We see strong ind powerful parties main
talnlug opposite opinions OH this very
f9uestI"n. These hOstile opinions are
trenuously adhered TO on Gael. side, icav-
lnE little or nn hope of agreement witlIont
a surreudrrO OF convictions honestly enter
rtinGd. Any adjustment founded upon
legal principles in which all will agree
seemed Ilite imnUssible. The cxbedient
OF withdrawing the subject mutter of con-
trnvcrsy froui this conflict of upiniOn
;nnd, by another mode Of settlement, Civ
ling to the South and the North all that
each, under existing unIstances, could
fsxpecI or should desire to obtain. seems to
tue committee the best, ii mot tie onlv.
mode of Peagetul adjustment left us.
The committee were iinprcssrd withsiu
Z urtiVy
ntshGd by our past history, that in a. Re
rlhlic constituted as ours is, in all cases
where p1rties are ubstiuately divided lu
opinion on subjects which touch the utter
estS or wake up the passions of different
sections, it the clear dictate of wisdom
to- withdr1tw the subject in every case pos.
stNIe from the strife OF parties, and to Keep
ELhe Federal Government us far sccureil
from any connection with it as duty to the
Constitution will permit. The committee
deem the present controversy, involving
the right to carry slavery into territory not
yet formed into State governments. one
peenliHrly fitted for the Implication OF the
principle just announced.
Ii is comteuded, gu one hand, that in all
the territory now in possession of the Jul
ted States, not embraced within the limits
OF any State, aud lying sOutll OF the lrIrnl-s
lei of latitude 36o 3OI north slave v slnll
he recognised and protected 10y law. The
TERRITORY thus defined cOmrreheR,is the
now organized Territory of New Mexico,
Including Arlzonn, which last, hy IL law of
Congress has been attached to and mude
- part Of New Mexico. This Territory
Was organized in 1850. By its organic
law tue Territorial Legislature was an
thorizei to enact laws and report tlenl to
Congress. 1t was provided, in tie snmc
act, that II Congress should disnpprUve the
laws thus made they should be null and
Eoid.
In the year 1859 the Territorial Lpgis!a-
ture of New Mexico established slavery in
that Territory. This law WAS a proved
ut the hast session of Congress by IL vote
OF tue House, but the Senate have not yet
acted upon tue bill and so the law of The
Territory, not hnving been nunuIIed bv
both Houses Of Congress, remains in full
force, and slavery now exists by law in
New Mexico.
ltis1urther provided, by the act of $50,
that New Mexico. when SHE is admitted in
the Union, shall be admitted with or with
out slavery as her constitution may or
dntn: The committee now propose to qd-
| nit New Mexico into tile Union as Stute
on equal footing with the origiuaI States. |
Gy this course the faith of the nation |
| pledged in the act Of 1850 will be pre-
served, and the territory lying south OF the |
parallel of 1862 3Oi will be disposed of,
aud the suhject-'nattcr OF controversy re- |
moved from the jurisdiction of the Fed |
er4l Government. Thus ali claimed by |
tue South will be obtained, while the |
Northern portion OF our remaining Terri !
tory will be subject to such law rs the |
Constitution aud Congress furnish for its I
| government.
BY this adjustment of ths present terri |
N fha TYrf.