Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-06


1t was urged that the future. with its un-
known, eventualities, should be led to take
care of itself. 1t was argued that if we could
satisfactorily divide among ourselves what
we now possess that we might well leave to
our children the power and duty of dispos-
ing Of what they may hereafter add to the
public domain. --sA s-----s4 -
But, Mr.. President, in my Judgment. when
| the first and second sections of the Confer
ence proposition are taken together they con-
| stitute better arrangement as to future
Territories than the plan of Mr. Crittenden.
Let it be borne in mind that the diuison of
future territory by the line Of Sc deg. 80
min., is not the acquisition of future Territory.
You may provide in the Constitution that all
future Territory shall be divided by that line;
| but such future Territory remains to be ac-
quired; you may never get it. 1t is only
division in advance, provided you do acquire
| it.
Now, Mr. President, it will be readily seen
| that if you divide before you acquire, by the
/ line of So deg. 80 min., and declare that in
voluntary servitude is not to exist North of
the line, and that slavery shall exist South of
| it, that we enhance ten-fold. if we do not rem
der wholly impracticable, the acquisition of
Territory South of the line. With slavery es-
| tablished before hand in all Territory to be
| acquired South of the line, when we shall
| come to the question of acquisition, in any
given case, under the present mode of acquir-
| ing territory, what prospect would exist of
| making the acquisition?
Let it be borne in mind that Mr. Critten-
| denis proposition contains no change what
| ever of the present plan of acquiring terrific
ry. 1t contains no provisions on that head.
1t leaves future territory to be acquired in
| the modes heretofore practiced. which have
been by treaty and by joint resolution. These
| are the only two modes heretofore resorted to
for the acquisition OF territory. Louisiana
/ and Florida were acquired by treaty; 30 were
| California, New Mexico and Arizona. Texas
was acquired and annexed by joint resolu-
ton of the two houses of Congress-. Taking
! either of these plans of acquisition, in con-
nection with Mr.. Crittenden's scheme, de-
claring future territory to be divided in ad-
vance oy the line of So 80; and what hope
| have you that any territory South of the line
could be brought in?
When it shall have been settled in the Con-
stitution that Southern territory, when it
comes, is to be slave territory, will it ever
come at ALI OF what value is the present
| partition Of future territory if we are to have
| none? Suppose it be attempted by joint res
olution, where is the majority! Why, with
all the Southern States restored to Us and in
| harmony again, the non-slavehold;ng States,
upon joint resolution, are vastly in the ma
jority, with that majority increasing continu-
ally. Suppose you try it by treaty; how are
for the ratification of treaty, unless you
obtain the votes of a very large proportion
of the Northern Senators? The division of
the territory is fixed before it is acquired
on one side it is to be free, on the other slave
holding Power is in the hands of those OPP
posed to slavery. They will use it to acquire
on the North side and to reject acquisition ON
the South side. Leaving the mode of acqui-
stion untouched, and dividing future terri
tory, as Mr.. Crittenden's proposition proposes
to divid 1t, fixing slavery on one side and
nonslavery on the other, in my Judgment
renders it next to impossible that we can &C.
quire anything either by treaty or joint res
olution, South of the division line.
Again, sir-this state of things might arise
under the Crittenden proposition. By that
proposition you divide both present and fu-
ture territory by the line of $3.50. You say
slavery shall exist on one side, and that it
shall be excluded from the other. The exis-
tence of slavery south of the line is guaran-
teed only during It's territorial condition.
When the people of the Territories come to
form State Constitution, they are to decide
for themselves whether or not they shall have
slavery. and are to be admitted as States,
with or without that system, as may be de-
termined by their own Constitution. Now
there are very valuable and desirable pOr-
lions of Mexico and Central America south
of the line of $3.50. These regions are
without slavery. The institution is not per-
mitted by the law of the country. They can
not be acquired as Territories, either under
treaty or by joint resolution, for the reason,
that being made slave country in advance,
the requisite majority could not be obtained
But, suppose the North, with its power of
numbers, with its prepOnderating population,
and with greater aptitude OF its people for
emigration settles its colonies before acqui-
sition, in some of the rich Mexican provinces,
of which they may obtain control in the
changing fortunes of that ill-govered coun-
try. Having obtained number equal to
the population required for a representative
in Congress, suppose them to frame a consti-
tuition for a State Government, Republican
in form, and apply to the Northern majority
for an introduction into this American fami-
ly, either by joint resolution or by treaty.
They might be instantly annexed and come
with State institutions fully formed, thus es-
Gaping the restrictions or impress terrific
rial condition altogether. They would come
with constitution prohibiting slavery. In
such case what benefit would we derive
from q present division of future territories?
We can only fix its condition during the time
it remains a territory. 1t is not claimed by
any one, that we can control the character
of a State constitution.
The same difficulty might arise in another
form. Sonora, Tamaulipas. or other Mexican
States, might themselves apply to be an
nexed to the American Union, as States. In
that event, the proposed division of future
Territory would not avail us. Even New
Mexico and Arizona are only secured to slave
labor during the continuance of Territorial
condition. Even as to them, the right to de-
eide for themselves, when forming State Con-
situations, whether they will adopt or reject
slavery, is acknowledged and reserved. 1t
is the uncomfortable right of sovereign
State, to construct and shape its own domes-
tic Institutions. La the case supposed, the
Mexican State, annexed to, or received at all,
would come with its own Constitution as a
State, and with, or without slavery, as such
Constitution might provide.
We are constrained, then, to look to some
other source Of security in the future extra
Territorial acquisitions of the nation, than
the mere division of them, in advance by a
given line. This security. think, will be
found in the provisions of the second section |
of Conference adjustment, and which should |
be considered in connection with the objec- |
ton to the first section, that it omits to d. |
vide fntrlre acnuisitions