Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-02
ISCEL L A N x.
Col. Baldwin,s speech Concluded.

Col. BaldWIn's Speech Concluded.
Mr. Baldwin, Of Augusta, being entitled to
the floor, proceeded to consider the Territorial
question, to which he was alIndipg at the time
| of the adjournment on yesterday. lie recapitu
lated the position that the present territory of
the United States was unsuited to slave labor,
while there was in the South slch deficiency
| as to lead to the serious contemplation of re-
opening the African slave trade. With regard
to the apprehension of the South becoming over
run with slaves thus converting it into second
San Domingo he argued that the tendency was
1.-The other way that the demand always exceed
ed the supply. 1t had been urged by the gentle
man from Albenale, that in fifty years the
Souti; would become Atricanized. His own opin-
lion always had been that it would be hundreds,
of years before the South would require an out
Ilet for the surplus of her slave population; and
to sustain this view. be read from speech 10
1.-The Senate of the United States, by Mr.. Ham
mond of South Carolina, within the past year,
IN reply to Republican Senator, (Mr Doohttle,
of Wisconsin, in regard to this very apprehen-
lsIon. Mr. Hammond assumed the position that
the South was capable, within It's present limits,
of sustaining a slave population OF 2O0,0O0,0 ,0O0,
land utterly repudated the idea OF necessity tor
expansion in this respect, although he did not
surrender any OF the rights OF the South to fu~
ture acquisition.
He believed with Senator Hammond that the
South was fully able to take care of itself, when
the question arises. He conceived that it would
be for the interest of Virginia to stop the drain
of slaves to the cotton States, and by the en-
ployment of more slave labor in the West, se-
cure homogenousness of interest throughout
the State The cotton States were quite as de-
pendent upon US for their supply of slave labor,
as we were upon them for any market tor sur
plus of the productions OF labor.
t.. A,tx of tho Nnrfh fa N
upon the subject; the time for settlement had
come, and he thought it should be comprehen-
sive settement-the Territorial question ought
| to be settled at once and forever. He was aware
lof the apprehension at the South that the doc
trine of the Dred Scott decision could not pre-
vail permanently. The true doctrine, he tho't,
was expressed in one section of the report of the
lComrnittee, that 1.-THE Territories of the United
States, and any policy in respect to such Terri
tories calculated to confer greater benefits on the
people of one part the United States than on
the people OF another part, is contrary to equal
ty and prejudicial to the rights Of some TOR
whose equal benefit the trust was created. Ii
the equal admission of slave labor and free labor
into any Territory. exeites unfriendly conflict be
tween the systems, fair partition of the Terri
tories ought to be made between them, and each
system ought to be protected within the limits
assigned to it, by the laws necessary tor its pro-
per development"
lie contended that no species of property in
the United States should have more protection
than the peculiar property of Virginia. He
claimed full and perfect equality with the people
Iof the Moth, and would consent to no restrc-
Ition that was not applied to the property OF cit
tizens in every section. He would not consent
4 that VOLTS lead should be put upon the insti
tuition OF slavery to attract to it the opposition
e OF mankind. These were his sentiments, and
they were such as he had always entertained
He then went into an argument upon the amend
ments to the Federal Constitution, proposed by
, the Committee, which he considered decided
Improvement upon the Crittenden propositions,
lin so far as they afforded more certain protec-
ton 10 slavery in the Territory South OF 36 80.
, Aluding to the protection of the common law,
he declared as a lawyer that when legal pro-
tession ceased to be u safe depository OF private
right. Republican liberty would no longer be
worth preserving. Let fanaticlsm howl as it
might, the rights of the people would be secure
With regard to future acquisitions of territory,
tie laid down the position that constitutional
amendments were utterly vaueless, for treaties
3 would have to be made with people living be
yond the limits of our constitutional law. We
lad an example OF this 10 the acquisition of Tex
as. during the Administration OF the distinguish
ed gentleman from Charles City, He Mr.. Is }
was perfectly satisfied to trust all matters touch
ug the acquisition Of new territory to the hands
J o Southern Sena1ors. Fur himself he did not
incline 10 any further expulsion. The third sec
ton, in regard to the protection OF slavery 10
1.-The District OF Columbia and the Interstate slave
trade covered the whole subject completely. II
refused to the Black Republican party the right
! ever TO legislate upon the subject OF slavery In
the States or in the District OF Columbia 1t pro-
posed to engraft upon The Constitution perpet
a,f el1 rV
any where, except by the unanimous consent OF
all the States. This, he thought, would drive
The last nail into the coffin Of the srrepressible
conflict" He then proceeded to argue the point
relative to the tax on slaves, alludiDg to the po
sltion advanced by the gentleman from Princess
!. Anne, (Mr. Wise)
Mr.. Wise rose to correct the gentleman, and
in so doing made a severe thrust at the late
Peace Conference, which called forth demon
stratlon of applause from the spectators.
The Cnairman warned the spectators that If
such demonstration were repeated, the gallery
and lobby would be cleared.
Mr.. Baldwin went on to show that the slave
was not faxed as man for man, bnt according to
the ratio of representation, and that there was
no Limitation 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 indi
rect, rested wholly with Congress, and when the
North wished to lay tax upon slaves, they could
only lay it upon three ftths of the slave poPula-
tion, while their own white beads were only
taxed per capita.
| Mr. Baldwin said he could not be expected to
be as well posted as the gentleman from Princess
Anne, who had written book upon the subject.
Mr. Wise said be would be glad to take, as a
pupil, one who had not yet learned the a, b, @,
of the euhiect U,auphler)
Mr.. Baldwin supposed he would; and he ap
pretended such a pupil was just the kind he
would be fitted to teach. Uaughter)
Mr.. Baldwin continued to argue upon the pro-
positions, which, he believed, covered the entire
scope in which the Constitution required amends
ment. As every point Of objection urged to the
Peace Conference propositions had been removed,
in spirit of Difference to those who criticised
them, he thought now they ought to command
the support of the distinguished gentleman from
Charles City, and others who thought with him. |
He (Mr. b. would not consent to final settle