Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-31

Total increase Of the North since ,l4I
In seventy six years the South has gained but
252 962 square miles, and the North, in the same
period, has gained ,406, 14i square miles The
South has increased her limits about SO per cent
while the North has extended near ], 900 per cent
In 2l7 100 square miles of the territory thus ac
quired by the North, slavery existed by lsw but is
now abolished OF the small amount acquired by
the South it was all slave territory when acquired,
and remains
That is the history of the progress of the two
sections. Where, then, is there the slightest pre-
text IF our Northern friends for one moment en-
tsrtanng the belief that slavery is to be spread all
over the country? This idea that the South or the
Democratic party, or any party at the South, are
slavery propsgandists, by and through the Federal
Government. is mistake and Northern politicians
have misled the public mind Of the North when
they have attempted to promulge such an idea The
only position taken by any party in the South is
that We of the South equals in this Union and
that when Territories acquired our citizens
have the right under the Constitution, to go there
and that power short of the people of the Terri
! tories themselves can at any time exclude them
from this right. There is some division among US
as to when the people CT Territory should act
whether they should do it while in territorial Ca
pscity, or whether they should wait until they form
State constitution; but all agree that there is no
power which exclude the South from her rights
in Territory but the people who settle that Terri
tory are in faver of the largest liberty to the
people to 60 to the Territories that acquired by
the common blood and the common treasure of all
the States and of all the citizens Of all the States
and to stand upon perfect equality in relation to
their rights in those Territories
What objection the North have 20 thati II
is THAT slavery win go up North. Every man
who knows the character of the Northern people,
knows that they look well to their own interests
and they have abolished slavery in the Northern
States and in doing that they have shown by their
example that there is fear that slavery will ever
90 where it is Improbable This being So vhv is it
that there is this hostility il the public mind at the
North against this institution Of slavery Sir they
have got ingrsfted on their minds an idea that
slavery is sinful, and that this Government is re-
sponsibie fer the sin of slavery if ii be tolerated
Doubtless q large majority of the people of the
North devoted to the Constitution of this coun-
try, and willing to give constitutional
rights if they are not mised upon this subject In
my humble judgment they have been, whether iu-
tentionally not, grossly misled. They have been
taught that :he Constitution of the country does
not recognize the right of property in man, and
that if slavery it permitted go into any Of the
Territories it will make them accessory to this
great sin of slavery. Why, sir, we must look to
the circumstances that attended our Declaration of
Independence, and the formation Of this Cons itu-
ion The ships of the North and South were then
engaged in The African slave trade. They we're go
ing TO Africa, and there buying or kidnapping ne
groes, and bringing them TO the Uuited States, snd
selling them TO the citizens of the Union as slaves
proposition was made to abolish that trade or to
give Congress The power to abolish it; but the North,
the States Of Massachusetts,, Copnecticut, and New
Hampshire, said that they wanted the trade extend
ed, at least until 1903; thus giving them twenty
years more to bring this species OF properly to the
United States, sell it. aad pocket the profits of the
sale 1t was the idea entertained then, universally
Nobody thought Of any thing else than thai they
we're legally bought and sold properly
But, sir, when you came to organize the Alissis-
sippi Territory, you put in your bill that any man
being the owner OF slave might take that slave
into that Territory aud there reside. And every
Administration from that day TO this, and every
President of the United States has recognized the
same idea. Congress has again and again recog-
nizcd it. and directed slaves to be paid for as pro-
psrty. Your treaties have recognised it, And, sir,