The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-02-14

tive OF the annexation Of Texas or disco
luton 0ffhe Union.
10 lS47 Mr.. Calhoun introduced q set OF
resolutions on the subject of slavery, which
presented, for the fret time in the history Of
the country, the doctrine that Congress hss
no authority to legislate for the prohibition
OF slavery in the Territories. Col. Benton
denounced the resolutions at the time - Z
"rIRE-BRArD," designed to promote agita-
ton, nulli6cstion and disunion. II VAS 10
connection with this movement that Mr.. Cal
houn wrote . private letter TO friend in
the South, in which he avowed it ~ his OBJ.
ject to promote agitation, unite the South,
and force the slavery issus upon the North.
Here 10 . brief extract from that letter,
which shifts the responsibility from the
shoulders Of the North and places it upon
those OF the nuiiiGers and secessionists OF
the South. He said:
81 am much grati6ed with the tone and
views Of your letter, and concur entirely 10
tho opinion you express, that instead OF
stunning, We ought to court the issue with
the North on the slavery question. would
even 20 one step further, and add that it ID
our duty-due to ourselves, TO the Union,
and our political institutions, to force she
issue on the North. We are now stronger
relatively than Ne shall be hereafter, politl-
oally and morally. Unless We bring on the
issue, delay TO rs will be dangerous in
Decd"
In the same letter Calhoun DEVELOPS his
plan for detaching the Northwestern from
the Northeastern States. Col. Benton re-.
marks in regard to that feature OF the let
ter:
"This discloses q further feature in the
plan Of forcing the issue. The Northeastern
States we're to be excluded from Southern
maritime commerce; the Northwestern States
we're to be admitted to it by railroad, and
also allowed to reach New Orleans BY the
Mississippi river. And this Discrimination
in favor OF the North western States Was for
the purpose OF detaching them from the
Northeast. Detach 10 tho word. And that
word signifies 10 separate, dissDgage, disu-
mite. mart from: 90 tina. .he seheme Of disu
MON contemplated the inclusion OF The North
In l848, upon the exclusion Of slavery
from Oregon, Mr.. Calhoun was much excl
ted, and made : very inasmmatory speech,
from which We quote:
eThe great strife between the North and
the South 10 ended. The North 10 deter
mined to exclude the property OF tho slave.
holder, and Of course the stakeholder him.
self from ito territory. On this point there
seems to be no dirision in the North. In
the South, he regretted to say, there Was
some division Of sentiment. The effect OF
this determination OF the North was to con-
vert ail the Southern population into slaves;
and he would never consent to entail that
disgrace on bis posterity. He denounced
any Southern man who would not take the
same course. Gentlemen were greatly mis
taken il they supposed the Presidential ques-
ton 10 the South would override this more
important one. The separation of the North
and the South is completed"
Thus il will b seen that in 1848, accord
ing TO the testimony Of Calhoun, the North
Was united in favor Of slavery prohibition
and the South was divided. From that .imt
forth Mr.. Calhoun labored and his disciples
labored more successfully to unite the South
and divide the North. Members from ths
South who voted for the prohibition Of slave
~ in the Territories were incessantly de-
pounced as traitors TO the South and kostil,
to the peculiar institution; Northern Demo
Gratis we're csjoled and bribed by fattery and
Office; and thus the North was divided ant
the South united, and the Democratic party
controlled by shareholders and the disoiplel
OF Calhoun, ruled the country. Benton APT
the moderate men OF the South were ostra
oised and deprived of their influence 10 tn
party and in tho councils Of the nation. an,
at the same time the Locofoco leaders of th
North gave in to the policy Of the ruling fac
ton Of the South. Such is the history o
| the question down to 1850.
/ n 4 n N al YssNn -