The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-22

An Argument to Mon who do Not
Hate the South.
OAss1Us M. CLAY favors the Cancellation
Of the South, and an adjustment of the
present unhappy controversy. For this, he
is denounced by the New York Tribune
and kindred spirits. In letter defending
his position, he puts to the mot an inch,"
"no compromise" Republicans, this argu-
ment 81 remember" be says, that when
war was threatened between Great Britain
and the United States, we gave up five and
forty Tooth degrees of latitude of our most
magnificent country, rather than fight.
Shall We 60 to war with our brothers,
rather than yield territory which is not
worth one-hundredth part as much as we
gave foreign foe, for peace?" But this is
just what the Republican party of Mime
sofa propose to do. lift was Great Britain
we were dealing with, and not our brethren
of the South, and either the CR1rTENDEN or
Border State compromise was proposed as
ameasure of peace, it would be adopted by
both nations as an adjustment, far prefera-
BILE to the evils and horrors of war. In the
northeastern boundary discussion, we COM
promised with Great Britain, and in the
dispute on the Oregon question, we surren-
dered to her, in preference to going to war,
all our claims to Fifty four-forty." Yet we
are told in Minnesota Legislature, that
men never compromise" our troubles
must be settled, according to the Consti-
tuition as interpreted in the Chicago plat
FORM" and that we cannot possibly recog-
nize the Virginia Peace Conference" This
is not the language Of enlightened and
humane statesmen but is rather character
istic solely of politicians, intent upon selfish
ends, and fanatics, who so hate the South
that they will plunge the country into war
to crafty their malevolent feelings.
By the CRIrTENDEN compromise, the
main features of which are retained in the
Border States proposition, the South is
guaranteed in the right to hold slaves in all
territory south of the Missouri Compromise
line, during its territorial existence. Upon
the admission of any part of the country
into the Union as State, the people are
authorized to form State Convention,
prohibiting or retaining slavery as they
deem proper. Mr.. SEWARD, in his late
patriotic speech in the Senate, referred to
the present condition of the country whose
status is defined by the CRlrrENDEN meas
ure, and spoke as practical man, of the
probability Of slavery being perpetuated
therein. He said:
"What is the extent of the Territories
which remain after the admission of Mime
sofa, of Oregon, of California, and of Kansas?
One million sixty. three thousand five hundred
and seven square miles, an area twenty. four
times that Of the State of New York, the
largest of the old and fully developed States.
Twenty-tour such States as this of New
York are yet to be organized within the
remaining Territories OF the United States.
Now, under what is accepted by the Ad.
ministration of the Government as a Judi.
cial decree, upheld by it, put in practical
operation by it, every inch of that territory
is slave territory-I speak of that decision,
not as l accept it, but as 1t is accepted and
enforced by the existing Administration
every foot of it slave territory as much as
South Carolina. Over considerable por-
ton of it a sieve code, made by govern.
ment created by the Congress of the United
States, is enforced; so that, according to the
claims of those who insist upon a right in
the territory of the United States for
slavery, the whole of this one million sixty
three thousand square miles is slave terrific
ry. How many slaves are there in it?
How many have been brought into it during
these twelve years in which it has been not
only relinquisbed to slavery, but in which
the court and the legislature and the adj
ministration have maintained, protected,
defended, and guaranteed slavery there?
Twenty.four African slaves; one slave for
every forty-four thousand square miles, one
slave for every one of the twenty four States
which, supposing them each to be of the
dimensions of New York or Pennsylvania
or Indiana, are to cover that portion of the
area of our Republic. Sir, have followed
this thing in good faith, with zeal and
energy; but confess that have no fears
of slavery now where, in the peculiar condi-
ton of things which has existed, slavery has
succeeded in planting only one slave upon
every forty four thousand square miles Of
territory.
"This, then, has ceased to be practical
question. In lieu OF it comes up great
and vital and fearful questionable ques
ton of Union or dissolution of the Union
the question of country Or no country the
question of hope, the question OF greatness,
or the question of sinking forever. There
has been real, vital question in this
country for twelve years at least-a ques-
ton of slavery in the Territories OF the
United States. 1t was strongest in its de.
velopment in 1850, when all the Pacific
co0t, and all the Territory intervening