Polynesian., 1862-06-28
No. 9.

serve. Separation, with them, means at least half
the Territories including the Mexican border, and
the consequent power of invading and Oyerrunning
Spanish America for the purpose of planting there
the peculiar institution which even Mexican
civilization has found too bad to be endured There
Is no knowing to what point of degradation cOun-
trv may be driven in a desperate state of it's
affairs but if the North eUer, unless the brink
OF actual ruln makes peace with the South, giving
up the original cause of QUARREL the freedom of
the Territories; if it resigns to them when out Of
the Union that power of evil which it would not
grant to retain them in the Unlon-it will incur
the pity and disdain of pOsterlty. And no one can
suppose that the South would have consented, in
their present temper ever will consent, to an ac-
cOmmOdatIOn on any other terms. Ii will require
succession of humiations to bring them to that.
The necessity of reconcilng themselves to the
fnement of slavery within its existing boundaries,
with the natural consequence, immediate mitiga-
ton of slavery, and ultimate emancipation, is les
son which they are in no mood to learn from any,
thing bot disaster. Two three defeats in the
field, breaking their military strength, though not
followed by an invasion of their territory, may
possibly teach it to them. If so, there is breach
of charity in hoping that this severe schooling may
promptly come. When men set themselves up, in
defiance of the rest of the world, to do the DEVILS
work, good can come of them until the world
has made them feel that this work cannot be suf-
fered to be done any longer. If this knowledge
tion question will by that time have settled itself.
For assuredly Congress will very soon make up its
mind to declare all slaves free who belong to per-
sons in arms against the Union. When that is
done, slavery, confined to minority, will soon cure
itself; and the pecuniary value of the negroes be-
longing to loyal masters will probably not exceed
the amount OF compensation which the United
States will be willing and able to give.
The assumed difficulty of governing the Southern
States free and equal commODwt alths, In of
their return to the Union, is purely imaginary. If
brought back by force, and not by voluntary COM
pact they will return without the Territories and
without a Fugitive Slave Law. 1t may be assumed
that in that event the victorious party would make
the alterations in the Federal Constitution which
are necessary to adapt it to the circumstances,
and which would not infringe, but strengthen, Its
democratic principles. An article would have to
be inserted prohibiting the extension of slavery to
the Territories, or the admission into the Union of
any new Slave State. Without any other guaran-
tee, the rapid formation of new Free States would
ensure to freedom decisive and constantly ncreas-
ing maijrity in Congress. 1t would also be right
to abrOgate that bad provision of the Constitution
"a necessary compromise at the time of its first
ta5lishment) whereby the slaves, though reckoned
citizens In no other respect, counted to the
extent of three-fths of their number in the est-
mate of the population for fixing the number of
representatives of each State in the Lower House
of Congress. Why should the masters have mem-
ers in right of their human chattels, any more
than of their oxen and pigs! The President, in
his Message, has already proposed that this salu-
tary reform should be effected in the of Mary
land, additional territory, detached from Virginia,
being given to that State as equivalent; thus
clearly indicating the policy which he approves,
and which he is probably willing to make uni
versal.
As it is necessary to be prepared for all possi-
bilities, let us now contemplate another. Let US
suppose the worst possible issue Of this war-the
one apparently desired by those English writers
whose moral feeling is 50 phiiosophicaly indiAtr-
ent between the apostles of slavery and its enemies
Suppose that the North should stoop to recognize
the new Confederation on its terms, leaving it
half the Territories. and that it is acknowledged by
Europe, and takes its place as an admitted men,
Der of the community of nations. Ii will be de-
sirable to take thought beforehand what to be
own future relations with Power, pro-
Tossing the principles of Attila and Genghis Khan
the foundation of its Constitution. Are to
with Indifference its victorious army let loose to
propagate their national faith at the rifles mouth
through Mexico and Central America Shall We
submit to see FIRE and sword carried over Cuba and
Porto Rico, and Hayti and Liberia conquered and
brought back to slavery. We shall soon have
causes enough of quarrel on own account.
When we are in the act of sending expedition
against Mexico to redress the wrongs of private
British subjects, We should do well to reflect in
time that the President of the new Republic, Mr..
Jefferson Davis, was the original inventor of repu.
diatOn. Mississippi the first State which re-
pudated, Mr.. Jefferson Davis was Governor of Mis-
sisslppi, and the Legislature of Mississippi had
passed Bill recognizing and providing for the
debt, which Bill Mr. Jefferson Davis vetoed. Un-
less we abandon the principles we have for two
generations consistently prOfessed and acted on,
we should be at with the new COnfederaey
within five years about the African slave trade.
An English Government will hardly be base enough
to recognize them, unless they accept all the
treaties by which America is at present bound
nor, it may be hoped. evenM de tactO independent,
would they he admitted TO the courtesies of diplo-
matte intercourse, unless they granted in the most
explicit manner the right OF search. To allow the
slave ships OF Confederation formed for the ex-
tension of slavery to come and go free, and unex-
amined, between America and the African coast,
would be to renOunce even the pretence of attemp-
ting to protect Africa against the man-stealer and
abandon that continent to the horrors, far
larger scale, which were praeticed before Granville
Sharp and Clarkson were In existence. But even
if the right of intercepting their slayers ac-
knowledged by treaty, which it never would be,
the arrogance Of the Southern Shareholders would
not long submit to its exercise. Their pride and
sef-cOnceit swelled to inOrdnate height by
their successful struggle, would defy the power Of
England as they had already successfully defed
that of their Northern cOuntrymen. After our
people by their cold disapprobation, and our press
by its invective, had combined with their own diff
iculties y damp the spirit of the Free States and
drive them submit and make peace, should
have to fight the Slave States ourselves at far
greater disadvantages, when should no longer
have the wearied and exhausted North for an ally.
The time might come when the barbarous and bar
barizing Power, which we by our moral support
had helped into existence, would require general
crusade of civilized Europe to extinguish the mis-
chief which it had allowed, and We had aided, to
rise up in the midst of our civilization.
For these reasons cannot Join with those who
cry Pence, peace. / cannot wish that this war
should not have been engaged in by the North, or
that being engaged in, 1t should be terminated
L.nt. Llla