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constitution of the State, and raising a civil war, when, indeed, the whole matter may be peaceably decided by a vote of the majority? Let those who wish to prevent slaves from entering California, send members to Congress who will vote properly on that question; and let those who think the contrary send their men; if the free-soil men prove to be a majority, California is

begin to introduce slaves. If they choose to do that, there will be no power to hinder them. The majority governs and must govern. The majority in Congress decides all questions in regard to territory: the President must not meddle in the matter if he does, our liberties are dead, and the Constitution is nought.

Cit. All soil is free; but all men are not. It is the desire of the northern citizens of the Union, that the new regions of California, while they are the territory of the United States, shall be occupied by freemen only. When States are erected there, the people of those States will decide for themselves, whether they will have slaves or not: States are free, and legislate upon those matters as they please.free until the citizens of new States there But, until that time comes, those citizens who are opposed to the extension of slavery wish to have the introduction of slaves forbidden by a law of Congress. In order to accomplish this end, some few of our citizens, mostly of the other party, mean if possible to elect a president who will wield an unconstitutional influence, through the veto, the legislative advice, the patronage of office, and the use of the press, even to the extent of dictatorial authority, to the suppression of the contrary policy, and the forcing of a free-soil vote upon Congress. They wish to topple over the whole fabric of the Constitution upon a minute enemy that lies on the other side of it. The great system of the Union they neither know nor care for, except so far as they can use it to carry out a favorite notion. All the interests of the nation, the protection of industry, the integrity of office, the honor of party, nay, the Union itself, are to be sacrificed to this one question of whether the wastes of California shall have slaves upon them or not.

Str. But are not the Whigs in favor of

free soil?

Cit. The Whigs have fought the great battle of freedom in Congress this last year. They went against the annexation of new territory; they went against despotism in every shape; they uniformly opposed the extension of slavery.

Str. Why then do not the northern Whigs also advocate the free-soil party?

Cit. Because they will not elect a President to be a dictator: the matter of slaves in California, they think to be of less consequence than that of erecting a dictator over Congress and converting the Presidency into an elective despotism.

Str. It seems to me a dreadful thing that slavery should go on extending itself.

Cit. Very well! admit that it is; would you have us go about ruining the whole

Str. These free-soil politicians seem to be of that kind that will set a town on fire to roast their eggs by. But what do southern Whigs make of all this?

Cit. O, sir, they are not disorganizers. They know the value of the Constitution, and they respect the integrity of the em pire. They know that all minor questions, like this of free soil, are to be settled by majorities. They are indeed spirited, and never yield what they conceive to be s right; but if the majority decides that slaves shall not be held in the deserts of Califor nia, until the people there have made a new State and conclude to have them, the southern Whigs being slaveholders, may be very much disturbed and irritated, bat they will not break up the peace of the Union, I think.

Str. Pray, sir, may I be so bold as a ask your own opinion on the subject slavery in the new territories?

Cit. I have no objection.
Str. What, then, is it?

Cit. The likelihood is, that if I were s slaveholder, born and educated in the South I should vote for opening the new term ries to slaveholders: and if I had been born in New England, and educated in the opinion that slaveholding is wrong,-why, the probability is I should vote for the free dom of California.

Str. And where, pray, were you bar and educated?

Cit. Precisely on Mason and Dixen

line.

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