The Marshall Expounder

Our fnend of the Marshall Expounder, in his remarks on our first nmnber, aya : " We are glad to seo that the principies of Anti-S!avevy we undergoing some modificntioo. Formerly their principios confonndcd all the distinctions betweon the powers of the federa] and State government ; but il' the editor of the Press is an exponent of existing anti-slavery principies, thcn the party do not propose to interferc with the Iaws of Bovereign statos or their institutions, except by moral suasion, orany longerto advocate the doctrine that Congress has tlie power to abolish slftve trade bet.ween tJie states. The constitution of the U. States was not formed for thegovprnnient of states and territories, nor by states and territones, but by stales, for tho benefit of the states, whother having ,i temporary or b permanent fonn of government. Under our constitution we huve no territories. We wish the editor much success in his moral suasion : but his position is in too high n northem Intituda for his pfenebimfca to produce nll the effect he may desire. When Peter the llermit rousod all Europo to the first crusndo, ho led t 10 way to the holy city, and stonneil it in petaos. In moral prraching it is ahvays wel! to address the nudience directly nflfected,"if you would produce tho resulta desired. We of the north have slavery onough to abolish, it is truc, but not that kind whicll seemsto occupythe soul, niind an;l thmight. of tho editor of the Press. The editorof tho Expounder seems ut a loss to understand plain English, when lio professes to gatlier f i-om our exposition that the Liberty party no longer contends that Congress has a right to regúlate trade between tho several States; or that the General Government has no power to interfiere with or regúlate the Iaws of territory under its control. No one protonds to deny that each sovereign State has n right to enactlaws to regúlate all mutters within its jurisdiction, when those luws do not conflict with the Iaws of tho United States ; and with these lnws the citizens of other States have no right to interferí, except by moral suasion. But we ever have advoentod, and still contend, that Congress, according to section 8 of article 1 of the Conititution of the United States, holds the power and has tho privilege to regúlate nll comtnerco between the several States, as well as with foroign nations. And it also has control over its own torritory, with power to enact Iaws to regúlale the same, as admilted in nrticle 4, section 3, of the Constitution. If Congress has not this power, where is it vested ? We understand this rfrticle to menn that all territory coming into tho possession ot' the General Government, by cession or relinquishment, shall be under its exclusivo jurisdiction. If the Ordinance of '87 could be held in forcé and be made binding on the inhabitants in, and to bo in, the territory over which it extended, why is there any less power over territory now ? California, New Mexico, or any other provinco that ïrmy be obtained from Mexico, did not under their own lnws recognizc Slavery, consequontly all persons removing thero with slaves would be no more ontitled to security for their pretended property than they would be in removing to one of the free States of this Union. The Government of the United Stutes has the power, and is bound by its declaration and its institutions, to guanl ngainst all encroachments of Slavery on free territory. By adopting the Wilmot Proviso, it will insurc the inhabitants who may seek a home in those fegions the same advantages that we have experienced under the Ordinance of 1787 ; and certainly the freemen of the Northwest Territory should be tho last to advocate the introdiiction of an institution calculated to retai'd tho udvancement and prosperity of nevv colouics; - we who have witnessed tho bonefieial effect of tho encouragement of free labor, under which our fair Península has taken its proud stand in the Confederation ; and by the advnntage of its freo institutions it is able to rank among the most productivo States of the Union. Look for a moment at Arkansas- equal in years and natural advantagos- and behold the contrast ! Who that is not weighed down by tho chains of party dospotism would wish to curso, with the bitter withering curse of Slavery, (which has checked emigration to, and dried up the fountains ofimprovement and prosperiiy ia Arkansas,) tho fair and beautiful rogion of California and New Mexico. - We disclaim any change in our principies of AntiSlavery, bnsed as they are on the Declaration of American Independence, and sustained by tho free institutions of our country; and hold that no one caujustly hold property in his fellow ; - that man should bo recognized as man, and a freetnan, wlicrever he may be found, unless lio has voluntarily forfeited that right by the commission of crime. Such doctrine wo are proud to advocate; and notwithstanding our high northern latitude we pledge that the mighty lover, in the free suflYage of an independent people, will shake the American Jïastilo to its foundation. Notwithstandingour friend reeommondsnsortof Peter the Hermit crusade, woknow too well the potency of the long lever purchaso to relinquish it. He thinks we have slavery enough at the North to contend with, of which the subserviency of party and partisans to southern jiolicy stand too conspicuous, we presume, to have escaped hi? notice. We believo he detests slavery from the boltom of his hcart, and hope, in case of omorgoney, lie will advocate tho causo of freedom, and not be foiind among the nuinber who are willing to cast off the glorious privüegos of tho North for emolument, and take shelter under tho dark wing of the baneful influences of southern dictation and despotism. Wo dotest the policy that would fasten tho chains of oppression on freo soil - a policy that will put to blush the Despots of Europe, or the Uashaw of Tunis. - If the Democracy of tho day advocates such policy, it is a miserable apology lor that gloiious namo. With such wo hold no fellowship ; ours isa Domocracy that givos every man his right " to lile, liberty and tho pursuit of happiness. We thank tho gentleman for his negativo compliment, and hope lio will havo a better understandiiig of our principios in future.