The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935 Page: 239
312 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Slavery Propaganda During the Mexican War
was maintained in some quarters that slavery for economic reasons
was slowly passing away from its accustomed haunts and that the
annexation of Mexican territory could only serve to hasten the
process. The New Englander, published at New Haven and ex-
tremely hostile to slavery, insisted that there were signs which
indicated that slavery in the South was not to be a permanent
institution. Rapid expansion of cotton production would soon
overtake the demand and then the economic basis of slavery
would be undermined. Coming directly to the point, the editor
declared :
no matter what new domains may be acquired by conquest or by
any other process of annexation, for the extension of slavery- no
matter what new markets for human cattle may be opened beyond
the Rio Grande or upon the shore of the Pacific- the value of
slave labor, and therefore of slaves, will be diminished, and that
which has so long been the sustenance and growth of slavery will
be taken away.'
Thomas George, in a published article, called on the opponents of
slavery to cease lending their support to the Wilmot Proviso, which
was not only unconstitutional but if adopted would be fatal to the
chief end of the anti-slavery cohorts. George argued that slaves
were steadily retreating southward. In a few years Virginia and
some other states would be free. "But close the avenues of egress,
and the effect will be like that produced by checking the perspira-
tions of the human body . . ."10 One of the most outspoken
expansionist organs at the North took up the cudgels in defense of
the same theory." From other sources came like pronouncements.-
In other words it would behoove the defenders of the Wilmot Proviso
to surrender immediately since victory in 1847 really meant defeat
for their ultimate purpose.
Those who did not desire to see any increase in the area of
slavery, regardless of the ultimate effect on the institution, were
9New Englander, V, 317-318 (April, 1847).
"0"Sectional Rights under the Constitution," Democratic Review, XXI,
103-106. (September, 1847.)
1New York Herald, October 17, 1847.
12'For example, see letter of Foster Hooper, Democratic candidate for
Congress from Massachusetts, Boston Post, November 4, 1846; H. B.
Aulting to A. J. Donelson, March 29, 1847, Donelson MSS., (Library of
Congress) ; Byrdsall to Calhoun, November 12, 1847, Correspondence Ad-
dressed to Calhoun, 410, as cited in note 8.239
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935, periodical, 1935; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117143/m1/264/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.