{"character_count": 4009, "word_count": 691, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9470999836921692], "ccnet_perplexity": [1170.5999755859375], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
ed with others, has no weight with me. / have
freely Fexpressed my sentiments in fasor tht
possession of Oregon, where it is probable slave
nv win never exist; and am now in favor. d
Ilhe annexation of Texas, where the institullon is
toe deeply rooted to be done away at once, under
any governments It is question which the
general govcrnment CANNOT conslitutionally touch


The wise men who famed our Constitution care
fully avoided the use Of the word Sla0ery. Each
State reserved to itself the right ofpursuing It's
own policy on that subject; and the interference
of the general government would be regarded 9
usurpation which would not be submitted to-
Every State in the Union is agreed on this point
Those which have abolished slavery would mol
permit The general government to institute 1t a
mohg them, nor would those who retain it per
nit the general government to do it away The
same independence will they observe IN relation
to societies and associations of indiyiduals They
will regard their noyementssas the madness oi
fanalcism, tending TO sap the foundations OF union
rather than to promote the cause of humanity.


Wfh these views, you will perceive that re
gard the remainder of your questions as irrelev-
ant, and such as man, in relation TO bis nation
al character, ought not 10 answer. The question
whenever it presents itself before the general gov
ernment, resolves itself into that Of union or dis
solution Whenever the national government
shall interfere, either to establish slavery in the
Statcs where it does not exist, or to abolish ii
where it does exist (and their power extends to
the one case as much as to the other they will
ring the death knell of our union. The phren
zy Of fanaticism may sing lis requiem, but phil
anthropy will weep over its tomb, and rivers ol
endures. Such an evil will labor TO avertwhile
my life is spared; aud ] would rather diein1 Oh.
scurity than employ the privilege of the highest
office in the world to raise the excitement, even
bV presenting petition on the subject The prin-
'cirle was settled, when our Constitution was
framed, thateach State should regulate its own
policy Let us act in good faith to the pledge
given in that sacred instrument, and we shall for
continue the freest, the most prosperous, and
the happiest nation on earth If the institution
is fraught with but:halfthe evils you apprehend
let them alone, and in the progress of rePubll-
can community, they will be certain to correct
themselves 1t can find its remedy only in the
public sentiment of the community where it
exists. That sentiment first triumphed where it
had least to encounter. The number of slaves
was but few in the northern States and there was
no officially in abolishng the Institution The
spirit of emancipation naturally progresses from
North 10 South. From the close fthe reyoluiiona
ry war, the condition Of the slave has been rising
both in intelligence and importance; and all over
the South slavery is but shadow of what it once
was But the Violent movements OI nOItueIu
abolitionsls have given a check to that progress
and done tenfold more injury to the slave than 10
his master Their unceasing efforts to bring the
subject within the action of the general govern
ment are doing more to weaken the bonds of our
federal union than all other excitements taken to-
gether could possibly do, and without the pros
5ect of solitary benefit to that class whose cause
hey affect to advocate. The peace of society is
disturbed; the harmony of different members of
our national family is Interrupted; the condition
If the slave is injured and If the phrenzy shall
.ventuate IN the dissolution of the Union, can
neither envy the happiness of him who could
wish to survive the shock nor participate with
lin in the awful responsibilities which must fall
,pon him when our beautiful landscapes, now
mailing in plenty, shall become fields of carnage
md devastation.


Most respectfully. your fellow citizen, !


RH. NJ. JOHNSON.


To B. F. HoFFMAN, ESQ.,,