Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-08-09
RAvENNA, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, AUG: g. B4a

: may have operated in producing this legis
/ lation and thus extending, by rather a vic
: lent implication, powers not directly Civ
en-, | know not. But certain it is, tha
} the principle of Interference should not b.
carried beyond the necessary implication
t which produces it. 1t should be limited to
, the creation Of proper governments fo
!. new countries, acquired or settled, and te
the necessary provision for their eventual
. admission into the Union; leaving, in the
: meantime, to the people inhabiting them tc
, regulate their internal concerns in, their
own way. They are jusl rs capable of do
Ting So as The peeple the STATES, and they
can do so, at any rate, as soon as their po-
litical independence is recognised by ad.
mission into the Union. During this tenn
porary condition, it is hardly expedient to
call into exercise doubtful and invidious
authority, which questions the intelligence
of respectable portion Of our citizens, and
whose limitation, whatever it may be, will
be rapidly approaching its terminalion-an
authority which would give to Congress
despotic power, uncontrolled by the constitu-
tion, over most important sections of our
common country. For, if the relation of
master and servant may be regulated or
annihila,ed by its legislation, so may the
relation of husband and wife, Of parent and
child, and Of any other condition which or
institutions and the habits Of our society
recognise. What would be thought if Con-
gress should undertake to prescribe the
terms Of marriage in New York, or to reg
ula;e the authority of parents over their
children in Pennsylvania! And yet it
would be as vain to seek one justilying the
interference of the national legislature in
the cases referred to in the original States
of the Union. speak here of the inhe-
rent power Of Congress, and do not touch
the question of such contracts, as may be
formed with new States when admitted into
the confederacy.
OF all the questions that can agitate US
those which are mererely sectional in their
character are the most dangerous, and the
most to be deprecated. Tho warning voice
Of him who, from his character, and SER
vices, and in virtue, had the best right to
warn US, proclaimed to his countrymen, in
his Farewell Address that monument of
wisdom for him, as | hope it will be of
safety to them-how much we have TO ap.
prehend from measures peculiarly affect
ing geographical portions of our country.
| The grave circumstances in which we are
now placed make these words, words OF
safety; for am satisfied, from all have
seen and heard here, that successful at
tempt 10 engralt the principles of the Viii.
mot Proviso upon the legislation of this
government, and to apply them to new ter
ritory, should new territory be acquired,
would seriously affect our tranquility.
do not suffer myself to foresee or TO fore
tell the consequences that would ensue; for
trust and believe that there is good sense
enough in the country to avoid them, by
avoiding all occasions which might lead to
them.
Briefly, then, am opposed to the exer
else ofany jurisdiction by Congress ovel
this matter: and am in favor of leaving
to the people Of any territory, which may
be hereafter acquired the right to regulate
} it for themselves, under the general princi
Piles of the constitution. Because
, l. do not see in the constitution any
grant of the requisite power to Congress
, and am not disposed to extend q doubtful
|, precedent beyond its neeessity-lhe estab
; iisha,ent of territorial governments wher
needed-leaving to the inhabitants all, th'
! rights compatible with the relations they
= bear to the confederation.
r 9. Because believe this measure, if a
dopled, would weaken, if not impair, the
union OF the States; and would sow the
: seeds of future discord, which would grow
t up and 1pen into an abundant harvest o
4 calamity,
8. Because believe that general con
r viction, that such proposition would sue
h ceed, would lead to an immediate withhold
= ing of supplies, and thus to dishonorabl
: termination OF the war. think no dis
o passionate observer at the seat Of govern
: ment can doubt this result.
It 4. If, however, in this am under mis-
. apprehension, am under none in the prac
h tical operation of this restriction if adopte
= by Congress, upon treaty of peace max
, ing any acquisition of Mexican territory
Such treaty would be rejected just as Gel
j. dainly as presented to the Senate. Nor
: than one third of that body would be a
d gainst it, viewing such principle as an ez
= clusion of the citizens of the slaveholdiD
States from participation in the benefit
l. acquired by the treasure and exertions Q
r all, and which should be common to all.
: am repeating advancing nor de
d Tending these views. That branch of tn
l subject does not lie in Ey way, and sha
l. not turn aside to seek it.
s In this aspect of the matter, the peopl
It Of the United States must choose betwee
a this restriction and the extension of thei
e territorial limits. They cannet have both
l. and which they will surrender must de
|. pend upon their representatives FIRST, an
!. then, if these fail them, upon themselves.
9 5 But after all, it seems to be genera
Y ly conceded, that this restriction, if carrie
l. into effect, could not operate upon an
Q State to be formed from newly acquire
n territory. The well-known attributes c
S sovereig gnty, recognized by US as belongn
:, 10 the State governments, would sweep be
}. fore them any such barrier, and woul
If leave the people to express and exert thei
: will at pleasure. ds the object, then, c
o temporary exclusion for so short perio
is as the duration Of the territorial govern
& ments, worth the price at which it woul
g be purchased?-worth the discord it woul
L. engender, the trial to which it would ex