The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-02-08

cognized by admission into the Union
During this Temporary condition it 10 hardly
expedient 10 cali into exercise a doubtful
and invidious authority, which questions the
intelligence Off respectable portion Of our
citizens, whose limitation, whatever il may
be, will be rappidly approaching its termina-
tion--an authority which would give to Con-
gress despotic power, uncontrolled by the
constitution, over most important sections Of
our common County. Forif the relation
ofmaster and servant may be regulated or
annlilated by its legislation, so may the
regulation Of husband and wife, of parent
and children. and Of any other condition
which our institutions and the. habits Of our
society recognize. What would be thought
if Congress should undertake to prescribe
he terms Of marriage in New York, or to
regulate the authority Of parents over their
children in Pennsylvania And yet il would
he as vain to seek ono jusiifying the interfe-
renee of the national Legislature in the cases
referred to in the original States of the Uni
on. speak here Of the inherent power OF
Congress-, and dn moi touch The question OF
snch contracts, as may be formed with new
States when admitted into the confederacy.
OF all questions that can agilate as, those
which arc merely sectional in their charac-
O. age the most dangerous, and the mosl
10 be deprecated. The warning voice Of
am who, from his character, and services,
aud vir,ne, had The best right to warn us,
proclaimed to his counirymen, in bis fare
well address-that, nnnutnent of wisdom for
him, as hope it will be ofsafeiy to them
how much we had 10 apprehend from meas
ures peculiarly Affecting geographical por-
tons of our'country. The grave circmnstan-
ces in which we are nov placed make these
words, words Of saietyS for l am satisfied.
from all that have seen and heard here,
that a successful attempt to engraft The prin-
cples of ihe Wilmot Proviso upon the legs-
latuIe of this government, and TO apply them
to new territory, should new terrtorybe ac.
quired, would seriously affsc, our tranquility
do not suffer myself to foresee or foretel
the consequences that would ensIe, for !
trust aud believe there is good sense anc
good feeling enough in the country to avoit
them, BY avoiding all occasions that nigh
lead TO them. .... .....--.r,
Briefly lh.n, I am opposed to the exercise
of any jurisdiction by Congress, over thi
IN liter; End am in favor of leaving to ih,
peoplr ofany territory, which may be here
after acquired, the right 10 regulate it 70
themselves, under The general principle o
the Constitution. Because-- ''' 30 ''' ~
l. do not see in ths constitution an,
grant Of the requisite power to Congress
aud am not disposed TO extend a doubfn
precedent beyond. lis necessityS-ihe estab
lishmeut Of territorial governments wne
Notwithstanding 10 the inhabitants all III
I rights compatible with the relations the
bear 10 The confederation. ,.i g, eo5Igyf
2. Because | believe this measure,
adopted, would weaken, il not impair lh'
Union of ihe States, and would sow lh'
seeds of future discord, which would grow
up and ripen into an abundant harvest Of Gu
lami,y.9sr so sra eN---aU,n .it'5@
3. Because I, believe a general convic
Il IN, ,hat IL snch proposition would sue
coed, would lead to an immediate wiihuld
ing Of supplies, and thus to a dishonurabl
termination of the war. think no dispas
sio,,ate observer at the seat Of government
can doubt ihd result. .rsl, sl. d. .e.. 5a
II 4. II however, in this, am under a mis
apprehension, am under none in the prac
Ical operation in this restriction, If adopte
by Congress, under treaty Of peace, mn
making any acquisition Of Mexican territory
Such a treaty would be rejected just as ceI
,ainly as presented 10 the Senate. Nor
than one third of that body would vote Il
gains il. viewing such principle as an ex
clusion Of The citizens Of the slave holiday
States from participation in the benefits ac
quired by the treasure and exertions of al
and which should be common to all. an
repeatng--neither advancing OF defending
these views. That branch of the subjec
dues NO, lie in my way, and shall not iurl
aside to seek it. .fHI 'tio''i - DAB ...
i In this aspect of the matter, the people o
( the United States must choose between
this restriction, and the extension Of thei
territorial limits. They cannot have both
and which they will surrender must depen'
upon their representatives first, and then,
these fail them, upon themselves. a 1a
S. But after all, !, seems to, be general
, conceded, that this restriction, il carried in
to effect, could not operate upon any Stat
to be formed from newly acquired territory
/. The we'll known attributes Of sovreignt,
: recognised by US as belonging 10 the Stat
State governments, would sweep befor
them any such barrier, and would leave th
. people to express and exert their will q
4 p'easH're Is TIE ohi Ct, 'han, Of tempnrsr
+ xchsjoo t',f s6stori a period hs Tie ddr
i anoi rye ibuttorplll Rovemmens worth ~
; prcea. waDc' itwouId be pureh,syd?-
E sonh 'he dj4card j wonid engendes, u
: 'ual 20 which i would rApnse our Uao.