Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-12-14


tutions in the different States prevent us
from providing for them suitable govern
mentsl These institutions existed at the
adoption of the constitution; but the obsta.
Giles which they interposed, were overcome
by that spiri, of compromise which is now
invoked. In conflict of opinions or of in
terest, real or imaginary, between different
sections of our country, neither can Justly
demand all which il might desire to OBJ
tain; each, in the true spirit of our institu-
tions, should concede something TO the 9th
err.
Our gallant forces in the Mexican war,
by whose patriotism and unparalleled deeds
of arms, we obtained these possessions as
an indemnity for our just demands against
Mexico, were composed of citizens who
belonged to no state or section of our union:
they were men from slaveholding and nom
slaveholding States, from the north and
from the south, from the east and from the
west. They were companions in arms,
and fellow citizens of the same common
country, engaged in the same common
cause. When prosecuting that war, they
were brethren and friends, and shared alike
| with each other common tolls, dangers and
sufferings. Now, when their work is en-
ded-wben peace is restored, and. they re-
| turn again to their homes--put off the ha-
biiments of war, take their places in So
ciety and resume their pursuits in civil life,
surely spirit of harmony and concession,
and of equal regard for the rights of all,
and Of all sections of the Union, ought to
prevail in providing Governments for the
acquired Territories-the fruits Of their
common service. The whole people of the
United States, and of every State, contrib.
uted TO pay the expenses of that war; and
it would not be just for any one section to
exclude another from all participation in
the acquired territory. This would not be
eminent which the trainers of our Consti.
tuition adopted.
The question is believed TO be rather alb
stract than practical, whether slavery ever
can or would exist in any portion of the
acquired territory, even if it were left TO
the option of the slaveholding States them
selves. From the nature of the climate
and productions Of the country in much
the larger portion of it, ii is certain il could
never exist; and, in the remainder, would
;, not.
But, however this may be, the question,
involving asst does principle of equality
of rights of the separate and several States
as equal copartners in the confederacy,
should not be disregarded.
In organizing Governments over their
territories, no duties imposed on Congress
by the Constitution require that they should
legislate on lie Subject of slavery, while
their power to do So is not only seriously
questioned, but denied. by many OF the
soundest expounders of that INSTRUMENT.
Whether Congress shall legislate or not, the
people of the acquired territories, when
assembled in convention, will possess the
whole and exclusive power to determine
whether slavery shall, or shall not, exist
within their limits. If Congress shall alb
stain from interfering in The question, the
people of these territories will be left free
TO adjustit as they may think proper, when
they may apply for admission as States into
the Union. No enactment of Congress as
could restrain the people of any of the
sovereign States of the Union, old or new,
, slaveholding or non-saveholding, from de-
termining the apprehensions which were
enteriaied by some of our statesmen in the
earlier period of our government--that
our system was incapableIof operating with
sufficient energy and success over largely
extended territorial limits. Those who
maintained that if this system was adopted,
it would fall to pieces by its own weak.
ness, have been disappointed by our expe.
perence. BY the division of power be-
tween the States and the Federal Govern
ment, the latter is found to operate with as
much energy at the extremes as in the cen
ire. 1t is as sufficient in the remotest of
the thirty States which now compose the
Union, as it was in the thirteen States which
formed our confederacy. Indeed, it may
he doubted whether, if our present popu-
lation had been confined within The limits
of the original thirteen States, the tenden-
cy TO concentration would not have been
such as 10 have encroached upon the es-
sential reserved rights of the States, and
thus make the Federal Government a wide
y different one, practically, from what il
is in theory, and was intended to be by its
trainers. So far from entertaining appre-
tensions of the safety Of our system by the
extension of our territory, the belief is
confidently entertained, that each new
State gives strength and additional guaran-
tee for the preservation of the Union it.
self
The finances of the country are shown
TO be in "highly prosperous conditions"
under the operations of the Tariff, "the
"revenue has been increased; the taxes of
"the people have been diminished; they