Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-02-12

I
| him beyond the reach of the provision CT proven
his recovery, by concealment or otherwise, is a
completely repugnant to it as its open violation
would be, is too clear to admit of doub
or to require Illustration. And yet, as repugnan
as these combinations to the true intent OF TN
provision, it is believed that, with the above ex
ception, not one of the States within whose limit
they exist have adopted any measure to suppress
them, or to punish those by whose agency the oh
ject for which they We're formed is carried into ex
ecution. On the contrary, they have looked OF
and witnessed with Indifference, if not WITT secre
appreciate great number ofslaves enticed ror
their owners and placed beyond the possibility o
recovery, to the great annoyance and heavy pecu
mary loss of the bordering southern States.
| When we take into consideration the great I'M
portance Of this provison the absence of all I'M
certainty as to its true meaning and intent, the ma
ny guards by which it is surrounded to protect
and enforce it, and then reflect how completely
the object for which it inserted in the cons'i-
tuition is defeated by these two. fold infractions we
doubt, taking all together, whether a more fla
grant breach Of faith is to be found on record. We
know the language we have used is strong, but it
! is not less true than strong.
! There remains to be noticed another class of sg-
gressive acts ola kindred character, but which in
stead OF striking at an express and specific provi
sion OF the constitution, aims directly at destroy
ing the relation between the two races of the south
by means subversve in their tendency of one OF
the ends for which the constitution was establish
! ed. We refer to the systematic agitation of the
question by the aboltionists; which, commencing
about 1885, is still continued in all possible forms
Their avoWed intention is to bring about state of
things that will force emancipation on the South.
To unite the fSorth in fixed hostility to slavery
in the South, and to excite discomfort among the
|, ,a;r
employed to effect it. With view to bring a.
bout the former, every means resorted to in
order to render the South and the relation be-
tween the two races there, odious and hateful to
the North
For this purpose societies and newspapers are
every where established, debating clubs opened
lecturers employed, pamphlets and other publica-
! tons, pictures and petitions to Congress resored
to, and directed to that point, regardless of truth
or decency; while the circulation of incendiaw
publications in the South, the agitation of the sub
ject of abolition in Congress, and the employment
of emssaries are relied on to excite discomfort a.
mong the slaves. This sgita,ion and the use OF
these means, have been continued, with more or
less activity, for series Of years. not without do
ing much towards eaectng the object intended
We regard both object and means to be aggressive
and dangerous TO the rights Of the South and sub
versive, as stated, of one of the ends for which
the constitution was established. Slavery is a
domestic institution. 1t belongs to the States. each
for itself, to decide whether it shall be established
or not and, if it be established whether it should
be abolished or not Such being the clear and un
questionable right Of the States, it follows neces.
sary that it would bea fragrant act of aggression
on State, destructive of lis rights, and subyer.
sive OF its independence, for the federal govern
ment, or one or more States, or their people, to un-
dertake TO force on it the emancipation of it's
slaves. But is sound maxim In politics, as
well as law and morals, that no one has right to
do that indirectly which he cannot do directly,
and it may be added with equal truth, to aid, OF
abet, or countenance another in doing it.
And yet the aboitionsts Of the North, openly a.
vowng their intention, and resorting to the most
efficient means for the purpose, have been at
tempting to bring about state of things to force
the Southern States to emancipa!e their slaves
without any act on the part of any Northern State
to arrest or suppress the means by which they
hope to accomplish it. They have been permit
ted to pursue their object, and to use whatever
means they please if without aid or countenance
also without resistance or disapprobation What
gives deeper shade to the whole affair is the
fact, that one of the means to effect their object
that of exciting discomfort among ourslaves, tends
directly to subvert what the preamble declares tc
be one of the ends for which the constitution was
ordained and established-''to insure domestic
tranqaillity"-and that in the only way in which
domestic tranquility is likely ever to be disturbed
in the South. Certain it is, that an agitation SC
notwithstanding such an object in view, and
sought to be carried into execution by such means
would, between two independent nations, con-
shtute just cause OF remonsrance by the party a.
ganst which the aggression was directed, and, il
not needed, and appeal to arms for redress. Such
being the case where an aggression of the kind
takes place among independent nations, how much
more aggravated must it be between confederated
States, where the Union precludes an appeal tc
arms, while it affords medium through which il
can operate with vastly increased force and effect
| That it would be perverted to such a use, never
entered into the imagination of the generation
which formed and adopted the constitution; and
if it had been supposed it would, is certain that
| the South never would have adopted it,
| We now return to the question Of the admission
of Missouri into the Union, and shall proceed tc
give brief sketch of the occurrences connected
with it, and the consequences to which il has d.
rectly led. In the latter part of 1919, the Their
| territory of Missouri applied 10 Congress in the
usual form, for leave to form State Constitution
and government, in orjar 10 be admitted into the
Union. A bill was reported for the purpose, with
the usual provisions in such eases. Amendments
were offered, having for their object TO make il
condition OF her admission, that her Constitution
should have provision to prohibit slavery This
brought on The agitating debate which, with the
effecls that followed, has done 50 much to ALLEVIATE
the South and Moth, and endanger our politca
institutions
Those who objected to the amendments, rested
their opposition on the high grounds of the right o
selfgovernment. They claimed that territory
having reached the period when it is proper for i
to form a constitution and government for itself
becomes fully sted with all the rights of sele
government; and that even the condition imposed
on by the federal constitution, relates not TO the
formation of its constitution and government, bu
It's admission into the Union. For that purpose, i
provides as condition, that the government mus
berepnblican.
They claimed that Congress has no right 10 adt
/ to this condition, and that to assume it would Vt
tantamount to the assumption Of the right to make
its entire constitution and government; as no lim
;. taon could be imposed, as 10 the extent OF thu
right, If it be admitted at all. Those who support
ed the amendment denied these grounds, and claim
ed the right of Congress- 10 innnse al eiseretinr