The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-07


action OF the Government, and il II had not been
excluded, by the Ordinance of 1887 and the Mis-
| souri, Compromise, from the region lying between
the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers, and between
the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains north
OF 300 3O'-it scarcely admits Of doubt that il
wouli have divided the emigration with the
North, and by retaining her own people, would
have at least equalled the North in population
under the census Of 1870 and probably under
that about TO be taken. She would also, If she
had retained her equal rights in those Terrific
ries, have maintained an equality in the num-
. Der Of States with the North, and have preserved
! the equilibrium between the two sections that ex-
listed AT the commencement Of the Government
Inc los', then. Of the equilibrium is to be ottri
ouIei TO the action Of this Government
but while these measures were destroying the
eluihorum between the two sections, the action
otthe Government was leading to a radical change
10 It's character, by concentrating all the power Of
the system in itself The occasion will not permit
me TO trace the measures by which this great
change has been consummlted. II ii did il would
not be difficult to show that the process commenced
at an carly period Of the Government that il pro-
ceeded, almost without interruption step by gtep
until it absorbed virtually its entire powers but
without going through the whole process to estab-
fish the fact it may he done satisfactorily by a
very short statement
That the Government claims and practically
/ maintains, the right TO decide in the last resort
to the extent Of its powers will scarcely be de-
MED by any one conversant with the political his
| tory of the country. That il also claims the
! right to resort TO force TO maintain whatever
power she claims, against all opposition is equal
! ly certain. Indeed it is apparent, from what We
daily hear, that this has become the prevailing
end 6y@'I Doninion Of y9st oeipriiv Of the eern
munity. Now, ask what limitation can possibly
he placed upon the powers Of - Government
claiming and exercising such rightsl And if
none can be, how the separate Governments
of the States maintain and protect the powers re-
served to them by the Constitution or the people
Of the several States maintain those which are re-
served to them, and among others the sovereign
powers by which they ordained and established,
not only their separate State Constitutions and
Governments but also the Constitution and Gov.
eminent of the United States7 But if they have
no constitutional means of maintaining them
against the right claimed by this Government, it
necessarily follows that they hold them at its
pleasure aud discretion, and that all the powers
Of the system are in reality concentrated in it, IL
also follows that the character Of the Government
has been changed in consequence, from Federal
Republic, as it originally came from the hands of
It's trainers and that it has been changed into a
great national consolidated Democracy. II has,
indeed at present all the characteristics Of the
latter and not one OF the former, although il still
retains its outward form
The result of the whole of these cluses com
bined H. that the North has acquired 9seHle,s
asceudeucy over every department of this Gov
erninenL Ard through il R..nentroJ oyer all the
powers OF the system. single Section gov
erned 10y the will of the numerical majority, has
now, in fact, the control Of the Government and
the entire powers Of the system What was
once n constitutional federal Republic is now
converted, in reality, into one as absolute as
that Of the Autocrat of Russia, and as despotc
in its tendency as any absolute Government that
ever existed
As, then, the North has the absolute control
over the Government il is manifest, that on all
questions between it and the South, where there
is diversity of interests, the interest of the lat
ter will be sacrificed to the former, however OPP
pressive the effects may be as the South posses
ses no means by which it can resist, through the
action of the Government But if there was no
question of vital Importance to the South, in ref
crence to which there was q diversity of views
between the two sections, this state OF things
might be endured, without the hazard Of destruc-
ton to the South. But such is not the fact
There is question of vital Importance to the
Southern section, in reference to which the
views and feelings of the two sections as oppo-
site and hostile as they can possibly be.
refer TO the relation between the two races in
the Southern section, which constitutes vital
portion of her social organization Every por-
ton of the North entertains views and feelings
more or less hostile TO it, Those most opposed
and hostile regard it as a sin, and consider them
selves under the most sacred oblig iton TO use
every effort to destroy it, Indeed, to the extent
that they conceive they have the power they
regard themselves us Implicated IN the sin, and
responsible for suppressing it by the use Of oil
| and every means. Those less opposed and hos
tile regard il as crime-an offence against hui
manity rs they call it, and, although not fanat-
| ical feel themselves bound TO use all efforts TO
effect the sane object; while those who are least
opposed and hostile regard il a blot and stain
on the character of what they call the nation,
and feel themselves accordingly bound to give il
no countenance or support. On the contrary,
the Southern section regards the relation as one
which cannot be destroyed without subjec,ing the
two races to the greatest calamity and the section
TO poverty, desoaton, and wretchedness; and
accordingly, they feel bound, by every considera-
ton of interest and safety to defend IT,
This hostile feeling on the part of the North
towards the social organization Of the South
long lay dormant, but it only required some
cause to act on those who felt most intensely that
they were responsible for its continuance TO call
il into action. The increasing power of this
Government and Of the control Of the Northern
section over all its departments furnished the
cause Ii was this which made an impression
on the minds of many, that there was little or no
restraint to prevent the Government from doing
what it might choose to do. This was sufficient
of itself to put the most fsnatical portion Of the
North in notion, for the purpose Of destroying
the existing relation between the two races In the
South.
The first organized movement towards II COM
menced 10 1885 Then, for the first time socie-
ties were organized presses established, lecturers
sent forth to excite the people Of the North, and
ncendiary publications. scattered over the whole
South through the mail The South was thor
oughly aroused Meetings were held every
where, and resolutions adopted, calling upon the
North to apply remedy to arrest the threatened
evil and pledging themselves to adopt measures
for their own protection, II IL was not arrested
At the meeting of Congress, petitions poured In
from the North, calling upon Congress TO abolish
slavery In the District of Columbia, and to pro-
bibit what they called tho internal slave trade
between the States, announcing, at the same time,
that their ultimate object was TO abolish slavery,
not only In the District, but in the States, and
throughout the Union At this period the num-
Der engaged In the agitation was small, and pos
sessed little or no personal influence.
Neither party in Congress had at that time
anv sympathy with them or their cause The
members of each party presented their petitions
with-great reluctance Nevertheless, as small
and contemplate as the party then was, both Of
the great parties OF the North dreaded them
They felt that though small, they were organi-
yed In reference TO o subject which had great
and a commanding influence over the Northern
mind Each party on that account, feared to OPP
pose their petitions lest the opposite party should
take advantage Of the one who might do 80, by
hvoring their petitions The effect was, that
both united In insisting that the petitions should
be received, and that Congress should take juris-
diction Of the subject for which they prayed. To
justify their course, they took the extraordinary
ground that Congress was bound to receive petit
tons on every subject, however Objectionable it
might be, and whether they had or had not jaris-
diction over the subject These views prevailed
in the House Of Representatives, and partially In