The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-05


ment that the equilibrium between the two sections
has been destroyed, and the whole powers of the
system centred in sectional majority.
The first of the series Of acts by which the South
originated with the Confederacy, which preceded
the existence Of this Government III TO be iound
in the provision Of the ordinance OF l7Sl Its elect
TO exclude the South entirely from that vast and
fertile region which lies between the Ohio and the
Mississippi rivers now embracing five States and
one Territory. The next OF the series Is the Mis-
souri, compromise, which excluded the South from
that large portion of louisiana which lies north OF
800 30, excepting what is included in the State of
Missouri The last of the series excluded the South
from the whole of the Oregon Territory. 'Al these,
in the slang of the day, were what are called slave
territories and not free soil; that is territories be-
longing TO slaveholding powers, and open TO the
emigration of masters with their slaves. BY these
several acts the South was excluded from ,23S OPS
square miles, an extent OF country considerably
ceeding the entire valley of the Mississippi. To
the South was left the portion of the Territory OF
Louisiana lying south of 1862 30, and the portion
north of il included in the State of Missouri; the
portion lying south of 800 so, including the States
Of louisiana and Arkansas, and the territory lying
west Of the latter and south Of 500 30 called the
dian country These, with the Territory Of Florida,
now the State, make in the whole 253, 500 square
miles. To this must be added the territory acquired
with Texas. If the whole should be added to the
| southern section, it would make increase of
| 325, $50, which would make the whole left to the
South 6O9023. But large part of Texas is still in
contest between the two sections, which leaves II
uncertain what will be the real extent of the portion
ofterritory that may be left to the South
| l have not included the territory recently ac-
CURED by the treaty with Mexico The North is
making the most strenuous efforts to appropriate
the whole to herself BY excluding the South
| from every foot Of it. II she should succeed, it
will add to that from which the South has already
been excluded 526 ,07S square miles, and would in
crease the whole which the North has appropriated
to herself 10 l,76l ,023, not including the portion
hat ali. @l.,Is.
Texas. To sum up the whole, the United States,
| since they declared their independence, have ac-
CURED 2,373,046 square miles of territory, from
which the North will have excluded the South if she
| should succeed in monopolizng the newly acquired
territories, about three fourths of the WHOLE eav-
| ing to the South but about one nurth.
| Such is the first and great cause that has de-
stroyed the equilibrium between the two sections in
| the Government
| The next is the system of revenue and disburse-
| ments which has been adopted by the Government.
| 1t is well known that the Government has derived
| its revenue mainly from duties on imports shall
not undertake to show that such duties must
sarly fall mainly the exporting States, and that
| the South, as the great exporting portion of the
Union, has in reality paid vastly more than her due
| proportion of the revenue; because deem il I'M
necessary, as the subject has on many occasions
been fully discussed. Nor shall l. for the same rea-
son, undertake to show that far greater portion of
the revenue has been disbursed at the North than
| its due share; and that the joint effect of these
| causes mas Deen, 10 transfer n vast amount from
South TO North, which, under equal system of
revenue and disbursements, would not have been
| lost to her. IT, to this be added that many of the
duties were imposed, not for revenue but for pro-
tecton-that is, intended to put money. not in the
treasury, but directly into the pocket of the
facturers, some conception may be formed of the
immense amount which, in the long course of sixty
years, have been transferred from South to North.
There are no data by which it can be estimated
with any certainty; but it is safe TO say, that it
amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars. Under
the most moderate estimate, it would be sufficient
to add greatly to the wealth of the North, and thus
greatly increase her population by attracting emf
grafton from all quarters to that section.
This, combined with the great and primary
cause, amply explains why the North has acquired
| preponderance over every department Of the
Government by its disproportionate increase of
population and States. The former as has been
shown, has increased in fifty years 400 900 over
that of the South This increase of population,
during 50 long PERIOD is satisfactorily accounted
Tor, by the number OF emgrants, and the increase
OF their descendants, which have been attracted TO
| the northern section from Europe and the South,
IN consequence of the advantages derived from the
causes assigned. If they had not existed-if the
South had retained all the capital which has been
extracted from her by the fiscal action of the Gov
eminent; and, if it had not been excluded by the
ordinance of S7 and the Missouri compromise
from the region lying between the Ohio and the
Mississippi rivers, and between the Mississippi anc
the Rocky mountains north of 800 Got scarcely
emigration with the North, and, by retaining hel
own people, would have at least equalled the North
in population under the census of 1910, and proba
| bly, under that about 10 be taken. She would also
If she had retained her equal rights in those Terri
tories, have maintained equality in the number
Of States with the North, and have preserved the
equilibrium between the two sections that existed
at the commencement Of the Government. The
loss then Of the equilibrium Is 10 be attributed 10
the action Of this Government.
But while these measures were destroying the
equilibrium between the two sections. the action OF
the Government was leading to radical change in
Its 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 contaminated. II il did, il would not Be
difficult 10 show that the process commenced ut ar
early period OF the Government; thatit proceeded
almost without interruption step by step, until il
absorbed virtually its entire powers; but without
going through the whole process TO establish the
TACT, il may be done satisfactorily by very short
statement.
That the Government claims, and practically
maintains, the right 10 decide in the last resort a,
20 the extent of It's powers will scarcely be denied
by any one conversant with the political history
the country That IL also claims the right TO
TO force 10 maintain whatever power she claims
against all opposition, il equally certain Indeed
II is apparent, from what we daily hear, that THU
has become the prevailing and fixed opinion Of q
great majority Of the community.
Now, ] ask what limitation can possibly b.
placed upon the powers Of a government claiming
and exercising such rights And II none can be
how can the separate governments Of the States
maintain and protect the powers reserved 10 then
by the Constitution, or the people Of the severa
States maintain those which are reserved 10 them
and among others the sovereign powers by which
they ordained and established not only their sep
arate State constitutions and governments, but slst
the Constitution and Government Of the Unitec
Statesl But II they have no constitutional mean
Of maintaining them against the right claimed by
this Government, IL necessarily follows that they
bold them at its pleasure and discretion, and tina
all the powers Of the system in reality concen
trated in IT, IL also follows that the character o
the Government has been changed IN consequence,
from Federal republic, IL originally came from
the hands Of its trainers, and that IL has beer
> changed into great national consolidated democ
racy. IL has, indeed, at present all the character
istics OF the latter, and not Of the former nj
though IL still retains its outward form.
The result Of the whole Of these causes combine,
IL, that the North has acquired a decided ascend
! ency over every department Of this Government
and through IL a control all the powers Of IN
I system. single section governed by the will @
the numerical majority, has now, in fact the con
troll Of the Government and the entire powers of th
system. What was once a constitutional Fedora
I, republic, is now converted, in reality into one
y absolute that Of the Autocrat Of Russia and a
despotlc in it, tendency az any absolute govern
: mcnt that ever existed