The daily union., 1854-03-03
For Tie Union
To Hon Edward Everett.


disturb the peace quiet Of the northern mind aided
they are BY unscrspuous and unpnncpled politicians,
10 address 10 you few reflections upon the great and
only issue which has seriously shaken the founda-
TONS Of the republic TO you, and such as you, this
country must and viii look for that enlightenment OF
public opinion which will enable the patriotic citizens OF
the North TO lay aside all prejudice and view ths great
question IN the light OF reason Appeals 10 the passions
OF suitable TO the demagogue and the partisan
Reason is the lever with which the true statesman moves
and controls the public heart Your experiences and your
wisdom teach you two things one is, that by lar the
greatest disturbing element American politics is slavery
the other s that is not hamonously settled in some
way, this constant atron southern endurance, and
toooit-repeaed collisions between the sectional sent-
ments OF the country. will tear down and destroy any
government whose builder alone is man To overthrow
this republic and dissolve this Union have the charity
TO believe does not occupy the thoughts much less i'm
BODY the wishes, OF any man. Many have no
DOUBT advocate measures the success OF which would
speedily terminate existence as confederaed gov
ernment but they are by deslrous OF Fastening
such catastrophe They unwse teachers both OF the
law and the gospel They selfish politicians. willing
10 ride into power at the hazard Of consequences from
which they would reco, had they the sensbty through
which they could be reached. Whenever individual
is in DANGER not from wha, cause, if he is wise,
he will first seek the disturbing element and then
tain The remedy, if any exists, How much essen
ta 10 the statesman is this wisdom and prudence where
action may, and very often does involve the happiness
and liberty OF whole people History is replee with
instances whe2e the reverse action of men m power
would have been fatal themselves and their postery
Your well STORED mind will readily to them
but to the people OF this country is living light,
and should be vesta faIne-l refer TO the proposition
of Lord North in the British Parliament to transfer the
power to tax the colonies 10 the colonies themselves
Had our revolutionary ancestors compromised upon this
proposition. in all probability your voice would never
have been heard in the Senate of the reest happiest
and best government on earth To all practical pur
poses, the proposition Of Lord North surrendered the
questions but in it, if accepted there ufked the acknowl
edgment of the right which forefaIhers had de-
MED, and upon which they had saked their all If our
ancestors continued the revolution upon echnicalily
will not be surprising if their descendants should peril
all in the maintenance of principle which secures
them in the enjoyment OF the rights Of person and prop
ey. The position of the North and the South, as 10
their relative rights this question: is very dfereat
the claims the right to exclude the other from the
occupancy of joint property. The bare statement of
the proposition carries with il The enormy of the as
sumption
ask you, then, as American statesman, why this
continuous wIanglng between the North and the Soa,h
on this question OF slavery Why is it that year after
year, every meeting together Of the peoples represent
aves, the peace of the country is disturbed Is this
fraiernal dscord TO reign foreveri And above ALL
question you as 10 the remedy
You will, believe you have, admit that over the
institution Of slavery in the era States Congress has
CONTROL the people OF the North any right 10 inter-
fee in any whatever and be faithful to the con
su,on OF their country. or loyal TO their obligations as
citizens Christians Fanacism, when widest, has
never claimed the right TO interfere with the institution
in the States. The only question: then, is as to the
Territories; and in this. it is narrowed down to the
simple inquiry, whether Cosgress hall restrict or
shall the people OF the Territories themselves deter
mine what institutions they will establish, and what
they will prohibit AZ the ihreshold OF this invest-
CATION the inquiry presents itself, has Congress
the constitutional right to restrict the people of a
Territory, as to their institutions of any kind | lay
down the proposition that no express power can be found
in the constitution authorizing any such legislation and
as for an implied power, properly speaking, such thing
cannot exist The general government is a creature
and hence all its powers derived from its creator If
you admit that outside of the grant implied pow
upon which its action be sustained upon one sub
eet you may claim them upon all, and are living Nm
der desposm, illimable in power The exercise OF
which is subject alone 10 the control of maioritya
worse form OF government than the one our foreathers
abandoned and repudiated at the cost OF revolution
You may call the power deducible from, or incidental
TO- an express grant, but 10 the federal constitution
there is such thing known an implied pow
er "The powers not delegated to the United States
by the constitution, nor pTohoHed by II TO the
States, are reserved TO the States respectively or TO
the people" Let me illustrate il you were TO execute
10 me naked power to sell your residence IN the city
OF Washington without Limitation as 10 time or amount,
the manner 10 which should exercise the trust would
be deducbe from, incidental TO, the grant, but If were
to hold that under such grant The implied power
alone to sell your residence in Boston, would not be
sustained in law, and would clearly have transeenled
my authority. Congress has the right under the grant
TO make rules for the government and regulation Of The
land and naval forces U have selected this power on ac-
count of the similarity of language TO another abou,
which will have something say before finish this
communicaton) Under this Congress possesses unques-
onably the authority TO designate the compensation OF
the officers, seaen and soldiers TO FIX uniform to de-
ermne and declare what constitutes insubordinaon on
the part OF Interiors TO organize them into companies
and squadrons, besides many other things necessary
to menton-a these, however, derivable from, or in
cidenal to- and in fact part OIL the power granted But
il Congress should declare by its legislation that no off
of the army navy should marry, hold, in their
own right, plantation and negroes The power to
do would be only implied, and necessarily void
aud yet the power is distinctly given TO Congress
to make rules for the government and regulation OF
The land and naval forces We shall have bu
little dificuly in properly constituting the extent OF
the powers OF the federal constitution II we will keep
constantly in mind the important fact that to that insru
ment there is really such thing implied power
II will be, also, WE'LL in this connexion remember thai
in the powers delegated by the States the general gov
eminent there is not one authorizing it interfere with
their domestic institutions Of any kind whether relating
to property persons 10 prohibit the free exercise OF
ri rs