Washington sentinel., 1854-04-08
NON-INTERvENTIo IN PENNsY L.
VANIA.

The Pennsylvania Keystone, of the 5th in
slant, contains a very able and patriotic speech
delivered in the Pennsylvania Senate, on the
10th of March, by c. R. Buckalew, esq, upon
resolutions pending against the Nebraska-Kan-
sas bill. The Keystone very properly says oft:
"The speech is plain and sensible through
out, clear in its reasonings and unanswerable
in its conclusions. 1t is an address to common
sense, and should be extensively circulated.
To the candid inquirer after truth and political
duty, it will be found an valuable aid"
Not having room for the whole speech, we ex.
tract few paragraphs to show what the sound
of the great principle embodied in the BILL Mr..
Buckalew says:
"This principle of congressional non-action
is powerfully recommended by the fact that it
is strictly accordant with the character of our
federal government. No idea is more firmly
rooted i'll our national system, or more useful in
its results, than that which leaves to the States
the exclusive regulation of their internal affairs
Without this salutary principle, it would be i'm
possible that the general government could long
in our whole system of administration. The
word, but contains in it meaning of the high.
est significance. 1t means limitation and re.
straint to the general government. 1t means
that there real barriers against the encroach.
ments of federal power. 1t means that central.
ization is not an idea of government amongst
us. And it means, finally, that popular, local,
and individual rights, have real guarantees and
solid defence.
| "We would resent, in Pennsylvania, to the
| utmost, any encroachment of the federal gov
ment upon our just and reserved rights; and
why should we, therefore, assist in extending
congressional interference into the Territories
of the Union? The humble emigrant who
goes out from amongst us, our relative, neigh
Dor or friend, should carry with him, to his
new home in the west, the same republican
principles which prevail in the locality from
which he emigrates. There is no reason why
he should forfeit any of his rights as an Ameri-
can citizen, by removal into the Territories,
| the common property of the United States.
| Sir, when this principle of local power squares
exactly with the national interests, in removing
the question of slavery from the field of con-
gressional debate, and secures the peace and
harmony Of the States in their relation to each
other, that man must have bad motives, or
must be greatly or grossly mistaken, who would
oppose its adoption.
| Slavery is not likely to exist, certainly not
| to any considerable extent, in these Territories
| about to be organized. But the principle of
the equal rights of the States in the Territories
! the principle of congressional non-interference
in local concerns, and the principle of territo-
rial self-government, are involved in the bill
| and therefore abolitonism and its allies hate it
| and denounce it. 1t deeply Injuries their bust.
ness of agitation. By removing their darling
subject from the jurisdiction of Congress, they
are deprived Of opportunities for keeping tho
country in an uproar, and imperilling the very
| existence of the Union.
Sir, the spirit Of abolitionism is thoroughly
venomous and implacable. No concessions
will satisfy or appease it. Inspired by dead
ly, inextinguis liable hatred Of our system of
confederate government, it would rush to the
accomplishment of its designs over PROSTATE
Constitution, and through the balefu flames
of civil war. Destructive in all its instincts
and passions, it is to be resisted as an enemy to
whom no quarter is to be given, and to con.
ciliate whom is to betray our country"