The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-09-30


is the democratic party. The party that has
contended from the date of the constitution
for its ''strict construction" and the re-
served rights Of the states, and the people,
and that the people ere capable Of sclfgov-
ernment,' is the democratic party. And on
the other hand, the party, that has always
opposed the acquisition Of territory, and al
our wars with other nations in defence Of our
just rights, is the federal party. The party
that has always and still contends for vesting
unconstitutional power in the fedora! gov
ernment, ard depriying the people of the
states aud territories Of their reserved rights,
and contends that "thc people are not capa-
ble of governing themselves by their own To-
cal laws, no matter by what name it may
call itself, is the legitimate desccndent of the
old federal party "Mcn change, but princi
pies never change; they arc hnnutaDlc and
Interchangeable
We will now notice the so.calicd nilsson.
ri comprom!se," its passage, repeal, and the
organization Of the new federal Republican
party" for its rc-enactment Missouri first
made application for admission into the
Union at the congressional session Of 1918,
and ~. The old federal Hartford coaycn-
ton party, that opposed the war Of 1912,
and other democratic measures, had become
unpopular, and disbanded and its leaders
were seeking new elements Of discoId to
form new party TO oppose the democratic
party The proposition 10 admit Missouri
as 4 slave state was siezcd upon by them,
and under the excitement OF the day they
obtained majority in the next congress.
On the 9Th of March 1920, an act passed FOR
: ,I, ,.l,,;1-;,r g tEVg,u,., pIaua atntn
with clause prohibiting slavery forever"
/ in the territory which lies west OF that state,
and north Of $500 Missouri presented her
constitution in accordance with this net, and
was voted out Of the Union by federal abol-
/ i,ion house Of representatives, by majority
/ OF almost two 20 ono. Thus the act was re-
! pudiatcd and rendered null and void by the
very congress that made il. On the 26th Of
/ February, 1871, an other act passed for her
admission, and was known as "Clay's COM
promise which does not say one word on
/, the subject Of slavery, or tie line Of $3.50 F;
| but only provides that Missouri should never
I pass law to carry out a clause in her con
stitu;ion prohibiting free people of color
, from omigrating % the state Missouri
/ agreed 10 this second compromise, and was
/ admit 4 into the Union under it, by the pro-
I camaticn OF the President Of the L. s., on
/ the l0th Of August 1921 The first so-callcd
"Mjssoun compromise" never had any
[ practical operation, and ought never to
, have been passed It was the entering
! wedge to the slavery agitation in congress,
! as Jefferson predicted that il would be,
/ which has divided and distracted the nation
/ al councils from that TO tbs present The
/ repeal Of this act, by the Nebraska and Kan
/ sas bill takes this agitation out Of congress,
/ and leaves il 10 the people Of the states, and
/ territories where it lesitimatcly and properly
! belongs.
/ Henry Clay, opposed this Missouri com
/ promise line OF $3.50 in congress, and at
| ono time spoke FOR four hours in opposition
/ to II, f3cr Mallory lie Of Clay, page 10 4
I'D Thomas Jefferson was opposed TO it,
and predicted the evils which have followed
from its adoption Madison, declared that
! II was not within the powers Of the general
/ government" Monroe declared "that il was
rcprgnant to the principles OF the consttu'
I ton ,Iarf5<Jn denounced tt7-trrd harrt
: son declared that it was unconstitutional
/ In speech IN the 4. :. Senate, IN rieor o!
/ the compromise measures Of 1850, Henry
I Clay said that the true principle for con.
| eress was 10 refrain from all legislation on
! the subject Of slavery in the territory, aud
leave the people to decide the question for
I themselves when they applied for admission
into the union as stutcs.'
The principles of the Nebraska and Kan.
sas bills are based upon two great and lead
ing principles Of the democratic party
First, strict construction of the constitution
Of the /. s., and second the cardinal princ,-
pies Of popular sovereignty, or the right Of
the people in each state and territory TO gov.
crn themselves, by their own local laws, sub
jet only to the restriction of the clearly
granted powers TO the central government
as found written down in the constitution Of
tho United States. The 10th article OF the
amendments to the constitution, declares
all powers not delegated to tie l. s., by the
constitution, nor prohibited by it TO III,
states, are reserved tothc statCsrespectvely
or to The people Hence all implied pow
er is obrogated. Thomas Jefferson, declared
tia; TIE powers Of congress were limited I,
the exercise cfthe enumerated power, in th'
constitution, and that to take single stcI
beyond the boundaries specially draw
around the powers Of congress, by the co
stitution, would be to take possession of NJ
underlined and undciinablc field of power.
There is nothing in the constitution vestinI
congress with power to pass the Missouri
compromise. The only grant of power OF
the subject of territories, is the clause which
declares that that congress shall have pow
or to dispose of and make all nccdlul rule
and regulations, respecting the territory, o
other property belonging to the lutte,
States The words territory, or other pro
] a. y palpfae a., ,l., ,,,,ll,, al
to arscnaIs, dOck-yardS forts, ships &c.
which the |. 5. may and must possess.
The simple authority TO regulate and dis
pose Of these does not extend to the unlim
tied power Of legislation, and the passage o
local laws to bind the people forever
The word TERRITORY in the constitution i
classed with property, aud means the pub
lie lands in the states and territories, whcl
congress may regulate and dispose OF.
this clause in the constitution vests congress
with power to pass local laws to bind tn
people Of the territories forever il woul
vest that body with the same power owe
the states. Tho general government is tn
owner OF the public lands in the states, n
well as in the territories The doctrin
which takes from people of the territoric
tie right TO make their own local laws, an
regulate their domestic institutions, is tn
doctrine and principle Of the old ilamilto
Man tcderalists and if carried out woul
lead to the destruction OF state sovereignty
and the consolidation of all power in the fed
, cra' government and finally to the cstat
lishinent of a central despotism.
As to the organization of the new part
ito restore the Missouri Compromise" it
of no practical importance, except that
may enable designing weather-cock polit
clans Of no fixed principles, to sow the seed
of dscord between different portions Of on
country, and place party divisions upon gee
graphical determinations. Before il woul
be possible for this party to get majorit
in both houses of congress, and presidcr
elected to sanction it, Nebraska and Kansa
will be knocking for admission into tn
Union as free states. And this party, base
on one idea, and composed of dscordant mt
terials will cease tc exist. Where now
the anti-masonic party, the conservative pal
ty, and the host of Other parties, which hay
sprung into existence on single idea, an