Washington sentinel., 1854-04-12

cemember that their forefathers established the
foundations of their republics not upon the
shifting legislation of an act of Congress, a
shameful monument of sectional jealousy and
liscord, but upon the firm and enduring rock
Of that Constitution which first gave our ma
ton public strength and our people private
prosperity
Shall we deny to the hardy pioneers who
abandon the comforts of their tranquil home
steads to penetrate the forests OF the west, who
with the rife and the axe, the great implements
Of American civilization, ada to our greatness
and increase our empire-men like Boone ana
Carson, crusaders in the cause OF progress
the exercise of those rights our humblest citi-
zens possess? Shall an American Congress
propose reward for their frontier privations,
their patriotic enterprise, their extension of the
empire, to deprive them of their political
rights, disfranchise them in the countries their
right arms have won, and subject them to a
tutelage more rigorous than Rome would have
exercised over her colonists in pro-consular
governments? Mr.. Chairman, there is no
bondage more odious than that of a people
under the control of a remote government
and deprived of representation There is, sir,
great satisfaction in man managing his
own business without guardian, even if he
does not manage 1t so well.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Rhode Island. Will the
gentleman from Kentucky allow me to ask
him q question?
Mr.. PRESTON. / would yield with great
pleasure to the gentleman from Rhode Island,
but he must be aware that have but q few
moments left of the time allotted to me !; and
knowing as do his sentiments in relation
to slavery, and if were to reply to him that
it would involve me in controversy as long as
one Of those interminable discussions in the
days of scholastic philosophy, when the ques-
ton was, what would be the the effect of an
irresistible force coming in contact with an
immovable body laughter | must decline
to yield.
But, Mr.. Chairman, it has been asserted, by
gentlemen in opposition to the BILL that this is
another nagrant instance of southern aggres.
sion, and another attempt to deprive the people
Of the north of their just rights.
Our past history shows that the southern
States are not justly subject to this reproach.
When the country, exhausted in the revolution
airy war, was, after the treaty of peace in 1888,
overwhslmed with financial difficulties, and
asked for the grant of the western lands, Nir-
ginia came forward and made the first great
oblation to patriotism and concord She sur
rendered to the common use the Northwestern
Territory, from whence were subsequently cre-
ated the great States Of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, and Wisconsin, having an area OF
two hundred and thirty-nine thousand square
miles, capable of containing larger popula-
ton, and having a territory of about one-third
less than the old thirteen States. This domain
was granted to the confederation by her deed
of cession in 1884. What reward did the
| southern States receive? The ordinance oi
| 1857 was enacted, and in its sixth article de
| clared that slavery should be forever prohibited
| in that Territory, and that absconding slaves
there found should be surrendered to theil
owners. Ohio is always praising the wisdom
and asseverating her admiration for that ord
nance, and even styles it sacred: yet when the
constitution Of Ohio was formed, it incorporated
the first part of the sixth article, and omitted
the second part The clause excluding slavery
was inserted, but that providing for the sur.
render of slaves was left out. The ordinance
of 1887 was compact as sacred as the eighth
section of the act of 1920, yet Ohio did not
scruple to repeal the southern half of the
sixth article when it suited her convenience.
When the north demanded the cession of the
Northwest Territory, it claimed it as the com
mon property of the Union, because it had been
obtained by our common blood and common
treasure. This is true, so far as our struggle
in the Revolution goes; but it is not true that
| it was by common effort that the Northwes
| Territory was won. This Territory was wresteC
from Great Britain by George Rogers Clarke
4 Virginian by birth; and the Illinois regimen
levied by him was composed of the western
hunters, who at that time occupied Kentucky
And were exclusively from the southern States
1t was he who, in the year 1878, traverset
those untrodden forests until he reached tn,
British post of Vincennes. When he attacked
| it, the Wabash had overhowed its banks, anG
| his men, exhausted by the hardships of the
march, were compelled to wade through it;
| waters to reach the enemy. Overcome with
toll, they declared they could 60 no further
The gallant Virginian, without uttering word
poured some powder from his powder-horn
and, moistening it, blackened his face, the sign
ameng the Indians of deadly determination
and uttered the wild war-whoop. A shout an
swered him; Colonel Hamilton and the British
garrison were taken, and the Northwest Terri
| tory was won.
| Again: The first movements which led tc
the acquisition of Louisiana originated with the
| southern people. The dissatisfaction that ex
listed between the people Of Kentucky and the
| Spanish authorities of Louisiana had almost
caused hostilities. All saw that the struggle
| muSt RO vi tlll Tue lHOutn Ol inc IhlSSlSS1pp
was obtained. In 1903, when Napoleon was
preparing at Boulogne for the invasion Of Eng
land, and with a vast army hung like some
black cloud ready to burst in fury upon that
island, guarding himself in every quarter, re
quiring means for the expedition, and knowing
'that in our hands Louisiana was more formida.
bic to Britain than in his own, he entered into
the treaty that ceded it to the United States
| This vast acquisition gave us domain con.
| tanning more than million Of square miles
and constituting the most magnificent country
that God has prepared for the habitation Of
mankind. In the partition Of this Territory, in
every foot of which slavery was recognised
southern citizens hold slaves in only four States
containing an area of about one hundred and
sixty-six thousand square miles; while slavery
has been excluded by the legislation Of Con
gress from territories containing an area o.
three hundred and ninety-two thousand square
miles. The northern portion of the confed
eracy, even upon-the principles of equal parti
tion, has already received more than twice as
much as the south. 1t now seeks to atone fol