Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-09-14

A VOICE FOR PEAcE.-The Balti-
more American, always sound and judi
cious, deplOres the acrid agitation upon
the subject of slavery which has of late
prevailed, and earnestly invokes re-
turn to peace. 1t says:
owe believe the South is fully pre-
pared, by every proper exertion, to do
her part in inaugurating the reign of
good will. The Nebraska excitement
was not originated by her efforts; be-
yond the mere enunciation of its cardinal
principle, she reaped no benefit from it,
and every day is increasing the convic-
ton that the development of her pro-
ductiEe capabilities, and the encourage
ment of her industrial resources-things
which flourish best in time of peace
are what constitutes her great need
Tired of agitation, she desires peace, ard
asks only to be let alone.
'tWhy, then, cannot the North accept
the gage of anaity thus held oat9 The
late struggle has been drawn battle
the North, perhaps, coming off the best
by securing all the practical advantages
and, why may not the old axiom
''forget and forgive" be as proftably
practiced by sections and States as by
individuals"
1t is impossible to doubt the sincerity
of this appeal, or ofsthe views on which
it rests. And yet is difficult to believe
that the American can be blind to the
real influences which have broken the
peace that prevailed until the passage of
the Nebraska bill. 1t is easy to dis
parage the importance of that bill, now
it has psssed,-and even to assert that
the South has reaped no advantage
from it, and did not desire its passage.
beyond the mere enunciation of its
cardinal principles" says the American,
"the South derived no benefit from it,
But in that cardinal principle" is in
Volved the whole controversy between
slavery and freedom, as far as the ac-
ton of the Federal Government is con-
cerned. The Slave States have always
claimed the right to carry slavery into
the territories of the United States, and
have denied the right of the General
Government to exclude it. This is the
cardinal principle" which the Free
States have resisted. This issue has
lain at the bottom of the whole contest
between them; and the ests sblishment,
or as the American phrases it, the
"enunciation" of this right of the Slave
States to plant slavery in the federal
territories, in spite of the Federal Gov
ernment, involves nothing less than the
complete and final defeat of the princi-
pie upon which the Free States have
always insisted, as demanded by Justice
and sound policy. 1t is strange that
such result should excite complaint
and remonstrance?
But this result, at which in any case
the Free States would feel aggrieved, is
infinitely aggravated by the circum-
stances under which it was brought
about. So far as the territory which it
embraced was concerned, this contest
had been closed, and peace had been re-
stored. The North and South had
agreed upon restoring peace,-not by
conquest but by compromise. The
South claimed the right to carry Slavery
into all the territory, and sought to ex-
ercise it; the North claimed the right to
exclude Slavery from all the territory,
and sought to exercise it. Both yielded
something, and it was covenanted that
the right claimed;by each should be ex-
ciuded over part, and waived over part,
of the territory in question. On these
terms peace was restored, and for years,
SO far as that territory was concerned
peace prevailed. Last winter, without
word Of warning, to the surprise and
amazement Of the whole country, with
out petition from any corner, or any
solitary inhabitant of the Union, the
covenant was broken. The Slave States
served al the territory.
;, The ADssrioan argues that practically
the Free States have lost nothing by
this. This is a mistake, whatever