The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-09-01
/ D D h D 8 !

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEES, No. 3.

TO tie People Of Pennsylvania:
Pr1Low-C CfrlzENs-The manner of organz-
inc the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, you
will agree with us, is not necessarily an issue
in this contest-it is not a subject connected with
the duties of State Executive. 1t is scarcely
nossib|- that the election Of a Governor, who
ever nav succeed, is to have any practical bear
inc anon the future policy OF those territories
and surely no man will be so unreasonable as to
hold the Governor of Pennsylvania accountable
in an official sense for what Congress has alrea-
dy done on this subject II is sublect with
which that officer has had, and can have, ofhcl-
allv. nothing whatever to do. As a member of
the Democratic party it must be presumed that
he takes an interest in public affairs, and has
not been an inattentive observer that there has
existed diversity of opinion in relation to GER
tain features of this MEASURE.
Since the origin Of our government, with oc-
casioual intervals, the question OF slavery IN
some OF It's phases, has been subject OF violent
and at times dangerous controversy IN Congress,
menacing the peace Of the people and the eXls-
tence the national conlederacy. It's ADJUST
ment within the territories has led to the n:oSt
threatening struggles. These were invariably
renewed by every new acquisition OF territory
In 1920. the act of Congress fixing the Missouri
line was adopted interdcting the extension OF
slavery north OF SO deg. 80 min. as means OF
settling the controversy growing out the ac-
QUESTION of Louisiana from France in 1903
In 1915 this line was extended over Texas,
which had just been annexed to the United
States and Seemed to answer the purpose OF an
adjustment. In lS4S, however, when II was
proposed to extend this parallel Of 36 deg. 30
min. from the Rio del Norte TO the Pacific, 1t
was defeated in the House of Representatives,
after having passed the Senate, by majority OF
ten votes. The agitation in the country soon
became general, and by 1880 it had assumed an
alarming aspect The good and great men OF
all parties, forgetting former differences and
constrained by nohIer spirit of patriotism, nni-
ted in common effort 10 alay the mighty
sUrglng ofan excited public sentiment. Fore
most in this great work was the eloquent and
patriotic CLAY, sustained bv CasS, Webster, King
and others. 4 series Of acts wer" passed, fami-
laylv knottn as the CompromIsr Measures,
which were acceptable to the people and were
ardently maintained.
One of these acts organized the territories OF
New Mexico and Utah, on the principle OF non
lnervention-on the plan of allowing the people
TO decide for themselves whether they would
have the institution of slavery or not. The
whole country seemed satisfied with the doctrine
of non-nervpfItion by Congress, in the regua-
ton ofthe domestic institutions otthe territories
including that Of slavery. Without stopping &c
inquire into the constitutional power ofCongreSs
10 egisiate on the subject or to what extent
that power might be exercised, the people re-
garded it as wise and polite TO remove this topiC
of angry and dangerous controversy out OF Con
gress, and coafiGe it to those who may occupy
the territories we may, however, remark
that the question of authority in the passage 0
the Ordinance of 1887 under the old Confedera
tion. is very different one from the passage o
the Missouri Compromise or any slavery restrlc
ton whatever, under our present Constitution
Under the Confederation the institution ol slave
~ was not recoghized-under the Constitution
ii is, in three several particulars
lst. In fixing the basis of representation AM
direct taxation.
%. In tolerating the foreign slave trade un
til 1908.
Sd. In providing fol the rendition of fugi
tIves from labor.
Ifit even be clear that Congress is possessed
of ample power to legislate On the subject IAN
this is denied by Gen. Cass and other eminen
men OF the country il was proper to iorego It
exercise. The resort to this mode of adjustmen
in 1880, seemed most auspicious for the honor
the dignity and peace ofthe Statps-for the hap
piness and prosperity of the people; and aboy