True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-26
SILVER SPRING, Md, Tues. Dec. IL,

SILVER SPRING, Md, Tues. Dec. IL,
1855.
GENTLEMEN: Having relinquished pol
ilcal employment, and, to avoid encoun-
lering again its anxieties, addicted myself
to country life, l am constrained to decline
your invitation to join the Republican AS
sociation of Washington City, although
tempted by the honor of becoming officer.
Yet | feel it my duty 10 say, that in the
main | concur in the aims of the Asso-
citation. To exclude Slavery from the
Territories of the United States, and 10
rebuke the violation of the Comprises
which were made 10 stand as covenants
between the Slave and Free States to eff
ect that exclusion, are, in my opinion,
the most important movements which
have engaged the public mind since the
Revolution.
The extension of Slavery over the new
Territories would prove fatal to their
prosperity but the greatest calamity 10
apprehend from it is the construction Of
the confederacy, on which The welfare of
the whole country reposes. Every con-
quest of this element of discord, which
has so ollened threatened the dissolution
oflhe Union, increases the danger. Every
surrender of the Free States invites invas-
ion.
The cause which ycur organization is
intended 10 promote may well draw to its
support men Of all parties. Differences
on questions of policy, on constitutional
constructions, of modes administration
may be merged to unite men who believe
nothing but concert of action on the par
of those who would arrest the spread o
Slavery can resist the power of the com
bination now embodied to make il
embrace the continent from ocean 10 oc-
can.
The repealing clause Of the Kansas bill
is predcated on the nullity of the clause
in the Constitution which gives Congress
the power 10 make regulations respecting
the Territories of the United States. Ye
nothing is clearer in The history of ouI
Government than that this phrase giving
power to Congress, SO make regulations
res becting the Territories was meant II
give it the power to exclude Slavery from
them.
Mr.. Jeherson's resolutions Of 1884, de
claring that there shall be neither SLAYER.
nor involuntary servitude in any of tn
States laid off in the Western Territory
was subsequently, renewed in the Con
gress of 1885, which added that regula
ton shall be an article of compact and
was so voted unanimously by the delega
tons of eight States out of twelve.
1t was passed by the unanimous vote
of all the States by the Congress of 1871
which sat contemporaueously with th
Convention forming the constitution, an
that Constitution gave Congress the pow
er 'to make regulations respecting tn
Territories and moreover affirmed III
validity Of the engagements entered int
by the confederation of which el
gagements was that made by the Iregul
ton excluding Slavery from the Terrific
les. Thus the Congress of the conlede
alton and the Constitution united
giving a double sanction TO the exclu
ion.
The first cxerted the power OF enaclil
Mr.. JefFerson's interdict Of slavery in 4
, territories then held by the United State
to which it had previously given an il
pressive sanction by adding, This reg
!, Iation shall be an article Of compact, &
and the Convention guaranteed this e
gagemeni,' entered into under the conft
e Grafton, by declaring it valid and e
ployed the same terms, regulation Of
, Territories 10 transmit the power HI
. exerted to future Congresses. In the "a
f Of this history and the letter Of The Cc
q siitution granting the power to make wh
4 ever regulations it deemed fit respecti
the territories of the United States,
: authors Of the Kansas and Nebraska
deny the constitutionaliiy of all the rel
lations which excludes Slavery from
ID Territories, and set at naught all the p
& cedents that confirm then, which HI
re followed It uninterrupted succession, fr
/ the foundation Of the Government