The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-23

chise in Territory nor of the folly
and madness which have characterized Of legisl
ZION, and which have given their adversaries many
causes OF complaint All such things weaken the
which they designed strengthen But why should
the question Of slavery there where scarcely slave is
be found, excite the political action of distant States
while IN another Territory there hundreds If
thousands, of white female slaves subject the
strained Will of seereated high priest and his Juggling
subordinate living in open violation of law human and
divine and in defiance Of the decenees Of civilized society,"
without attracting the attention OF solitary political con-
venton in the Union Why is il that the victims OF Nor
mon Lust command no consideration among politicians,
while the very fear OF cooed slavery in Kansas excites
them to political phrensy Life Is dear 10 all Why
IS IL that political combination has been formed TO
protect against the annual slaughter of hundreds of white
people public convey Is it because political
capital be made ont of the one and none out of the
otherl il because ii is and safer If
manly and courageous, denounce and combat distant
unknown, and adversary whose response is
heard and whose presence creates danger exctes
alarm 2
When Jefferson purchased Louisiana of Napoleon in l503
il slave colony The third article of that treaty is in
these words The inhabitants the ceded territory shall
be incorporated in The Union of the United States and
mited possible according TO the principles of
the federal constitutions to the enjoyment Of all the rights
advantages and mmuntes of citizens of the United States
and in the time they shall be maintained and pro-
ieced in the free enjoyment Of their liberty property
and the religion which they profess
The property referred to included slaves and the religion
to be protected Catholic This treaty, which Congress
could annul became the supreme law Of the land In
1920 that body in violation of this treaty declared that
slavery might exist side OF line drawn through
this territory but prohibited 1t the other This decla
ration had legal validity, and possessed binding
thory succeeding Congresses and it has been since
annued by Congress ITSELF and the inhabitants there
of left free to act for themselves The question now
| is, Why restore that which originally unautbor
lied and wrong May the people all parts of
the old Louisiana Territory be safely trusted TO upon
whatever their interests and happiness If
they misjudge and act unwisely the evil falls upon them
and not upon other portions OF the Union. Have not
many States acted unwisely occasions
| Our political theory is 10 allow the people the largest
liberty possible without endangering the public good Will
the public liberty he endangered by allowing the Terrific
ries liberal seIfgoyernmens We must soon trust the
people in most of them manage State for
themselves When admitted each State will on this sub
jec be under control but that Of her people Why wish
to control them Instead OF attending TO the affairs
of the Territories the philanthropy Of the satcsan
be well employed at home in guarding against and
recting those vices ana REFRESHING and furnishing those
crimes whose mere description Nils so large share OF our
| public papers
/ cannot admire that charity and philanthropy which
extend to distant States Territories islands, and CONT
nen and exhaust their energies upon them the neglect
Of objects at home Until vice and disappear from
among distant regions have little claim upon us to
| pervise their affairs.
On the question of slavery agitation there are however
fanatics on both sides Many of the proposed by
the South to repress have essentially promoted and
tended il. There who claim that slavery is
blessing and refuse the hand of fellowship to all who
agree with them in this abstract theory including
those tho manty defending their constitutional and
rights with ability and sincerity worthy OF all praise
This is as impolitc ii is unknd and unjust and tends
weaken that supporting which constitutes guar
antee OF their safely There is but true for all
friends of the constitution to pursue they should be
charitable tolerant, and kind towards all who le from
them opinion and sincere and faithful to the principles
uon which the cover nment rests and let nothing draw
them the great object in view, stand IN the way Of
justice All rejecting people will then be with them The
success of their adversars may awaken hope
and inspire confidence in the future but the history Of the
past ia sure guarantee that both must end in dsappon
men The "isms' of the present day will pass TO their
grave without mourner to greve or friend TO erect
| mon
Another source of excitement and agitation Is found In
sectional considerations Demagogdes seek TO array
section Of the Union against anotherhe North against
the South and the West against the East The objects and
purposes artuy nsrepresented and studousy
denounced. This accomplshes good purpose but de-
sroys that confidence and affection which ought 10 exia
between citizens living under the same government IL is
fatally destructive Of every element Of happiness These
dangers foreseen by Washington and thus alu
/ ded to in his Farewell Address:
ssn contemplating the causes which may disturb our
Union It occurs a. matter OF serons concern that any
ground should have been furnished for caraeerizpg par
ties by geographical northern, southern
atlantic westerns whence designing men may enaeavor to
and views One of The expedients of party to acquire niu
within particular districts ia to mrepresent the opin
ions and aims 9, other districts, 9a came. shield your
spring from these and they tend to
each other those who ought to be bound together
| by fraternal Affection.
source of weakness il not Of actual danger is to be
found in those ngations and exciteents which have
necessary connexion with good constitutional govern
ment or the WeIafe IepFe-i metH
those subjects which deagogpes torture into The
of elevation without suhectng their merits to con-
stitntiona tesla,
The murder Of Morgan followed by a crusade ms
yndctive and mecess il was blind and unjust against
the members of all societies. including those eonstl
tuted organs of benevoence and charity They
denounced hostile 10 the genius of our Institutions and
demand made to put them down OF the ballot-box
and prohibit them by law. The clamor against Masons
and their oatbs esirangcd ancient friendships alienated
affections, and embitieed relatives II served tor time
elevate those who occasoned to political power AZ
ter abortve effort The reins Of the national
government anil Masonry sunk, without struggle into
oblivion It's successor of the present day, in striking
contrast boasts Of its of thousands Of secret lodges
devoted charity but to the ambitious
purpose ruling America by merciess crusade against
reli gous and nolerant persecution of all not
to the horn The spirits impress upon the
weak and creduous in darkness those oahs which
make the Christian shudde and wheh have
nerposed in the courts OF Justice to impede the Of
Justice in maintaining the supremacy Of the constitution
and laws The organs of these combinations openly
avow the intention 'put down, If not annilnte,
denomination of Christians in violation of the spirit of
those provisions in the constitution which declare that
"Congress shall make law respecting establishment
of religion prohibiting the free exercise thereof "that
no religious shall be required qualification
to any office or public under the United States
We acquired Louisiana of France, Florida of SPAIN
California, New Mexico, &c, of Mexico--all Catholic
countries Have they forgotten that with the former
solemny agreed 10 protect the inhabitants in their
religion, and in the two latter to secure them in the
free exercise Of their religion without restriction? Would
they disregard such treaty obligations, would they
fulfil them in letter and spirit as Great Britain has
done in Lower Canada :? If one denomination is 'put
down. degraded may not the came spirit. means,