Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-01-04
social condition o. the future States to be
founded on the territory Of Louisiana.

social condition o. the future States to b
founded on the territory Of Louisiana.
The ordinance Tor the government Of the ter
ritory nothwest OF the river Ohio had contain
ed a provision, which prohibited the use o
seryile labor therein, subject to the condition
Of the ex,radition oi oifugitives from service du,
III any other part Of the United States. Sub
sequently to the adoption OF the constitution
this provision ceased TO remain as = law; fol
it. operation as such was absolutely ,uperse
ded BY the constitution. But the recollection
Of the fact excited the zeal Of social propagan-
dism in some sections Of the confederation and
when second State. that Of Missouri. cam. Il
b. formed i'll the territory OF Louisiana, propo-
sition WAS made 10 extend tv the latter terrific
ry the restriction originally applied 10 the
country situated between the rivers Ohio and
Mississippi.
Most questionable a. was this PROPOSITION III
all its constitutional relations. nevertheless ii
received the sanction Of Congress. with rom.
slight notifications Of line, 10 save the exist
ing rights of the intended new State. II was
reluctantly acguiesced in by southern States a.
:. sacrifice t. the cause of peace and of the
Union, not only Of the rights stipulated BY the
treaty of Lou sisna, but Of the principle Ui
equality among the States guaranteed by the
constitution. 1t was received by the northern
States with angry and resentful condemnation
and complaint, because il did not cOncede all
which they had eXacting!y demanded. Having
passed through the forms Of legislation, it took
its place in the statute book. standing open to
repeal. like any other act of doubtful constitu-
tiOnality. subject to be pronounced null and
void by the courts OF law, and possessing no
possible efficacy to control the rights Of the
States, which might thereafter be organized
out of any part OF the original territory Of
Louisiana.
In all this. il any aggression there were, any
innovation upon prc-cxisting rights. 10 which
portion Of III. Union are they justly charsea-
Bile?
Th- controversy passed away with the occa-
sion. nothing surviving II save the dormant let
ter Of the statute.
But. long afterwards. when, by the proposed
accession of the Republic OF Texss, the United
States were to take their next step III territ"ri-
VI or..-tnass II similar contin""--s
and became a. ---..7tun Tor -yStematIzrd at
tcmpts 10 intervene in the domestic affair Of
one section of the Luion. in defiance of their
rights ~ States, aud Of the stlptilatiOns OF the
constitution. These attempts assumed p-n"-
teal direction, in the shape of perSeyering 'n-
deavors. nv some of the Representatives i'll both
houses of Congress. 10 deprive the southern
States Of the supposed beneGt ot the provision
ol the act authorizing the organization OF the
State Of Missouri.
But the good sense Of the people. and the
ital force of the constitution. triuInphcd over
sectional preJudice, and political error. "i th.
DAY and the State Of TeSa> returned 10 the
Union a. -hc W., with social Institutions which
her people had chosen for themselves, and with
express agreement. by the rs-annexing act,
that she should be susceptible of subdivision
in 10 :. plurality Of state.
Whatever advantage the Interests Il the
Southern State-, ~ such, gained by tins. were
far inferior in results, n they uufoliei in the
progress Of time. those which sprnng from pre-
yiotl- concessions made by the South.
To the every thoughtful frieni Of the Union,
to the true lovers Of their c"utry.-to all
who l"ngcl AMI l,.burei for the fuil -uccs-- Of
this great experiment Of republican in>titu-
tions-it WAS cause of graduation that such
AN opportunity had occurred to illustrate our
advancing power On this continent, amt "a FUR
nish to the world additional assurance of the
strength and stability of the constitution. Who
would wish to see Florida still Il European col
onv. Who would rejoice 10 hail Texas A. a
lone star instead of one in the galaxy Of States!
Who does not appreciate the inea!culahle ben
eiits oi the acquisition of Louisiana And yet
narrow views and sectional purposes would in
evitably have excluded them all from the
onion.
But another struggle on the same point en-
sred, when our victorious armies returned from
Mexico, and it dcyolved on Congre-, to provide
4. ,I u.ftutral h,- ytp "A
Guadalupe Hidalgo The great relations Of
the subject had now become distinct and clear
to the perception of the public mind, which ap-
preciated the evils Of sectional controversy up
on the question uf the admission Of the new
States In that crisis intense soiicitude per-
vaded the nation But the patriotic impulses
OF the popular heart. guided by the adnlonito-
nv advice of the Father OF ii, Country, rose
superior to all the difficulties Of the 'ncorpora-
ton Of IA new empire into the Union. In the
counsels of Congress there Wa. manifested ex-
treme anita gouism of fopinion and action between
some representatives. who sought by the abu-
-ive and unconstitutional employment Of the
Legislative powers of the government TO inter
fere in the condition of the inchoate States, and
to impose their own social theories upon the
latter: and other Representatives, who repellcd
tue interpo-ition of the general government in
this respect, and maintained the -elf-consti;u-
ting rights of the States. In truth. the thing
attempted was, in form alone. action OF the
general government. while in reality it WAS the
endeavor, By abuse of the legislative power. to
force the ideas of internal policy, entertained
in particular States, upon allied Independent
States. Once more the constitution and the
Union triumphed signally. The new Terrific
ries we're organized without restrictions on the
disputed point. and were thus left to judge in
that particular for themselves: and the sense
of constitutional faith proved vigorous enough
in Congress not only TO accomplish thi, prima-
ry object, but also the incidental and hardly
less important one, of so amending the provi-
sions of the statute for the eNtradition of fugi-
tives from service. as to place that public duty
under the safe guard of the general govern
ment, and thus relieve il from obstacles raised
up BY the legislation of some of the States.
Vain defamation regarding the provisions OF
law for the extradition of fugiti,es from service,
with occasion episodesa of frantic effort to oh
struct their execution by riot and murder, CON
tinued. for brief time. TO agtate certain To-
calities. But the true principle of leaving each
State and Territory to regulate It's own laws OF
labor according to its own sense OF right and
expediency. had acquired fast hoid of the pub
lie judgement, to such degree. that. by COM
mon consent, it was observed in the organila-
tion of the Territory of Washington.
when more recently, it became requisite TO
organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kan
sas, it was the natural and legitimate, if not
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