Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-03-20

million inhabitants, and outvoting FIVE Of tht
old States, with an aggregate population o
eleven millions. The corrupt ant tyrsnica
Kings Of England. when so,es were needed
In the House ~ Lords 10 sustain them ag aims,
required. Is this anything In more fsgrant
contradiction to the principles Of Republi.
can Freedom. or more dangerous 10 the p ID.
lie liberties, than in the system praciised by
the SlavehoIding interest represented in the
General Government!
But third opportunity was close at hand.
and Slavery made third struggle for the ex.
i tension Of its domain and the enlargement oI
its power. f
The annexation Of Texas involved us in
war with Mexico. The war was wsgej on
our part with vgor, skill and success. 1t re.
sui:ed in the eessioh to the United States ol
New Mexico, California, and Deseret, vast
territories over which was extended by
Mexican law a prohibition OF Slavery. The
Shareholders demanded access to them alI,-
resisted the admission Of California and
New Mexico. which the energy Of lreemen,
outstripping in its activity the Government
and even the Slaveholding interest, had al
ready converted into Free States, and treason .
ably menaced Congress and the Union with
overthrow, OF its demands were not conceded.
The free spirit of the country w&s reused
with indignation BY these pretension3, and
for time the whole nation reused TO the
tempest which they had created. Untoward
events aided the wrong. The death OF the
President threw the whole power ,f the Ad-
ministration into timid and faitnless hands.
Party iresentments and party ambitions in
terPosed against the right. Great men,
leaders othe people from whom in betterdsys
the people, had learned lessons Of principles
ana patriotism, yielded to the howlings of the
storm aud sought shelter, in submission, from
its rage. The Slaveholding interes, was
again victorious. California. with her free
Constitution, was indeed admitted into the
Union; but New Mexico, with her Cunstitu-
ton forbdding Slavery within her borders,
were denied admission, and renanded to the
condition OF a T,rritory:-and while Cun.
gress refused to enact a positive prohibit
Of Slavery in the Territories of New Mexico
and Deseret. it was provided that, when they
should apply for admission as States. they
should come in with, or without Slavery, as
their inhabitants might decide. Additional
concessions were IN ide to the Slave Power:
the General Government assumed the re-
capture of fugitive slaves, and passed laws
for the accomplishment Of that end, subver-
sive at once of State sovereignty, and Of
the established safeguards of civil freedom.-
Then the country was again had rest. VARIED
with its efforts, or content with their success
the Slaveholding interest proclaimed
truce.
When FRANKLIN PIERCE, on the 4th Of
March, 1853, became President of the United
States no controversy growing out of Slavery
was agitaiing the country. Established laws
some of them enacted with unusual soIemnity
and under circumstances which made them
of more than ordinary obligation, had fixed
the character of all the States, and ended
the contest concerning the Territories. Six
teen States were Free States, and fifteen
States were Save States. By the Missouri
Compromise of 1870, Slavery was forever
prohibited from all the Louisiana Territory
lying north of the line tf 80 80, while
over that Territory lying south OF that line,
and over the Territories of New Mexico and
Deseret, TO such prohibition had been ex-
tended. The whule country reposed upon
this arrangement. All sections and all in
terests, whether approving it or not, seemed
to acquiesce in its terms. The Slaveholding
interest, through all its organs and especially
through the General Government, proclaim
ed that this was final s. irrepeslabIe adjust
ment Of the struggle between Freedom and
Slavery for ,ltical power: that it had been
effected by mutual concessions and in the
spirit of compromise, and that it should be
as enduring as the Union, and as sacred as
the CONSTITUTION itself. Both poliicai
parties gave it their sanction in their
National Conventions the whole country as
scented to lis validity: and President Pierce,
in his first official message t, Congress,
pledged himself to use all the power of his
position t, prevent it from being disturbed.
But ali these protestatons proved de.u i've,
aud the acquesence and contentment which
hey produced afforded the opportunity, not
only for new aggressoDs on the par. Of Sla-
very, but for the repudiaton of the engage
ments into which It's agents had soiemniy
entered. Less than year had elapsed be-
fore these pledges were broken, and the ad-
vantages which they secuted to Freedom
withdrawn BY the Slaveholdng Power.
REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
In the course of time and the natural pro,
gress of population, that portion Of the
Louisiana Territory, lying west of the Mis-
souri River and north of the line of SO 80
came to be desired for occupation; and OF
the Gath o! May 1854, an act was passe'
erecting upon Il tee two Territories of Kan
sas and Nebraska, and organizing Govern
ments for them both. From this whole re
gion the Siavehoding interest % year'
before, had agreed that "Slavery and involun
tary .servitude, otherwise than in the punish
ment of crime, should be forever prohibi
ed,"-and had received, as the price Of tin
agreement. the admission tof Missouri, an
subsequently the admission .of Kansas, int
the Union. By the Kansas and Nebrask
bill, this prohibition was declared to be sin
, operative and poid." and the intent an
me aning OF the bill wal further declared I
be, mot to legislative Slavery into an
: Territory,or State, nor to erclude ii fhe'efrou