The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-01-10

Of subdivision into plurality Of States.
Whatever advantage the interests of the
Southern States, as such. gained by this, were
far inferior in results, as they uhfolded in The
progress Of time, to those which sprang from
previous concessions made by The South.
To every thoughtfnl friend OF the Union,-
to The i:oe lovers Of their countIy,-ioa all who
longed and labored for the full success o
this great experiment of republican ins!ilu
tions,-it was cause of graduation that such
an opportunity had occurred TO illustrate our
advancing power ON this continent, and 10
furnish 10 the world additional assurance o!
the strength and stability of the constitution.
Who would wish 10 see Florida still Enro.
pean colonys Who wonld rejoice to hail
Texas as lone star, instead of one in the
galaxy of Statese Who does not appseciate
the incalculabe benefits Of the acquisition oil
Louisiana? And yet narrow views and sec.
tional purposes would inevitably have exclu-
ded them all from the tTuon.
Bu, another struggle on the same point en-.
sued, when our victorious armies returned
from Mexico, and it devolved on Congress to
provide for The territories acquired by the
treaty of Gaudalope Hidalgo. The great re-
lations OF the subject had now become dis.
tinct and clear 10 the perception of the pub.
lilo mind, which appreciated the evils of sec.
tonal controversy upon the question of the
admission Of new States. In that crisis in
tense solicitnde pervaded the nation. But
the patriotic impulses of the popular heart,
| guided by the admonilory advice of the Fa.
| .her OF his County, rose superior 10 all the
difficulties OF the Incorporation of new en-
plre toto the Union. In the counsels of Con.
gress there was manifested extreme antago-
nistn of opinion and action between some
representatives, who sought by the abusive
and unconstitutional employment of the leg.
islative powers OF the government 10 interfere
in the condition of the inchoate States, and to
impose their own social theories upon the
latter; and other representatives., who repel-
led the interposition of the general govern
ment in this respect, and maintained the
self.constituling rights of the States. d
In truth, the thing attempted was, IN form
alone, action of the general government,
while in reality il was the endeavor, by
abuse OF legislative power, 10 force the ideas
Of internal policy, entertained in particular
States, upon allied Independent States. Once
more the constitution and the Union triumph.
ed signally. The new Territories were OF.
ganized without restrictions on ,he disputed
point, and were thus left To judge in that par.
ticular for themselves; and the sense OF con.
situtional faith proved vigorous enough in
Congress not only to accomplish this primary
object, but also the incidental aud hardly
less important one, of SO amending the pro-
visions of the statute FOR the exiradition of
fugilives from service, as 10 place that pub.
lie duty under The safeguard of the genefal
government, and thus relieve from OBJ
siacles raised up by the legislation of some
OF the States. ....
Vain defamation regarding the provisions
OF law for the extradilion of fugilives from
service, with occasional episodes Of frantic
effort to obstrucl their execution by riot and
murder, continued, for brlei time, 10 agi-
tate certain localities. But the true princi-
pie, OF leaving each State and Territory to
regulate lis own laws OF labor according 10
lis own sense of right and expediency, had
acquired fast hold of the public Judgment,
to such degree, that, by common consent,
it was observed in the organization OF the
Territory of Washington.
When, more recently, il became REQUESTS
70 organize the Territories of Nebraska and
Kansas, it was the natural and legitimate, il
not the inevitable, consequence OF previous
events and legislalion, that the same great
and sound principle, which bad already been
applied 10 Utah and New Mexico, should be
applied 10 ,hem;-thal they should stand ex-
empt from the restrictions proposed in the
act relative TO the Stale of Missouri.
These restrictions were, in the estimation
Of many thoughtful men, null from the be.
ginning, Unauthorized by the constitution,
contrary 10 the treaty stipulalions for the
cessiou Of Louisiana, and Inconsistent with
the equality of the States.
Ahoy h"e ccoh ehiPPcu VI dl mOtdi du-
lhority, by persistent efforts to procure their
indirect repeal through contradictory enact
Ihents. They had been practically abroga.
ted By the legislation attending the organiza.
tion Of Utah, New Mexico, and Washing
ton. II any vitality remained in them, it
would have been taken away, in effect, by
the new territorial acts, in The form originally
proposed 10 the Senate al the first session of
lhs last Congress. Il was manly and ingenu-
ous, as well as patriotic and just, to do this
directly and plainly, and thus relieve the
statute-book Of an act, which might be Of
possible future injury, but of no possible fu-
ture benefy and the measure OF lis repeal
was the final contamination and complets
recognition of the principle, that no portion
Of the United States shall undertake, through
assumption of the powers of The general
government, TO dictate the social institutions
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