The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-01-05
Letter From Francis II. Blair.
SILVER SPRINGS Mary land, !

CltY, ~. Z.
Gentlemen: Having relinquished political
employment, and, to avoid enCountering
aeuin it's anxieties, addicted myself to coun-
try life, am constrained to decline your in
yilatiou to Join the Republican Association
of Washington City, although tempted by
the honor Of becoming its presiding officer.
Yet feel it my duty to say, that in the
main concur in the aims of the Assocla
ton. To exclude slavery from the terrific
res of the United States, and to rebuke the
violation Of the compromises which were
made to stand as covenants between the
slave and free states to effect 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 ter
ritories would prove fatal to their prosperi
,y; but the greatest calamity to be appre-
hended from it is the destruction of the con-
federacv, on which the welfare of the whole
country rposes. Every conquest of this
element Of Giscord. which has so often
threatened the dissolution of the Union, in
creases the danger. Every surrender Of the
free states invites invasion.
The cause which your organization is inten-
drd to promote may we'll draw to its support
mon of all parties Differences on questions Of
policy, on constitutional construction, of
modes Of administration may well be merged
10 unite men who believe that nothing but
concert of action on the part of those who
would arrest the spread Of slavery, can re-
sist the power of the combination now en-
bodied to make it embrace the continent
from ocean 10 ocean.
The repealing clause of the Kansas bill is
predicated on the nullity of the clause in the
constitution which gives congress the pow
er "to make regulations respecting the ter
ritories" Of the United States. Yet nothing
is clearer in the history of our government,
than that this phrase, giving power to con
gress " to make regulations respecting the
territories" was meant to give it the power
to exclude slavery from them.
Mr.. Jelf4rson's resolutions Of 1854, decar-
ing :" that there shall be neither 8laUery nor
iuuoItntary 8crUitude in any Of the states
laid off in the western territory, was sub
sequently renewed in the congress of 1885
which added that "tbiS regulation shall be al
article OF compact" and it was so voted
unanimously by the delegations of eight
states out Of twelve.
/. was passed by the unanimous votes o.
all the states by the congress of 1857, which
sat contemporaneously with the convention
forming the constitution. and that conStitu
ton gave congress the power " TO make reg
ulations respecting the territories" ant
moreover affirmed the vadility of the en-
gagements entered into before the adoption
Of the constitutions" by the confederation
one Of which engagements was that made
by the regulation excluding slavery from tht
territories. Thus the congress of the con
federation and the constitution united il
giving double sanction to the exclusion.
hA FrCt pvnrtp1 the pOyyor of ovo rti IN
Mr.. Jpffirson'S intrrdict of slavery in the ter
ritories then held by the United States, t.
which it had previously given an impressive
sanction Ivy adding "this regulation shall
he al article of compact" &c; and the con
vcntion guaranteed this engagement" en-
tered into under the confedera ton, by de
caring it " valid" and employed the sam
terms, "reguIation Of the territories" to trans
nil The nNyer hern eynrien 10 fltllre con