The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-02

sost questionable rs ives this proposition Ia al its
constitutional relations nevertheless rsesised ths
ssnc,iou Of Congress with slight notifications
of ne the existing night OF the INTENDED new
state Itwas reluctantly scquesced In BY Southern
states az sacrifice to the Of peace and OF tne
tson no. only of the rights stipulated BY the treaty
of Louisiana but Of the principle Of equality amongst
the States guaranteed by the constitution twas re,
ceived bv the Northern States with angry ano reseht
and complaint. becanse II DID not con-
eede all which they had exactly demanded. having
passed through the ferns OF legislation II TOOK rs
Mace in the statute book standing open to repeal,
Ike sny other act of doubtful constntionaty, sab
i.ct TO be rronounce6 null and void by the courts OF
law. and possessing no posao.e 20 eontfpi tne
aanized out any part Of the original territory OF
In sil ths If any aggression there were shy inno-
vaton upon xsting rights to which portion OF the
Union are they justly cbaTgenble
This controversy passed away with the occasion
nothing surviving 1t save the dormant letter OF 'He
statute.
But long afterwards when by the proposed aces
sior Of the Republic Of Texas, the United States
we're to take their next step in territorial
s;rnilar contingency occurred, and became the occe-
sion for systematized attempts to lnrTsepe IN TOE
domestic affairs section of the cnioi IN de-
ance Of ther rights as states ana o. s,Io
zeal direction in the shape of pereverng endeayors
BY some of the representatives IN both houses OF
Congress deprive the southern states OF the sup
ssa hsns6, of the provisions of the authorizing
the organization OF the State OF Missouri.
But the good sense of the people and the vital
reidice and the political of the day. and the
S:st of TIE returned TO the Union she with
social institutions which her people had chosen for
themselves and with express agreement, by the
.nrexng act that she should be susceptible of sub
division into plurality Of States.
Whatever advantage the interests of the Southern
States "a such gained by this far inferior in
suits az they unfoded in the progress of time, to
those winch sprang from previous concessions made
by the South.
To every Thoughtful friend of the Cnon,-.o the
true lovers of their country,-to all who longed and
abored for the full success Of this great experiment
OF republican institutions II was cause OF graduation
that such an opportunity had occurred to illustrate
our advancing power this continent. and to furnish
to the world additional assurance OF the strength and
stability of the constitution. Who would wish TO
Florida still European colony! Who would rejoice
to hail Texas lone star instead of one ia the ga
lazy of States1 Who does not appreciate the incai
culable benefits of the acquisition CT louisiana And
vet views and sectional purposes would lneYi
tebly have excluded them all from the Union.
But another struggle on the same point ensued,
when our victorious armies returned from Mexico,
and it devOYed Congress to provide for the terrific
ries acquired by the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo-
The great relations Of the subject, had now become
distinct and clear TO the perception of the public
mind which appreciated the evils Of sectional contro
States In that crisis intense socitude pervaded the
nation. But the patriotic impulses OF the popular
heart guided BY the adnouitOy advice of the Father
of his Country rose superior all the difficulties of
the incorporation OF u new empire into the Union.
b. In the counses OF Congress there was manifested
extreme antagonism of opinion and action between
Unconstitutional employment of the legislative pow
OF the government to interfere inhe condition of
the iuchoate States, and to impose their social
theories upon the latter and other Representatives,
vino repealed the nterpOstion of the general govern
ment this respect, and maintained the self consti
tuting rights OF the States In truth, the thing at
tempted was, in form alone action of the general 60
vernment, while in reality it was the endeavor, by
abuse of legislative power to force the ideas of in
terna policy, entertained la particular States, upon
allied independent States.
Once more the constitution and the Union triumph
ed signalIy. The Territories organized with
out restrictions the disputed point and thus
left Judge in that particular for themselves and the
Of constitutional faith proved vigorous enough
in Congress not only to accomplish this primary OBJ
ecJ but also the Incidental and hardly less important
one OF so amending the provisions of the statute for
the extradtion of fugitives from service to place
that public duty under the sae guard of the general
government and thus relieve it from obstacles raised
up by the legislation OF some of the States
Vain defamation regarding the provisions of the
law for eXtradition of fugves from service with &C.
easionu episodes of frantic effort obstruct their
scution by riot and murder, continued, for brief
time, agitHte certain localities But the priu
clple OF leaving each State and Territory to regulate
its own laws of labor according TO its sense of
ight and expedency hal acquired fast hold of the
public Judgment, to such degree that, by common
consent it observed in the organizations of the
Territory of Washington.
When more recently it became requisite to organ
ze the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas it was the
natural and legitimate If not the inevitable conse-
quence of previous events and legislation that the
same great and sound principle, which had al
should
be applied to them; that they should stand exempt
from the restrictions proposed in the relative 10
tie State of Missouri.
These restrictions WERE in the est nation of many
thoughtful men, null from the beginning unauthor-
lied by the constitution, contrary the treaty stipu
iaons for the cesson OF Louisiana, and inconsistent
with the equality of the States.
They had been stripped of all moral authority, by
perflstent efforts 10 procure their indirect repeal
through contradictory enactments, They had been
practically abrogated by the legislation attending the
organization of Utah, New Mexico and Washington
II any vitality remained in them, it would have been
away, effect, by the new territorial acts in
the form originally proposed To the Senate at the first
session of the last Congress. 1t manly and nge
nIousy as well as patriotic and just to do this directly
and plainly, and thus relieve the statute book of
act which might be of possible future injury but of
possible future benefit and the measure of its re-
peal was the final consunmation and complete recog
milton OF the principle, that no portion of the United
States shall undertake, through assumption of the
powers OF the general government dictate the So
ciel institutions of any other portion.
The scope and effect of the language of repeal were
not left III doubt IL was declared, in terms to be
the true intent and meaning of this TO legis-
late slavery into any Territory STATE nor to exclude
II therefrom bur to leave the people thereof perfectly
free TO form and regulate their domestic institutions
In ther own way subject only to the constitution of
of the United States"
The measure could not be wthstood upon its merits
alone Ii attacked with violence on the false or
deluslve pretexs that it constituted breach of faith
Never was objection more utterly destitute of SUBJ
stantlal justification When. before was il imagined
by sensible men, that reguatiye or decaratiye stat
NC OF IOrty years
peeahe that an act OF Congress is above the consi
tuition :
IT, indeed there were in the facts any cause IN i'm
pute bad taih would attach to those only who hay
never ceased from the time of the enactment of the
restrlctve provision to the present day To denouncs
and condemn 1t who have CONSTANTLY refnsad 70 go,
Plete 1t Dy needful supplementary legislation rbo
have spared no eSertlon TO eprve it of moral force
VINO nave themselves again and again attenntsd its
repeal by the enactment of incompati HE ,rot;s;o
and who, by the inevitable reactionary etf.ct - So
own violence on the subject awakened th. ca,,n, |
10 perception of the true constitutional 7rinr;nI y
leaving the matter involved TO the discretion Of ~
people OF the respective existing or incipent Stat
Its not pretended that this principle or any other
pIecudes the possibility of evils in practice disturb
ed, political action is liable be- by human pas
slons. No form of government is exempt from iucon
yenlence; but in this they the result of the
abuse, and not of the Legitimate exercise of the now
reserved conferred in the organization of Ter
toy. They are not to be charged to the great priD
ciple of popular sovereignty the contrary they
disappear before the intelligence and patriotism Of
the people. exertng through the ballot box their
peaceful and silent, but irresistible power
II the friends of tie constitution are TO have another
struggle, its enemies could present more accent
able than that of State whose constitution
clearly embraces republican form of government
being excluded from the Union because it's domestic
institutions may in all respects Conport with the
ideas OF what Is wise and eXpedient entertained in
other State. Fresh from groandess nputations
OF breach OF faith against Others will commence
the agitation OF this question with induhiable
violation OF an express compact between the
sovereign powers of the United States
and of the republic of Texas us well as of the older