The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-01-10


cial access TO the -Guif-of Mcxiro, inpart--
ed entity and strength to the whole Con
federation, and attached together by in
dissoluble ties the East and the West, as
well as the North and the South.
AS to Florida, that was but the trans
fer by Spain to the United States of terri
tory on the east side fthe river MISSISSIPPI
ri, in exchange for large territory which
the Un;te5i States transferred to- Spain on
the west side of that river, as the entire
diplomatic history of the transaction ser
YES to demonstrate, Moreover, it was an
acquisition demanded by the commercial
interests and the security Of the whole
Union. ~
Meantime, the people of the United
States had grown up to a=propur conscf-
BUSINESS of their strength, and in brief
contrast with France, and in a second SER
ious war with Great Britain, they had
shaked of which remained of undue re-
verence for Europe. aud emerged from the
atmosphere OF those transatlantic inHu
ences which surrounded the infant Re-
public and had begun to turn their atten
ton to the full and systematic develope-
ment of the internal resources OF the I'm
ion, .5. s...
Among the evanescent controversies of
that period, the most conspicuous was the
question of regulation. by Congress, of
the social condition of tn future States
to be founded in the Territory of Louis
ana. .,t. . 4
The ordinance for the government of
the territory north west of the river Ohio
had contained provision, which prohib-
tied the use of servile labor therein, sub
iect to the condition of the extradition OF
lngitives from service due in any other part
the of the United States. Subsequently to
adoption of the constitution, this provis-
ceased to remain as IL law; for its operation
as such was absolutely Y superseded by the
constitution. But the recollection Of the
fact excited the zeal Of social propagand
ism in some sections of the confederation;
and when social State, that OF Missouri,
came to be formed in the territory Of Louis
lana, proposition was made to extend to
the latter territory the restriction original
| ly applied to the country situated between
the rivers Ohio and Mississippi.
Most questionable as was this PROPOSE
in allits constitutional relations. neverthe-
less it received the sanction of Congress,
with some slight notifications Of line, to
save the existing rights OF the intended new
State. 1t was reluctantly acqulesced IN
by Southern States as sacrifice to the
cause Of peace and Of the Union, not on
ly of the rights stipulated by the treaty OF
Louisiana, but of the principle Of equality
among the States guaranteed by the Con
stitution. 1t was received by the Northern
States w tn angry and resentful condemna-
ton and complaint, because it did not con-
cede all which they had exactingly demand
ed. Having passed through the forGss OF
legisla ion, it took its place in the statute
book, standing open to repeal, like any
other act OF doubtful cOnstitutionality, sub
ject to be pronounced null and void by
the courts OF law, and possessing no pos
sible efficacy to control the rights OF the
states, which might thereafter be organic
ed out OF any part OF the original territory
of Louisiana.
In all this, if any aggression there We're
any innovation upon PIE existing rights
to which portion of the Union are they
justly chargeable?
This controversy passed away with the
occasion nothing surviving it save the
4 dormant letter OF the statute.
But long afterward, when, by the pro
posed accession of the Republic of Texas
the United States were to take their mex
step in territorial greatness, similar con
tingency occurred, and because the occa
sion for systematlzed attempts to intervene
in the domestic affairs OF one section O
the Union, in defiance of their rights a:
States, and of the stipulations of the Con
stituton. These attempts assumed {
practical direction in the shape OF prese
vering endeavors by some of the Repre-
sentatives, in both Houses of Congress
, to deprive the Southern States of the sup
posed benefit ot the provisions of the ac
authorizing the organization of the Stat,
of Missouri.
But, the good sense of the people anC
the vital force OF the Constitution, trium
phed over sectional prejudice, and th
/ political errors of the day, and the Stat
| of Texas returned to the Union as she was
with social institutions which her peopl
f had chosen for themselves, and with ex
press agi cement, hy the reannexing act
that she should be susceptible of subdi
vision into plurality of States.
Whatever advantage the interests o
the Southern States, as such, gained by
E this, were far inferior i'll results, as the,
| untolded in the progress Of time, to thos
which sprang from previous concessions
: made by the South.
e 70 every thoug htfnl friend of the Un
$ ion to the true lovers OF their country
e to all who fought and abored for the ful
), success OF this great experiment Of repub
lcan Institutions, Ii was cause OF gratula
Y ton that such opportunity had occurre
t tosiIlustrate our atv nclng power IN thi
!, continent, and to furnish to the world ad
ditional assurance Of the stability an
), strength of the Constitution. VIII
II would wish to see Florida still a Europe
Il an Colony? Who would rejoice to hal
e Texas as a lone star, instead of one OF tn
galaxy OF States Who does not appre
n ciate the incalculable benefits of the acqui
e siton OF Louisiana And yet mario,
ii views and sectional purposes would inev
tably have excluded them flom the Ur
c ion.
1t Bnt another struggle on the same poil
e ensued, when our victorious armies II
IS tnrned from Mexico, and it devolved o
a Congress to provide for the Territorie
y acquired by the Treaty of Guadalup