Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-05

insensibly to almost equally passionate
hostility towards their fellow. citizens
Of those States, and thus finally to
fall into temporary fellowship with the
avowed and active enemies Of the
Constitution. Ardently attached to
liberty in the abstract. they do not
stop to consider practically how the
objects they would attain can be &C.
compiished, nor to reflect that. even
II the evil were as great rs they deem
il. they have no remedy to apply. and
that 1t can be only aggravated by their
violence and unconstitutional action,
A question which is one Of the most
difficult Of all the problems of social
institution. political economy and
craftsmanship. they treat with unrea-
soning intemperance Of though. and
language. Extremes beget extremes.
Violent attack from the North end It's
inevitable consequence in the growth
Of spirit Of angry defiance at the
South. Thus in the progress Of
events We had reached that consum.
nation. which the voice OF the people
has now so pointedly rebuked Of the
attempt. Of portion Of the States, by
a sectional organization and move
ment. to usurp the control Of the gov.
eminent Of the United States.
l confidently believe that the great
body Of those, who inconsiderstety
tool this fatal step. are sincerely At
tached to the constitution and the
Union. They would. upon delibera.
to-. shrink with unaffected horror
from any conscious act Of disunion oil
civil war. But they have entered In
to a path. which leads nowhere. un.
less II be to civil war or disunion, snd
which has no other possible outlet
They have proceeded thus far in tha
direction in consequence Of the sue
cessive stages Of their progress having
consisted of series Of secondary is
sues, each OF which professed TO b
confined within constitutional anC
peaceful limits. but which attempted
Indirectly what few men were viii
ling TO do directly, that is. to actiag
gresslvely against the constitutions
rights Of nearly one.half Of the thirty
one States.
In the long series Of acts Of indi
rect aggression. the 6rst was thu
strenuous agitation. by citizens Of tn
northern States. in Congress and on
OF it. OF the question OF negro eman
cipation la the southern States.
The second step in this path Of evi
consisted of acts Of the people Of tn
northern States. and in several in
stances OF their governments, aimee
to facilitate the escape Of persons hell
to service in the southern States. ant
10 prevent their extradition when re
claimed according to law and in virtu
OF express provisions OF the Ccnstitu
ton. To promote this object, legis
lative enactments and other mean
were adopted to take away or defea
rights. which the Constitution solemn
" guaranteed. In order to nullify tn
then existing act Of Congress concern
ing the extradition Of fugitives fror
service, laws were enacted in man
States. forbidding their officers, unde
the severest penalties. to participate !
the execution Of any act OF Congress
; whatever,
In this way that system Of harmo
NOUS cooperation between the au
thorties Of the United States and {
the several States. for the mainter
ance OF their common institutions
which existed in the early years ,
the Republic. was destroyed: cor
{ ilcls Of jurisdiction came to be fr,
quent: and Congress found itself con
PEELED. for the support Of the Const
tuition. and the vindication OF its pow
er. to authorize the appointment
{ new officers charged with the exec,
ton Of its acts. as IL they and the o
icers Of the States were the mini
! ters. respectively. Of foreign govern
| ments in state OF mutual hostilit,
i rather than fellow magistrates Of
: common country, peacefully subsi
| ting under the protection Of one wei
. constituted Union. Thus here, oils,
: aggression was followed by reaction
Y aud the attacks upon the Constitut tic
! at this point did but serve 10 raise q
: new barriers for ito defence and sec,
!, rity.
The third stage Of this unhapp
8 sectional controversy::was In conner
b ion with the organization Of terrific
Q rial governments. and the admissic
Of new States into the Union. Whe
, Il was proposed to admit the State
k Maine. by separation OF territory fro
!. Of Massachusetts,, and the State
d Missouri, formed q portion Of the te
e ritory ceded by France to the Unite
!. States. representatives, In Congre
' objected TO the admission Of the latt'
|. unless with conditions suited to pa
;, iicular views Of public policy. II
n imposition Of such sondition WI
i, successfully resisted. But. at Il
J, same periods the question was prese
8 ted Of imposing restrictions upon u
l. residue Of territory ceded by Franc
j. That question was for the time. di
y posed Of by the adoption OF &c
" graphical line Of limitation.
o In this connexion Il should not
% forgotten that France, Of her own a
d cord. resolved. for considerations
}, the most far-sighted sagacity. To &C,
d Louisiana TO tho United States. al
Il that accession was accepted by q
70 United States. the latter expressly Q
!. gagged that "lhe Inhabitants Of q
70 ceded territory shall be incorporate
10 In the Union Of the United States, III
Is admitted as soon as possible. accor
d ing to the principles Of the FEEDER
;, Constitution, to the enjoyment OF
T. the rights. advantages, and immur
r ties oil citizens Of the United State
10 and 10 the meantime they shall
a maintained and protected In the fr
n enjoyment Of their liberty, properl
of and the religion they profess"-th
% Is TO say. while Il remains In territ
:, rial condition. its inhabitants n
In maintained and prutecled In the In