The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-01-26
292


nation. 1t availed nothing to appeal to
plighted faith nothing to appeal to ancient
policy or constitutional guarantees. The
great dominant power Of slavery demanded
the sacrifice of freedom, and the oblation
must be made The Missouri prohibition
was repealed; the compromise of 1920 per-
formed to the letter, and far beyond the let
ter, by the free states, was broken up and
destroyed by the slave states to avoid the
fulflment of its only stipulation in favor Of
freedom.
The pretences under which this wrong was
perpetrated, give additional keenness to the
sense of injury. 1t was boldly asserted that
the prohibition was unconstitutional The
power to prohibit territorial slavery had been
exercised by the first congress under the con-
stitution, in the act providing for continuing
in full effect the ordinance of 1887 The
constitution, in express terms, had conferred
on congress the power to make all needful
rules and regulations concerning the terrific
ry Of the United States. This provision had
been uniformly regarded as authorizing all
necessary territorial legislation. Almost ev-
cry congress had exercised the power, and
almost every president had approved its ex-
ercise. The very persons who denied the
power to prohibit slavery, asserted the power
define their departments and powers, and
therefore, in denying the power of prohibi.
tion. were reduced to the necessity Of deny
ing that the greater includes the less. Under
these circumstances, after the prohibition
had remained unquestoned for more than the
third Of a century, the denial Of its consti-
nationality rather provoked indignation than
excited doubt.
1t was, also, insisted that the doctrine Of
popular sovereignty required the repeal of the
prohibition. This was a mere abuse of terms.
The true idea of popular sovereignty demands
as primary essential condition the recogni-
tion of inalienabe personal rights. There
can be no genuine popular sovereignty where
portion of the population is enslaved. The
prohibition Of slavery is therefore necessa-
~ prerequisite to a real sovereignty of the
people. In the sense of the apoogists for
repeal popular sovereignty signifies nothing
but the right of portion Of the community
TO enslave the rest. 1t begins by the denial
CT the natural rights of man. 1t must end
in the total subversion Of the fundamental
principles of American institutions. For
free and Independent people, it wOHld sub
stitute community Of masters, dependents,
and slaves.
Such is the rapusive theory. In practical
oPCiullOll ~ ido liOt plOHCu liiOiO uNt'dNliNH'
AS embodied in the Nebraska Kansas bill, it
has been fruitful of nothing but evil. 1t has
not conferred single substantial benefit up
on the settlers of either territory. In no re-
spcct are they distinguished from the settlers
of Minnesota, where slavery is prohibited.
except by exposure to its evils. The sole
special effect Of the Nebraska, Kansas act
upon the territories organized under it is, to
open them to the introduction of slaves. In
one Of them it has led to desperate attempts
TO effect that object--to invasion, ,usurpation,
violence, Observation-Disclosures to civil war.
Crimes like these are not the legitimate fruits
30 the maintenance of which our fathers
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their
honor
In all these things our own state has a