Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-01-24
WHOLE NO. 24S.

took its place in the statute book,
standing open to repeal, like anyother
act of doubtful constutionality, sub
Iject to be pronounced null and void
by the courts of law, and possessing
no possible efficacy to control the
rights of the States, which might
thereafter be organized out Of any
part of the original territory OF Lou-
isana.
In all this, if any aggression there
were, any innovation upon the pre-,
existing rights, to which portions of
the Union are they justly chargable?
This controversy passed away with
the occasion nothing surviving it save
the dormant letter of the statute.
But long afterwards, when by the
proposed accession of the Republic
of Texas, the United States were to
take their next step in territorial
greatness, a similar contingency oc-
Cured, and became the occasion for
systemized attempts to interfere IN
the domestic affairs of one section OF
the onion, in defiance of their rights
as States and to the stipulation OF the
Constitution. Thes attempts assu-
med a practical direction, in the shape
of persevering endeavors, by some Of
the representatives in both House
of Congress, to deprive the Southern
States of the supposed benefit OF the
provisions of the act authorizing the
the organization of the State OF Mis-
souri,.
But the good sense of the people and
the vital force of the constitution,
triumphed over the sectional pfeJu-
dice and the political errors Of the
day, and the State of Texas returned
to the Union as she was, with social
institutions which her people had
chosen for themselves, and with ex-
press agreement by the remuneration
act, that she would be susceptible.
of subdivision into a plurality OF
States.
Whatever advantages the interests
of the Southern States, as such, gain
ed by this, were far inferior, in results
as they unfolded in the progress OF
time, to those which sprang rom
previous concessions made by the
South.
To every thoughtful friend oil the
ITnion-to the true lovers OF thelr
country-to all who longed and Ia
bored for the full success of this great
experiment of republican institutions
it was the cause of graduation that
such an opportunity had occurred to
illustrate our advancing power on tins
continent. and to furnish to the world
additional assurance Of the strength
and stability of the constitution
who would wish to see Florida still
European colony? Who would rejoice =
to hail Texas. as a lone star, instead
of one in the galaxy Of Statesg VINO
does not appreciate the incalculable
benefits of the acquisition OF LOUISE
anag And yet, narrow views anu Sec
tional purposes would inevitably have
excluded them all from the Union.
But another struggle on the same
noint ensued, when our victorious ar
mics returned from Mexico, and 1t de-
volved on Congress to provide Tor the
territories acquired by the treaty OF
Guadalupe Hidalgo. The great rela-
tions of the subject bad now become
distinct and clear to the perception oi
the public mind, which appreciated the
evils of sectional controversy upon
the question Of the admission OF new
States. In that crisis, intense sollcl-
tude perraded the nation. But the
patriotic impulses OF the popular
heart, guided by the admonitory adj
vice Of the Father ef his Country.
rose superior to all the difficulties oil
the Incorporation of a new empire into
the Union. In the counsels OF Con-
gress there was manifested extreme
antagonism of opinion and action be-
tween some representatives,wko sought
by the abusive and unconstitutional
employment of the legislative powers
of the government to Interfere in the
condition Of the inchoate States, and
to impose their social theories upon
the latter; and other representatives,,
who repelled the interpositi0n Of the
general government in this respect,
and maintained the selfeonstituting
rights of the States.
In truth, the thing attempted was,
in form alone, action Of the general
government, while in feality it was
the endeavor, by abuse Of legislative