The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-01-07

that of Missouri, came to be formed i
, the territory of Louisiana, proposition
were made to extend to the latter terri
tory the restriction originally applied t
: the country situated between the river
Ohio aud Miss ssippi.
Most questionable as was this prop
~osition in all its constitutional relations
3 nevertheless it received the sanction o
Congress, with some slight modification
ofline, to save the existing rights of tb,
intended new State. 1t was reluctant
+, u acquiesced in by southern States as
] sacrifice to the cause of peace and 9TH,
Union, not only of the rights stipulated
by the treaty of Louisiana, but of The
principle of equality among tho States
g~uarantied by the constitution. 1t was
received by the northern States with
angry and resentful condemnation and
complaint, because it did not coneede
all which they had exactingly demanded.
Having passed through the forms of le-
gislation, it took its place in the statute
book, standing open 70 repeal, like airy
other act of doubtful constikutionality,
Subject 70 be pronounced null and void
By the courts of law, and possessing no
possible efficacy to control che rights oil
che States, which might thereafter be
organized QUE of any pare of che original
territory of Louisiana.
In all this, if any aggression there
were, any innovation upon pre-existing
rights, TO which portion of the Union
are they justly chargeable +? This con-
troversy passed away with che occasion,
nothing surviving it save The dormant
letter of The statute.
But, long afterwards, when, by the
proposed accession of che Rep bile of
Texas, the United STATES were 20 lake
their nezt step in territorial greatness, a
Esimilar contingency occurred !; and be-
came the occasion for s~ystematized az
tempts to intervene in The domestic uf-
fairs Of one section of the Union, in de-
6ance of their rights as States, and of
the stipulation Of Ehe const.tntion.-
These attempts assumed q practical d.
rection, in The shape of persevering en-
deavors, by some of The representatives.
in both houses of Congress, to deprive
the southern States of Che supposed ben
fit of The provisions of the acc authori-
zing ths organization of the state 8:
Missouri.
But, the good sense of the people, and
the vital force of the constitution, tri-
umphed over sectional prejudice, and
the politi al errors of the day, aid the
State of Texas returned to the Union as
she was, with social institutions. which
her people had chosen for themselves,
and with express agreement. by the re.
annexipg act, that she should be suscep-
tible of subdiy:s OIL in to a plurality OF
States.
Whatever advantage the insterests Of
the Southern States, a. such, gained by
this, were far Inferior in results, as they
unfol6ed in the progress of :ime, tothose
(which sprang from previous concessions
made by the South.
Tx every thoughtful friend of the Union-to
the true lovers oftheir coun =. all who long
cd and labored for the full success IF this grea,
experiment of republican, institutions,-it was
cause Of graduation that such an OF portunity
had occurred to illustrate our advancing power
on this continent and TO furnish TO the world ad.
ditional assurance of the strength and stability
of the constitution. Who would wish to see
Florida still q European colony =? VINO would
rejoice to hail Texas a. a lone 8 ar, instead Of
one in the galaxy of States 2 Wrodo S not ap.
preciate tie incalcuable benefits Of the acquisi
tieD of louisiana And yet narrow views and
sectional purposes would inevitably have ex-
EcIuded them from the Union.
But another struggle Oh the same point ensu-
ed when our victorious armies retufped from
Mexico, and it devolyed on Cengrtssto provide
for the territories acquired by the tresty Of Qua
dalupe Hidalgo. The great relations OF the
subject had ROW become distinct and clear to
the perception of the public mind, which mp
4 80 fl,o aryslS rf q. cfIn,al nontroyorau ,y,,,
the question ofthe admission of n, W States. In
| that crisis intense solici.ude prevailed the ma
ton. But the patriotic impulses --of the pc,
ular heart by the admonitory advice Of the
Father of his Country rose superior to all diff
culties ofthe ineorporatioi, of a new empire into
the Union. In the counsels of Congress there
was manifested extreme antagonism of opinion
and action between some representatives, who
sought by the abusive and uneonstitutiona en-
ploe ment of the Legislative powers OF the govern
mont to interfere in inchoate States, and to i'm
pose their own social theories upon the latter (:
ard other representatives, who repelled the in
interpostion of the general government in this
rcsrect, and maintained the self-constituting
rights of the States. In truth, the thing at
tempted was, in form alone, action of the gen
eraf government, while in reality IL was the en-
deavor, by abuse oflegislative power, TO force
the ideas OF internal p0.icy enteI lained in par
ticular States, upon allied independent States.
Once more the constitution and the Union tri-
uInphed signally.
The new Territories were organized without
restrictions on the disputed point, and were thus
left TO judge in that particular for themselves /;
and the sense of constitutional faith proved
vigorous enough in Congress not only to accom-
plish this primary object, but also the inciden-
faI and hardly less important one, of SO am md
ing the provisions of the statute for the extradi-
ton of fugitives from service. as to place that
public duty under the safeguard of the general
government, and thus relieve it from obstacles
-aiseI up by the legislation Of some of the
st ties.
Vain defamation regarding the provisions of
the law for the extrldi: ion of fugitives from SER
vice. with oc q iunsl episodes of faltic effort
10 obs;ruet th l. execution by riot and murder,
continue ! for q brief time TO agitI tie certain To-
~calities. But the true principle. ofleaving each
State and Territory to regulate its own laws. of
labor according to its own sense of right and ex-
pedieney, had acquired fast hold Of the public
judgment to such a degree. that. by common
consent, It was observed in the organization of
the Territory Of Washington.
When. more recently. II became requi lite to or
ganize the Territories ofNtbTaska aud kansas. II
was the natural and legitima ate, II not the inevi-
table. consequence OF svious events and leEis-
which had sire-dy been spilled to Utah and New
should stand exempt from the restrictinns pro
posed in the act relative to the state 81 Missouri
These restrictions. we're in he sstimaIinn Of
many thoughtful men, null from the beginning.
unauthorized By the Constitution. c ntr ary 10 the
treaty stipulations for the ee:sion OF Leuisiana.
sndinconsists mt with thr equality OF the States.
They h d been stripped of all moral snth0rify
by peTsis ent efoTtf TO PIecLre their indirect re
had been practicelIv abrogated by the Isgislstion
attending the organization of Utah. New Mexico
them.it would have been taken : way. in effect.
by the new territorial acts. IN the form originally
prop sea TO The Senate Al ihe hTlt s<sslan oiths
we'll as patsiDtic. and jusi. to do this directly ana