Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-01-04

To every thoughtful friend of the Union-to the TN.
lovers of their countryto all who onged and laborsS
for the full success of this great experiment of rennh
lcan institutionst was of graduation that sucb
opportunity had occurred to illustrate our advan
ing power this continent and to furnish to the WOLF
additional of the strength and stability of
constitution Who would wish to see Florida still
European coony2 Who would rejoice to hail TeyaSn i
a lone star, instead of one in the galaxy of States
Who does not appreciate the ncacuabe benefits Of H.
acquisition of Louisiana! And yet narrow views rS
sectional purposes would inevitably have excluded r.
all from the Union.
But another struggle the same point ens,od
when victorious armies returned from Mexico and
it devoved Congress 10 provide for the territories M
qured by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The ores,
relations of the subject had become distinct And
clear to the perception of the public mind, which an
preciaed the evils of sectional controversy upon tho
question of the admission of new States In that cr,
intense socitude pervaded the nation But the pa,T
otto impulses of the popular heart, guided by the adj
monitory advice of the Father of his Country s
perior all the difficulties of the incorporation Of
new empire into the Union. In the counSels of Con
gress there manifested extreme antagonsm of opr
ion and action between representatives who soug
by the abusive and unconstitutional employment ofq
legislative powers of the government to interfere The
condition of the inchoate States, and to impose ther
own social theories upon the latter and other repres
tatives who repealed the interpoSton of the genera
government in this respect and maintained the seEco
shutting rights of the States. In truth, the thing A.
tempted was, in form alone, action Of the general GOV
ernment while in reality it the endeavor by abuse
of legislative power, to force the ideas of internal poll
cy entertained in particular States upon allied indie
pendent States. Once the constitution and the
Union triumphed signaly. The Territories were
organized without restrictions the disputed pointan
thus left to judge in that particular for themselves
and the of constitutional faith proved vigorous
enough in Congress not only to accomplish this primary
object but also the incidental and hardly less import
one of amending the provisions of the statute f
the extradon of fugves from service, place ta
public duty under the safeguard Of the general govern
ment and thus relieve it from obstacles raised up BY
: the legislation of some of the States.
Vain defamation regarding the provisions of law for
the extradon of fugtves from SERVICE with occasion
al episodes of frantic effort to obstruct their execution
by riot and murder continued for brief time to a
tate certain localities But the true principle of eay
ing each State and Territory to regulate its own laws
labor according to its of right and eXpeden
cy had acquired fast hold of the public judgment
l. such degree, that by common consent, 1t was obe.
ed in the organization of the Territory of Washington
t. When, recently, it became requisite to organize
the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas it the n
tural and legitimate if not the inevitable consequence
of previous events and legislation that the great
and sound principle which had already been applied
I'd Utah and New Mexico, should be applied to them; thai
they should stand exempt from the restrictions proposed
s. in the act relative to the State of Missouri.
ne These restrictions were in the estimation of many
to thoughtful men, null from the beginning, unauhorze
as by the constitution contrary to the treaty stpuatio
tie for the cession of Louisiana and inconsistent with the
p equality Of the States.
e. They had been stripped of all moral authority, by
persistent efforts procure their indirect repeal through
re contradictory enactments. They had been practically
abrogated by legislation attending the organization
"a of Utah. New Mexico, and Washington If any vitality
es remained in them it would have been taken away in
ne effect by the territorial acts in the form Originally
he proposed to the Senate at the first session OF the last
Congress- 1t manly and ingenious, as we'll as pa
trioc and Just do this directly and plainly and thus
ry relieve the statutebook of act which might be Of
IL possible future injury but Of possible future benefit
of and the of it's repeal the final consumma
he ton and complete recognition of the principle, that
es portion of the United States shall undertake. Through
u assumption of the powers of the general government
dictate the social institutions of any other portion
ISL The scope and effect Of the language of repeal
To left in doubt 1t declared in terms, to be %
intent and meaning of this act not to legsae slave
lie ~ into any Territory State exclude it there
FROM but to leave the people thereof perfectly free
~ form and regulate their domestic institutions in Their
h way subject only to the constitution of the States
The measure could not be withstood upon It's merits
~ alone 1t attacked with violence, on the false or
"a deusve pretext that it constituted breach of faith
Never objection utterly destitute of SubSn
al justification. When before, it imagined by sen
a.; siblc men, that regulative decarative stature
whether enacted ten forty years ago. is rrepeaabe
W that act of Congress is above the constitution?
indeed there in the facts any to impue ba
- faith it would attach to those only, who have neyt
ceased from the time of the enactment of the resreiF
provision to the present day to denounce and to COZ
-. demD it who have constantly refused to complete
by needfu supplementary legislation; who have spare
aI no exerton to deprive it of moral force who ha
themselves again and again attempted its repeal by u
m enactment Of incompatible provisions; and who by
b the subject awakened the country to perception OF
Us true constitutional principle of leaving the matter
volved the discretion of the people OF the reSpec
~ existing or iucpient States
VI 1t is not pretended that this principle, any othe
precudes the possibility OF evils in practice, DISTURB
w as political action is liable to be by human passions
No form Of government is exempt from Inconvenience
II but in this they the result of the abuse,
not of the legitimate exercise, of the powers reSerV
- or conferred in the organization of Territory Tb
M to be charged to the great principle of popu
w. sovereignty the contrary they disappear before
.u intelligence and patriotism sof the people, exert
through the bailob their peaceful and silent but
-; resistible power.
III, If the friends of the constitution to have ano
49,. struggle s enemies coul not present more accep
BILE issue than that of State, whose constitution Gle
~ y embraces " a republican form Of government De
excluded from the Union because its domestic lnS
~ tions may not in all respects comport with the ldea
what is wise and expedient by entertained in some OF
~ State. Fresh from groundless imputaons of breach
' faith against others, will commence the agltal
@ of this new question with indubitable violation of
49,; express compact between the independent severe
powers of the United States and of the republic OF
20 as as well of the older and equally solemn COmpa
.n,s which assure the equality of all the States.
ion But deplorable as would be such violation of CT
So pact in itself and in all its direct consequences, that
era the very least of the evils involved When seco
anne agators shall have succeeded in forcing this %
ton can thel pretenSons Iall 10 DC met oy coune T
ric. sons Will different States be compelled resi-
,een lively to meet extremes with extremes? And II ell
extreme carry its point what is that so far forth
its dissolution of the Union? If State, formed
the territory of the United States be absolutely exc
of ed from admission tnereih that Iact vi lseA c
the disruption of union between it and the other Sa
But the process of dissolution could not stop Their
the Would not sectional decision producing such reSu
" of majority OF votes elther northern or Soull1i
the cessity drive ont the oppressed and aggrlevea
Of 1oh Nfhor fUnj