American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-10-25
question is frivilous and idle, or at least
has no pertinence to the Presi dental cleo.

ton. ttM H1eH 'e'fl CIla 'nH.
We suppose il will not be controverted
that, if Congress ever passes an act reins,at-
ing the compromise, it will be prior to the
passage of the act admitting Kansas into The
Union as State. Subsequent 10 that e.
vent, lis rcsoration would amount 10 Moth.
ing, for the twofold reason that Congress has
no constitutional power to control the do
mestic institutions of State, Sc that even If
it tpossessed the power, It's exercise would be
either idle or impossible; idle if Kansas
should come in as free State; impos sble if
it should come in slave State; for the same
majority which admitted her as such would
prevent the restoration. The whole ques-
ton then, so far as il has any bearing on
the Presidential election. reduces itself to
this: Whether there is any possibility that
such an act can be passed before Kansas is
ripe for admission as State? If the mega
tive can be demonstrated then all agitation
of the subject is futile and unwise.
The present Congress, which has ree ted
the bill proposing the restoration Of the Mis-.
souri, compromise line, Will go out of power
on the 4th Of March next; It's successor on
the 4th Of March, 1859; and the successor
of that Congress will commence its first ses-
sion three years from the first of next De-
cember Long before that time, Kansas will
either be in the Union or knocking at the
doors of Congress for admission. II, then, an
act for The restoration Of the Missouri COM
promise is not passed by the present or the
next succeeding Congress, it is certain that
it will never be passed at all. The present
Congress will pass no such act, for the South
has large Democratic majority. The next
Congress will not pass it, FOR the reason that
the Democrats will still have the ascenden-
cy in the Senate. Even the most sanguine
of the Republican journals admit this, and
no man in that parysis extravagant enough
TO claim that in The next Congress the Sen.
ate will be favorable to their views The
New York Evening Post made All estimate
day before yesterday, in which, after claim
ing the election in several States which the
Republicans are likely TO lose, it only reck
on % of the GO members of the Senate for
Fremont. Burlingame in his speechin Bos.
ton two or three days since made threat
that with a Republican President and Re-
publican House Of Representatives, they
would grind the pro-slavery Senate of the
next Congress "as between the upper and
neither mill stone thus clearly admitting
that they had no hopes OF the Senate.
We may consider it demonstrated, there
fore, that an act for restoring The Missouri
| compromise will never come before the Pre-.
sident for his consideration. AS connected
with the Presidential election, tIe question
| is perfectly idle, mere abstraction, unwor-
the consideration of practical statesman.
| IL is nnwise TO discuss it as an element in
the Presidential canvass; il would be equally
unwse ever 10 agitate it again in Congress.
| The Missouri compromise is like water spill
upon the sand-t can never be gathered up.
| lis repeal was great blunder, but il is too
late 10 correct it. The attempt 10 restore it
at the late session Of Congress is inde(ensi.
BILE on the ground that it was we'll to offer
TO the Senate an opportunity to reconsider
It's action. But the compromise is dead, &
it would be az rational to expect the reani.
nation Of any other corpse as of this. No
thing remains but to pronounce its eulogy
and bury it out Of sight
For moro than thirty years the whole
country acquosced In it, and il had cquired
a sacredness in public estimation wh ich it
was unwise 10 disturb. II had settled a dan
gerous controversy, which it was folly, nay,
twas. madness, TO reopen, Its repeal, as Mr.
Fillmore Justly remarked in one Of his spec
ches, was the Pandora's box from which has
issued all our present evils. AS Mr.. Fill
more was opposed at the time, to its dis.
turbance, he has not changed bis opinion
that its repeal was an act Of folly But we
are quite sure we do not misrepresent his
sentiments when we say he does not think
it would be wise TO attempt its restoration,
and that he desires no agitation having this
object, either in Congress or out Of it. He
is too sagacious not TO perceive that the
| question has become obsolete, and too wise
to pour water round the roots of a tree which
was girded two years ago, in The hope of
again seeing it covered with foliage.
Nothing now remains for the Territories
bu, to see that by wise legislation, properly
enforced, the people are protected in the en-
joyment Of peace ond ultimately in the right
OF determining the character of their own
institutions without intimidation by nobs
and without interference from the States.--.
The sooner this doctrineis acquie'ced in. the
sooner that quiet viii be restored TO the
country of which il is so greatly Ia need.
~.
Mark The Fact.
There are. says the Charlottesville kmeri.