Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1856-12-11

the supposed compsct had no obligatory
force. as TO the North, of course il could
not have had any os TO the South. for all
such compacts must be mutual and of re-
ciprocal obligation.
/, has not unfrequently happened that
law givers. with undue estimation OF the
value Of Che view they give. or in the
vie wso + i'm parting to it peculiar strength.
make it perpetual in terms. but they can
not thus bind The conscience. the jodg
ment and the will OF those who may sue
ceed them, Invested with similar respon
sibilities and clothed with equal authori-
~. More careful Investigation may
prove The law. unsound in principle, ex
perience may show it TO be imperfect in
detail aud imrr icable in execution. and
then both reason and right combine not
merely to justify but TO require its re
peal.
The Constitution, supreme as il ia over
all the departments Of the Government.
Legislative, executive and judicial. is open
TO amendment by It's very terms, and
Congress Of the States may in their dis
crsuon propose amendments to lis sol.
emn compact. though it in truth is be-
tween the sovereign States of the Union.
In the present instance political enact
ment which had ceased 10 have legal
power or authority of sny kind was re.
pesled. The position assumed that Con.
gress had no moral right to enact such
repeal was strange enough aid singularly
so in view of the fact that the argumenl
came from those who openly refused ODE
dience 10 existing laws of the land hav-
ing the same popular designation aud
quality as compromise acts; nay more.
who unequivocally distegarded ard con
demned the most positive and obligatory
injunctions of the Constitution itself
and sought by every means within their
reach 10 deprive portion OF their fellow
citizens OF the equal enjoyment Of those
rights and privileges guaranteed alike to
oil by the fundamental compact of our
Union.
This argument ngains, the repeal Of the
statute line in question ives accompanied
by another Of congenial character. and
equally with the former destitute OF
foundation in reason and truth 1t was
imputed that the measure originated in
The conception of extending the limits
Of slave labor beyond those previously
assigned 10 il. and that such was is nstu
raj as well ss intended effect. and those
bsseless assumptions were made in the
Northern States ground Of unceasiug
assault upon constitutional right. The
repeal in terms Of statute which was
already obsolete and also null. for uncon.
stitutionality could have no influence
to obsiruct or promote the propagation
Of conflicting views Of political or social
institutions.
When the act organizing the Terrific
ries OF Kansas and Nebraska was passed.
the inherent effect upon fhst portion OF
the public domsin thus opened to legal
settlement. was 10 admit settlers from oil
the States of the Union alike. each with
his convictions of pnblc policy end pri-
vate interest. there he found in their dis
cretion subject to such limitations as the
Constitution and nc,s of Congress might
prescribe new States hereafter 10 be sd-
milted into the Union-is was q free
field open alike to all. Whether the
statute of assumed restriction wns re-
ptaled or not, that repeal did not open a
free competition Of the diverse opinions
and domestic institutions. field which
without such sepes: would have been
closed sgainst them. Ii found that fold
OF competition already open In fact and
ia law. All the repeal did was TO relieve
The statute book Of oil Objectionable en-
aclment unconsii,utional in effect. and
Injurious in terms to large poetion Of
the States. Is it the fact that in all the
unsettled regions Of the United States
if emigration be- left free TO acI in this
respect :or irself. without legal prohib-
tions on either side. slave labor will
spontaneously go everywhere in prefe-
renee TO free labor? Is it the fact thai
the peculiar domestic institutions of the
Southern States possesses relatively So
much of vigor that whrresoever an ave
nue. is freely open 10 all the world they
will penetrate 10 the exclusion of those
Of the Northern Safes.
Is il the fact. That the former enjoy
compsred With the latter, such irresis
tably Superior vitality. independent Of
climate, soil, and all other accidental
circumstances as 10 be able TO produce
the supposed result in spite of the IS
sumeG moral and natural obstacles TO it's
accomplishment and of the more nu,ner
Gus populat ton of the Northern States?
The argument OF those who advocass the
enactment Of new laws of restriction
and condemed the repeal of the old ones
in effec, AYERS that their psticuar views
OF govsrnm~nt have no self ex xtending
or seIf-sustsining power OF their own
aud will go nowhers else forced by act Of
Congress. And II Copgtess do but pause
fora moment in the policy OF stein icoer-
eion. if it venture to tsy the experiment
Of leaving men to judge for themselves
what institutions will best sui, them.
If ii be not s.rsined up 10 perpetual leg
IsIslive exer,ion on this point. if Con
gress proceed thus to act in the very spir-
it Of Liberty, it is at once charged With
aiming 10 extend Slave Labor into ali
the new Territories of the United
S'ates. - ss a
OF course. these imputstions Of the ia.
Ientions or Congress in this respect, corl-
ceived as they were in prejudice, and
in passion. and utterly des-
s.. r... -