Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-11

authorizing the organization OF the Slate
of Missouri. But the good sense of the
people. and the vital force of the Consti
tuition. triumphed over sectional preju
dice and the political errors of the day,
and the State of Texas returned to the
Union as she was, with socialinstitutiOns
which the people had chosen for them
selves, and with the express agreement
.bv the re-annexing act, that she should
be susceptible of subdivision into plu-
rality of States.
Whatever advantages the interest of
the Southern States, as such, gained by
this, were far inferior in results as I'M
folded in the progress of time, to those
which sprang from previous concessions
made by the South. To every thought
full friend of the Union; to the true low
ers of their country; TO all who longand
ardently labored for the full success of
this great experiment of Republican in
Situations, it was of great congratulation
that such an opportunity occurred to il
lustrate our advancing power on this con-
tnent, and to furnish to the world addi-
tional assurance of the strength and sta
bility of the Constitution. Who would
wish to see Florida still European col
ony? Who would rejoice to hail Texas
as "lone star" instead of one i'll the
galaxy of States? Who does not appre-
eiate incalculabIe benefits of the acquisi-
tion of Louisiana? And yet narrow views
and sectional purposes would have inev-
itably excluded them all from the Union.
But another struggle on the same
point ensued when our victorious armies
rc,u@acd from Mexico. L deyolved on
Congress TO provide for the territories ac-
CURED by the treaty Of Guadalol'pe-'Ii-
dalgo. The great relations Of the sui
iect had now become distinct and clear to
the perception of the public mind, which
appreciated the evils of sectional contro-
sersy upon the question Of the admission
Of new States.
In that crisis intense solicitude perva-
dcd the nation, but the patriotic impulses
OF the popular heart, guided by the adj
monitory advice of the father of his
country, rose superior to all the difficult
HES of an incorporation Of a new En-
pire into the Union. In the councils Of
congress, there was manifested extreme
sntagonisn Of opinion and action between
some representatives, who sought by the
abusive and unconstitutional employment
Of the legislative powers of the govern
ment to interfere in the condition Of the
incohate State, and to impose their own
Social theories. The thing attempted
was, in form alone, action Of the general
government, while in reality, it was the
endeavor, by abuse of legislative power,
to force the ideas of internal policy en-
tertained in particular States upon allied
Independent States. Once more the Con
sIitution and the Union triumphed sig
nally.
The new territories were organized
without restriction on the disputed point
we're thus left to judge in that particular
for themselves, and the sense of Consti,
tutional faith proved vigorous enough in
Congress not only to accomplish its pri-
mary object, but also its incidental and
hardly less important one of so amend
ing the provisions Of the statute for the
extradtion of fugitives from service, a:
% place that public duty under the safe
guard Of the general government, ant
thus relieve it from obstacles raised by
the legislation of some OF the States.
Vain defamation regarding the pro
Visions of the law for the extradition O
fugitives from service, with occasional
Episodes of frantic effort to obstruct thei
execution by riot and murder, continued
for brief time to agitate certain local.
ties, but tue true principle of Ieavin!
zach State and Territory to regulate it
own laws of labor according to its owl
kensc Of right and cxpediency, had az
,fuired fast hold Of the public judgrnen
10 such degree that by common cor
sent it was observed in the organizatio
Of the Territory of Washington.
When, more recently, it became re
quioite 10 organize the territories of Ne
braska and Kansas, It was the natur;
and legitimate, if not inevitable cons,
quence of previous events and legisls
tion, that the same great and sound prir
eiple which had already been applied
Utah and New Mexico should be apple
70 them, that they should stand exeml
from the restrictions proposed in the a
relative to the State of Missouri.
These restrictions were, in the estim
ton OF many thoughtful men, null fro
the beginning, unauthorized nv tho 90,