Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-11
5nqress. Itwas manly and ingenious,

as well as patriotic and just, to do this
directly and plainly, and thus relieve the
statute books of an act, which might be
of possible future injury, but of no pos
sible future benefit and the measure of
its repeal was the final contamination and
complete recognition of the principle,
that no portion Of the United States shall
undertake through assumption of the
powers of the general government, to
dictate the social institutions Of any other
portion.
The scope and effect of the language
of repeal were not left in doubt. 1t was
| declared, in terms, to be ''the true intent
and meaning of this act not to legislate
slavery into any Territory or State, nor
to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the con-
stitution of the United States,
The measure could not be withstood
upon its merits alone. 1t was attacked
with violence on the false and delusive
pretcxt that it constituted a breach of
faith. Never was objection more utter
ily destitute Of substantial Justification
When, before, was it imagined by sensi-
bic men, that regulatiye or declaratiye
statute, whether enacted ten or forty
years ago, Is irrepealable-that an act of
Congress Is above the Constitution? IT,
indeed, there were in the facts any cause
to impute bad faith, it would attach to
/ those only, who have never ceased, from
the time Of the enactment of the restric-
tive provision to the present day, TO de-
inounce and condemn it; who have con-
stantly refused to complete it by needful
supplementary legislation; who have
spared no exertion to deprive it of NOR
! al force; who have themselves again and
again attempted its repeal by the enact
ment OF incompatible provisions and
who, by the inevitable reactionary effect
Of their own violence on the subject,
awakened the country to a perception of
the true constitutional principle, of leav-
ing the matter involved to the discretion
of the people of the respective existing
or incipient states.
1t is not pretended that this principle,
OF any other, precludes the possibility of
evils i'll practice, disturbed as political ac-
ton is liable to be by human passions
No form Of government is exempt from
inconvenienees bat in this case they are
the result CT the abuse, and not of the le-
climate exercise, of the powers reserv-
ed or conferred in the organization of a
territory. They are not to be charged
to the great principle of popular sove-
reignty; on the contrary, they disappear
before the intelligence and patriotism of
the people, exerting through the ballot box
their peaceful and silent but irresistible
power.
IF the friends of the constitution arc
to have another struggle, its enemies could
not present a more acceptable issue, than
that Of a State, whose constitution clear
| ly embraces a republican Storm of gov
Iernment," being excluded from the Union
because It's domestic institutions NAV not
in all respects eon4port With the ideas of
what is wise and expedient entertained in
some other State. Fresh from ground
less imputations of breach of faith against
Others, men viii commence the agitation
IOf this new question with indubitable Vi
olation of an express compact between
the Independent sovereign powers of the
United States and Of the republic of Tex
as, as wei as of the older and equally
solemn compacts, y Aich assure the equal
jity Of ali the. States.
But, deplorabIe as would be such wi.
o!ati5n Of compact in Itself, and in all its
direct scquences, that is the very leas
of the evils involved When sectiona
agitators shall have succeeded in forcing
on this issue, can their pretensions fail t.
be met by counter pretensions? VIII no
different States be compelled respectively
10 meet extremes with extremes And i
either extreme carry its point, what i
I thai SO far forth but dissolution of tn
Union. II new State, formed from tn
a territory OF the United States, be abso
lutely excluded from admission therein
: that fact of itself constitutes the disrup
: ton of the union between it and the 9th
u er States. But the process of dissolu
: ton could not stop there. Would not
: sectional decision, producing such resul
/ by majority Of votes, either norther
o or southern, of necessity drive out tn
d oppressed and aggrieved minority, an
IT place in presence of each other two ire,
IL L. z =