Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1856-12-11

nation Of the domestic institutions r., "a
srn States. n. a, leugth to pass inscnsibly 20
slmost equally passionate bo-,ility toward.
their fellow-eiiinens Of ihoss Slstes, and thus
finally TO fall into temporary fellowship with
the ayowed and active enemies OF The Cous,i-
tuition. Ardently attached 20 liberty in the
abstract, they do not ssop to consider pr.e,i.
ca!iy how the objects they would attain can
be accomplished, nor to reflect that, even II
the evil were as great as they deem Il, they
have no remedy 10 apply, and ,ha; it csn be
only aggravated by their violence and uneou.
stitutional action
A question which Is one Of tho most difficult
fall the problems Of social institution, politi.
al economy aud staiesmansbip, they treat
with unfeasoning inteiDperAncc OF thought and
language. Extremes bcgct extremes. Violent
attack from the North finds it, inevitable con-
sequence in the growth of spirit of angry de-
hanee At the South. Thus in the progress Of
events we had reached that contamination,
which the voice Of the people has now 20 point;
edly rsbuked Of the attempt, Of n portion of
the States, by sectional organization aud
movement TO usurp the eontro! Of the govern
ment Of the United States.
lconfdently believe that the great body Of
those. who inoonsiderstsly took this fatal step
are sincerely attached 10 the Constitution and
the Union. They would, upon deliberatiou,
Ahrink with unaffected horror from any con-
scious act Of disuniou or civil war But thvy
have entered into path which leads nowhere,
unless II be 10 civil war aud disunion, and
winch has no other possible outlet. They haze
proceeded thus far in that direction in cohse.
quence Of the Successive stages Of their progress
having consisted Of series Of secondary is.
sues, each OF which professed TO be coatiued
within constitutional and peaceful limits, but
which attempted indirectly Nha, few men were
willing TO do directly. that Is, to act aggres-
siv,ly against the constitutional rights Of near
! ly one-half Of the thirty one States.
In the long series Of acts Of indirect aggres-
sion, the first was the s,renous agitation, by
citizen, Of the Northern States, in Congress
and out OF, Of the question Of negro emAnci
| patton in the Southern States.
The second step 10 this path OF evil eonsis.
| ted Of acts OF tho people OF the Northern
| State, and in several instances Of their gov.
ernmcnts, aimed 10 facilitate the escape Of
I persons beld 10 service ia the Southsrn States.
and 10 prevent thsir extradition when recl~im.
| cd according to Law and in virtue of express
! provisions of the Constitution. To promote
| this object Legislative enactinents and other
| rights, which the Constitution solcmnly guar.
antied. In order TO uuilIfy the then existing
/ act Of Congress concerning the extraditi1n Of
fugitiTcs from service. laws were enacted in
many States, forbhliiBg their officers under
| the seyere-t penalties to anticipate in the Il
ecution Of any act Of Congress whatever.
In this way that system of harmoniou. CO.
| operation between the authorities Of the Uni.
ted States and Of the several States, FOR the
| maintenance OF their common institutions
which existed in the early years of ths Repub
/ lie, was destroyed conflicts 81 jurisdiction
J came to be frequent; Rnd Congress found IT,
| self compelled, for the support of the Cpns,i
| tuition, and the yindica,ion OF it, power, TO
! authorize the apFontment az new ofiiccrs
charged with the execution of its acts, ne Il
| they aud the officers of the Ststes were the
! minislefs respectively, Of foreign governments
! ia 4 state OF mutual hostility rather Than fe.
! low magistrates Of = common county. peace
/ faHy subsstjng under the protection OF one
] WelleOnstiu,ei Union. Thus here, also. NC.
/ gFession WIS followed ~ reaction; aud the
attacks upon the ConstilaiioH a, this point did
ln, serve TO raise up barriers Tor iis defence
| and secnrity.
The lhirI stage of this bshappy sectional
I controversy was 10 connection with the organ.
| ization of territorial governments. and the ID.
mission Il naw States into the Union. When
\ I. was proposed 60 admit the Stats Of Maine,
by aeparatlon Of territory from that of Massa-
\ chusstts, and the State Of Missouri, formed Of
| q portion 81 the territory eeded By France 10
the United States, representatives IN Congress
objected to the admisson Of he latter. unles.
with conditions suited to particular views OF
/ publie policy. The imposlllgn u such con
a..a :,,.s4=ss .a.0ee. P1i=:
di,ion vas sasS;Ss.sissfully resisted But AZ tbe
same period, the question was presented Of i'm.
posing restrstious gpoa the residue u the ter.
ntory oeded BY France. That question was.
foF the ;;..4 disposed of By the adoption Of
geographical lino oi Imitation.
In t6s oonaeclion Il should not be forgotten
tha' France. Of her owl accord, resolved, foF
considerations 81 the mos; far siR ted sag2o.ty,
TO csds louisiana 10 the Uuited State, and
that accession vas accepted by the United
States, the latter expressly engaged lhnt sths
inhabitants of the Uedssl territory shall be in.
cOrpoTaied 10 the Union u the United States.
and In che meaatims they shall be maintained
aai protected ~ the Zee eHjoym-nt u ,heir
hbcrty, property. ahd the religion which they
pr6fuss" that y 70 say. while a remains ~ q
territorial condition., ia inliabitan,s are main-
tsined and protected 10 he free snjsymont af
their liberty agi properly, riih . Tigh; then
u pes into Ihe condition sf States on a f10,ing
of perfecl equality 9th the esigiuui States.
The enseiinsnt which established tho re-.
tsioiivs geographical lins. VS. ssquie.o.si W
fslhsr tbaa approve by the sisies % the Uni.
on. Il stood on TIE statute book however,
ror nambef.cf years aad TIE people u the
fsspectvs States aequ.ssesi in the fs-enari
msnt of he principle e. appled 70 ths slate
q Texas aud u vas pfoJased % aoqnissoa iu
ts iurthsr hpyleaiion 30 che territory aoqBirgd
by tie Uuitsd STATES from Mssico. llut thu
proP5siiioh uss successfully resisted BY The
representatives from tie norlhefn States, Who
regardless q TIE siaiuie tine. ibsistsd apon 81.
plyiag FssiFiciiea % he nsu territory asnsg-
sliy, vbsihsf ly,ng nofth % south u H. thcrs.
by fspealing "a - legislative cempnlmiss,
snd, % he part " tie NOs,h, peri. isndy VI
dating tbe compsri, II compass thers 80
Thsfoupoa this FHsctnsst oessl - hsvs
biadiug ginas IN say ssnss wisthef - rss
pas's ae N9rh sf south snd 10 ia rGs5 i
uas 3-aied oa Ne simissioo * ths 8isie a
Ckfrnia, aai she ofgsuirslion N the terrific.
f,es n Nsv Msrico. Gtsh snd Wsshiogtoh
sgeh W. re stafe II fhis ,incEi6a uhen