The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-01-11

occurred aud become the occasion for system.
atized attempts to intervene in the domestic
affairs OF one section Of the Union, in def
nnce Of their rights rs States and of the stip.
uations Of the Constitution. These attempts
assumed practical direction. in the shape Of
perscvering endeavors by some Of the repre-
sentatives in both houses of Congress TO de-
prive the Southern States of the supposed
benefit Of the provisions Of the act author.
izing the organization of the State of Mis-.
souri,.
But the good sense Of the people and the
vital force of the Constitution triumphed over
sectional prejudice and the political errors of
the day and the State Of Texas returned to
the Union as she was, with social institutions
which her people had chosen for themselves
and with express agreement, by the re annex
ing act, that she should be susceptible Of sub.
division into plurality of States
Whatever advantages the interest Of the
Southern States, MS such, gained by this were
far inferior in results, as they unfolded in the
progress of time, to those which sprang from
previous concessions made by the south.
To every thoughtful friend of the Union, TO
the true lovers of their country, to all who
longed and labored for the full success of this
great experiment of republican institutions,
it was cause of graduation that such mn op.
portunity had occurred to illustrate our I'd
vancing power on this continent, and to fur
nish to the world additional assurance of the
strength and stability Of the Constitutions
Who would wish to see Florida still n Eu.
ropean colonyi Who would rejoice to hail
Texas ms a lone star instead of one in the gal.
axy of Statesl Who does not appreciate the
incalculablc benefits of the ACQUISITION of
louisiana And yet narrow views and sec.
tional purposes would inevitably have en-
cluded them all from the Union.
But another struggle on the same>point
ensued when our victorious armies returned
from Mexico, and it devolved on Congress to
provide for the territories acquired by the
treaty of Guadalupe llidalgo. The great re.
lations Of the subject had now become dis.
| tinct and clear to the perception Of the pub
/ lie mind, which appreciated the evils Of see.
tional controversy upon the question Of the
admission of new States. In that crisis in.
| tense solicitude pervaded the nation. But
! The patriotic impulses of the popular heart,
| guided by the admonitory advice Of the
Father of his Country, rose superior to all the
/ difficulties of the incorporation of q new en-.
| pire into the Union. In the counscls of Con.
| Gress there was manifested extreme antago
nism of opinion and action between some rep.
resen,atiyes, who sought, by the abusive and
unconstitutional employment of the 1egisla-
tive powers OF the Government, TO interfere
in the condition of the inchoate States, and
TO impose their own social theories upon the
latter, and other representatives, who repell-
ed the lnterposltion oil the General Govern
ment IN this respect, and maintained the self
constituting rights OF the states. In truth
the thing attempted was, in form alone, nc.
ton of the General Government, while in re-
atty it was the endeavor, by the abuse of
legislative power, to force the ideas of inter
nal policy entertained in particular States up
on allied Independent States. Once more the
Constitution and the Union triumphed signal
ly. The new Territories were organized with.
out restrictions on the disputed point, and
were thus left to judge in that particular for
themselves; and the sense of constitutional
faith proved vigorous enough in Congress not
only TO accomplish this primary Object, but
also the incidental and hardly less important
one Of so amending the provisions of the
statute for eXtradition of fugitives from SER
vice as to place that public duty under the
safeguard Of the General Government, and
thus relieve it from obstacles raised up by
the legislation of some of the States.
Vain defamation regarding the provisions
of law for the eXtradition of fugtives from
service, with occasional episodes Of frantic ef-
fort to obstruct their execution 10y riot and
murder, continued, for brief time, to ngitate
certain localities. But the true principle of
leaving each State and Territory to regulate
its own laws of labor according to its own
sense of right and eSpediency had acquired
fast held of public Judgment TO such degree
that, by common consent, it was observed in
the organization of the Territory of Washing.
ton.
I when, more recently 1t became requisite
to organize the territories OF Nebraska and
Kansas, 1t was the natural and legitimate, II
not tue inevtanie consequence oil previous
events"nd ieg'sInIloh INA, the same great ana
SOUND pr!nclPie whlch hnd already been APP
pIled TO Gtah ana New Mexico should be APP
| plied TO them' 'hat they should stand exempt
rom thG RESTRICTIONS proposed III lhe act fela-
i've 10 '"e oi"'c VI h'sso"!i
lhese rest'iG no were, IN 'he estimation
OF many eNce'lenG mem nun IRON 'he oegih-
nihg' u"antho'l"eu ~ INC constitution con
tr"Ty 70 .he 'ren'l sI'luIatlohs ior tne eessioh
H. H. ~ ,I'a Statos WIN '"' '4""''
'TI,ov Lod hoon str;rrod If oil r,o,o1 -
thority Inv ncrsistcnt eiror,s n nroorra ,l "'
;nJ;roct ye,coI tbror,,h ~ o,,. go,
m,snts Thrv had becn nrocticoIly otro,n,od
h,, No 1or;:Iot;op ottnndinn ~ arr,e,';,a
ton Of ITtoh New Meyico and Woshinatnn
IF orv v;tol;ty romoinod in th.r, !, I'D
hove heen taken away in effect hy tbo nav,
Tarr;to riol octs in the form o,;,i, oliy ,ro.
nosod to The senate Mt the frat sassion If ,bo
| Iost Congress- II was manly and ingoruors
nc we'll ne natriotic and lust to do ,bis Al
rectlv and plainly. and Tins reIeve tho
statute hook Of nm act which might be .of
nnss;hIe futnre iniuv md If M noss;hIo f.,
| ture benefit and the measure of its reneal
,ros tho Anal consummat;on and oonnlata ~.
cognition of the nrincinlc that M nartion of
! tbe United states shall undertake tbronaI,
osspmntion of the powers of the General -
! 49, a. -.,