Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-01-04


hostile ones, but little capacity left of COM
mon advantage, but abundant means Of re-
ciprocal injury and mischief
Not pre,uninr oHiciously ioiniermeddlc with tho
social institution OF the Northern States. too many
II the inhabitants Of the latter arc permanently or
rrnized IN associations to nhct injury on INC hnner
hy wrongful acts, which would be cause oi war be-
tween foreign powers and only fail 90 he such IN our
system because pcpctraied under cover ~ tue linton
II l. Impossible 10 present this subject a. truth and
tho occasion require withUut noticing the irritating
but aroundess allegation that the south has persist
entity asserted claims and obtained advantages In the
practical administration Of the general government,
tn the prejudice of the north, and In which the latter
has acduiesced That's the states which either pro
tolerate attacks the ghis u pofsons and Of
property In other states, 10 disguise Their own Unjust
ice, pretend OF Imagine and constantly aver that they
whose con stutunal rfhts are thus systematically
as.nled arc themselves the aegrofsori. At the pres
cut time this Imputed aggcssion resting A. u does
only In the vague declamaioy charges Of political
agitltofa resolves itself into nsappfohonsion ~ mis-
Interpretation 0i The principles aud facts NJ the pnt-
cal organization Of the nov territories OF the United
States
Vfaiis the voice Of history when the ordinance
which provided for The government Of the territory
northwest Of the river Ohio, and FOR IL eventual
subdivision into new States, was adopted In the
Congress Of tho confederation II " not n be sup
posed that tho question Of future relative power a.
between tho States which retained and those which
did not retain H. colnrod population, has escaped
notice OF ailod IN be considered. And vet the con-
opinions uf the northern States, Territory now The
seat Of hvo among tho largest momjeIs Of the IN
ion, was Va groat measure the act Of the stne ot
Virginia and OF the south. When Louisiana was ac-
qnifed by the United States, IL was an acquisition
not less 10 The north than 90 the south. For while
t was Important Go tho country al the mouth Of the
river Mssissippi 90 become tho emporium Of the
county above IL, 80, also 1t was even more impof-
tent 10 The whole Union 10 have tNa' emporium
and although the province, by reason NJ IT, i'm
perfect settlement. was mainly regarded a. on the
AZ IA a. Cd d fna
pptte boundaries NJ tho United Siaies, with iar
greater breadth above than below, and IN terri
tory every thing else. equally, az least, an aces
sion 90 tho northern States II j. mere deiusi0n and
prejudice therefore 10 speak Of Lnuiiina A. an sc.
uiistinn in the special Interest ~ tho south. The
patriotic and inst men who participated In that act
were Influenced By motives far above all sectional
jealousy. IL was In tho south the Hreat event, hs
completing fnr ms the ce-sinn oi the valley NJ The
Miss ,sipni. with commercial access o. the Gulf VI
Mexico, WHEN Impaired unity and strength o. the
confc leratinn and attached together by dissoiubio
tie, the cast aud the west A. wei as the north and
thr suth. A. o. Florida, that was but the transfer
hv spain tp tho United States of tho territory on the
east side OF thc river Mississippi n exchange nr large
territory which tlo United siatos had Transferred ui
SPAIN on the west side OF that river, as the entire
diplomatic history u the transaction serves 90 de-
m0ustmtc. Moreover, 10 was an acquisition demand
Ell hy the commercial interests and security of the
whole Union. IN the meantime the ponplc ni to
United States had grown up 10 proper conscious
nf their strength and 10 contest with France,
or a serond serious war with Great Britain they had
shaken OH all which remained ui undue reverence Of
E1tole and emerged from tho atmosphere Of those
iran.lanfic influences which surrounded the inftrt
republic and had begun TO lurn thef attention % the
fl and svstenatea internal resources Of the Union.
Among the eveuo.cent controversies Of that period,
the most conspicuous was the question OF regulation
by Conrrss. OF tho social condition ofthe future Stale
On be founded in the terftnry NJ Louisiana The or
dinauce for The government Of The territory northwest
OF the River Ohio, had contained provision which
prohibited th. of sere labor therein, subject 10
III. condition Of the orifadit1n Of hgifvcs from
vice due in any other piu VI The United states. Sub
scqucniy tl the adoption OF the constitution this
provision ceased ~ remain ~ aw-fur is operation
a. such was absolutely superseded BY the cnnsiitu
ton Hat the recollection Of tho fact excited the zeal
Of s1cial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT m somr sections Of the
confederation; and when seruud iaio-that of Mis-.
sntri-raine ~ be formed in the territory Of Louis
lana proposition was made % extend tn the latter
territory The restriction originally applied 20 the coun
tfy situated between the rivers Ohio and Mssissipp
Most tinuab'e as was This proposition in all iti
constitutional relations, nevertheless Do received the
sanction nf Congress, with SOME slight modification
ct line O. savo ihe existing rights OF new states. II
was reluctantly acqIe.col in hy southern states NJ
sarrfc. o. che cause of peace and 0f The Uniou moi
only of thr rights stipulated by fhr treaty oi Louis
iona but oftle principle of equality among the state'
rinrluuei hY thn constitution. N was received hi
the northern states wifh angp and fescnifll conde
nation and complaint because BE- dd not ceucedc all
which thfF had rtaciiuqy demanded Having pass
Cd through hc forms 81 legislation % took is place
n fle .auto book. standing open 20 repeal like ans
other act of doubtful cunstutuunliy, subject n Do
pranpunreI null and void hi the courts ct law, anl
.ssine mo- nnsshs efficacy 20 control the rights Ut
ihe States which might thereafter be- organized Oh
of any part OF the original territory OF Louisiana.
~ D. practically agrcssive Interference between tho
staos or deliberate refusal on the part Of any Of
them 90 comply with constitutional obligations ans
ing from erroneous conviction or blind prejudice
Whether ~ be- pepairaied directly Indirectly ir
either ease j il n threat and Is dangerous 90 thl
l durability OF the Union.
covsriruuoSAl HEL.tioSs o. sLavrnr.
D -. n
ocuuve uennt Of the whole county 90 take care tina
/ the laws be aithiully executed, and specially on
I Joined hy The eonstimiion to give information q
] Cnnrres. on tho state of the Union. 10 would D
/ over subject like hs,whch, beyond all thing
az the present time vitality concerns individual ami
public security. Il has been matter Of painful regre
az States conspcuous for their services in found
ing th. republic and equally sharing IT, advantage
! disregard their constitutional obligations AlihnuE
conscious Of their inability 10 heal admitted and pal
pahe social evils ol their avn, and which are com
pioiov within their own jurisdiction they engage Il
/ the offensive and hopeless undertaking OF refornin
the domestic institutions Of other States, wholly be-
vund their cOnfrn and lnthnrity. In the vain puf
! suit Of ends entirely nnatt,inable, and which the
I may not legally compass, they peril the very eKi.
tenco NJ the constitution and all the counties. benc
a. which u has conferred, while the people of IN
southern States oonhne their attention 10 thet owl
Affairs.
In all this, il any aggression there were
any innovation upon pre- existing rights
IN which portions Of the Union are the
Justly chargeabie This controversy pas
sed away with the occasion, nothing sur
yiving il save the dormant letter Of tn
statute but long afterwards. when by tn
proposed accession Of tho republic Of Tex
ns, the United States were to take thei
next step in territorial greatness, simi
lar contingency occurred, and became tn
occasion for systemized attempts to inter
yene in the domestic affairs Of one sectio
Of the Union in defiance of their rights a
States, and Of the stipulations Of the con
stituiiln. These attempts assumed praC
teal direction in the shape of perseyerin
endeayors by some Of the representative
in both houses Of Congress to deprive In
southern States Of the supposed benefit
of the provisions Of the act auth0rizin
the organization OF the State Of Missouri
But the good sense Of the people, and IN
vital force VI the constitution triumphe
over sectional prejudice and the politic'
errors Of the day, and the State Of rexa
returned to the Union rs she was, with S,
cil institutions which the people had che
sen for themselves, and with expires
agreement by the re-anneXing act thg
she should be susceptible Of subdivisio
into plurality Of States. Whatever &C
vantage the interest Of the Souther
States, us such. gained by this. they wer
far inferior in results, as unfoded in tn
progress Of time, to those which spran
from previous concessions made by ia
South. To every thoughtful friend Of tn
Union, to the true lovers Of their country
to all who long lahored f1r the success {
this great experiment--republican institu
tions-it was a subject Of graduation thu
such an opportunity occurred TO illustrat
our advancing power on this continent an
10 furnish to the world additional assuranc
Of the strength and stability Of the cor
stitution. Who would wish to see Flor
da still European colony Who woul
rejoice to hail Texas as lone star. instea
Of one of the galaxy of States VIII
does not appreciate the incalculable ben,
fits Of the acquisition Of Louisiana : An
yet narrow views and sectional purpose
would inevitably have excluded them a
the same point en sue T%h9Rr 5dHaFgf5les, 9
Gus armies returned from Mexico. IL d
volved on Congress TO provide for the terri
tories acquired by the treaty of Quad
loupe Hidalgo. The great relations Of Il
subject had now become distinct and clci
to the perception Of the public min
which appreciated the evils of section