Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-01-09

:
nally applied to the country situated be-
tween the rivers Ohio and Mississippi.
Most questionable as was this PROPOSE
ton in Tits constitutional relations never
theless received the sanction of Congress.
with some slight notifications of line, to
save the existing rights theintended new
State. 1t was reluctantly acquiesced in
by southern States. as a sacrifice to the
cause of piece and Of the Union, not only
of the rights stipulated by the treaty of
Louisiana, but of the principle of equali-
ty among the States guaranteed by the |
constitution. II was received by the |
northern States with angry and re-
sentful condemnation and conplaiat. |
because it did not concede all which |
had exactingly demanded. Having
passed through the forms of legislation, it
took its place in the statute book. standing
open to repeal, like any other aot of
doubtful constituality, subject to be pro-
nounced null and void by the courts of
law, and possessing no possible efficacy
to control the rights of the States, which
might thereafter be organized out of any
part of the original territory of Louisiana.
In all this, if any aggression there
were, any innovation upon pre-existing
rights, to which portion of the Union are
they justly chargeable ?
This controversy passed away with the
occasion nothing surviving it save the dor
mant letter of the statute.
But, long afterwards, when, by the
proposed accession of the Republic Tex
rs, the United States were take to their
next step in territorial greatness. SINH
lar contingency occurred, and became the
occasion for systematized attempts to in
tervene in the domestic affairs of one secs
ton of the Union, in defiance Of their
rights as States, and Of the stipulatons Of
the constitution. These attempts assum-
ed q practical direction, in the shape Of
preserving endeavors, by some Of the rep
resentatives, in both houses of Congress,
to deprive the southern States of the sup
posed benefit of the provisions of the act
authorizing the organization of the State
of Missouri.
But, the good sense Of the people, and
the vital force Of the constitution, triumph
ed over sectional prejudice. and 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 ex-
pressoo agreement, hy the re- annexing
act, that she should be susceptible Of sub
division into plurality of States.
Whatever advantage the interests Of
the Southern States, is 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 Un>
ion,-to the true lovers of their country,
TO all who longed and labored for the
full success Of this great experiment of
republican instltutIons,-it was cause of
gratulatlons that such an opportunity had
occurred TO illustrate our advancing pow
er on this continent, and to furnish the
world additional assurance of the strength
and stability Of the constitution. Who
would wish to see Florida still Europe
an colony? Who would rejoice to hail
Texas as lone star, instead Of one in the
galaxy of States? Who does not appre>
ciate the incalcuable benefits of the ac-
QUESTION Of Louisiana And yet mar,
row views and sectional purposes would
inevitably have eluded them all from the
| Union.
But another struggle on the same poin!
ensucd, when our victorious armies re-
turned from Mexico. and it devolved on
| Congress to provide for the territories nc
quired by the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidal-
90. The great relations of the subject
had now become distinct and clear TO the
perception OF the public mind, which ap.
preciated the evils of sectional controvcr-
sy upon the question Of admission of new
| States. In that crisis intense solicitude
! Pervaded the nation. But patriotic i'm
pulses of the popular heart, guided by the
admonitory advice Of the Father Of his
Country, rose superior to all difficulties of
the incorporation of new empire into the
| Union. In the counsels OF Congress
| there were manifested extreme antogonism
Of opinion and action between some rep
! rescntatives, who sought by the abusive
and unconstitutional employment Of the
| Legislative 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 rep
ton of the general government in this re-
| spect, and maintained the self-constuting
| rights Of the States. In truth, the thing
attempted was, in form alone action Of the
ofthe general government. while in reality
was the endeaVor. by abuse of legislative
power. to force ideas Of internal policy. en-
tartaincd in particular States. upon allied
independent States. Once more the consti-
tuition and the Union triumphed signally.
The new Territories ware organized with.
out restrictions on the disputed point, and
and were thus-left to judge in that parts
cular for themselves and the sense of
constitutional faitbproved vigorous enough
in Congress not only to accomplish this