Demoine courier., 1856-04-10

Government. Congress has always as
serted and exercised the RICH, of prohi.
bition. 1t was exercised by the veto OF
the first Congress. in 1889. reafirmlng
The ordinance Of The old coneederacy by
whlrh Slavery was prohibited from tho
territory northwest of the Ohio river
II was exercised in 1920, in the prohi
bi,ion Of Slavery from The Louisiana
territory north of 36o 3O>. Il was ex-
ercised in 1913, when Slavery was pro
hibi;ed from the territory of Oregon.
Nor is il in the least degree impaired
by the argument that these territories
when they become States and are admit
ted into the Union, can establish or pro-
hibil Slavery in their discretion. Their
rights as States do o begin until their
obligations as territories end. The con
s,isu,ion knows nothing of .inchoate
States Congress has power TO make
's!l needfuI rules and regulations for
them as Territories, until they are admit
ted into the Union as members Of the
COMMON coniederacy.
General tendency of Federal kegisia-
tation on the subject Of Slavery.
In all the successive acts. in the adj
mission Of Missouri and Arkansas, in
the annexation Of Texas aud the provis-
ions Tor admitting four new States from
her territory, in the war with Mexico
and the conquest of her provinces. in
The repeal Of the Missouri Compromise,
and in the cruel war now waged against
the people Of Kansas for Ms extension
of Slavery into that territory. we trace
the footsteps of a powerful interest, aim
ing at absolute political power and strid
ing onward 10 a complete ascendency
over the General Government. Ii finds
powerful allies and an open field in The
political arena for the prosecution of its
purposes. Always acting as a cnmpac.
unit, it incs its opponents divided by a
variety of interests. Par'izan alliances
aud personal ambitions have hitherto
~2reVenied any union against lis aggress-
ions, aud moi feeling or fearing the dis
pleasure of lheir constituents, represent
from The Free States have been
induced 10 aid in the promotion of their
designs. All! other Interests have been
compelled to give way befure it. Tine
r representatives. of Freedom on the floors
OF Congress have been treated with con
tumeiy, if they resist or question the
righ! 10 supremacy Of the S~lavehoidhag
The labor ard of sec-
tons where Slavery does not exist. OBJ
tain tardy and inadequate recognition from
the General Government, which is sway
ed oy its influence and for the accom-
pllshment of its ends. The executive OF
The nation is the willing servants of its
tehes!s, and sacrifices to its favor the
rights and the interests Of the county,
The purse and sword Of the ration are
al its command. A hundred millions OF
dollars we're expended in the annexation
of Texss, aud the war with Mexico,
was part of lie prize. Two mill
IONS have been offered for Cuba, and
war with ell Europe has been thea,.
ened If necessary, 10 prevent ~emaGoipa-
lion Of lis slaves. Thus is The decis
ion of great questions of public policy,
touching vas! interests and vital rights.
questions of even peace and war. made
10 turn, rot upon the requirements OF
or honor. bu. upon its relation to
the subjec, Of Slavery-upon the effect
it will have upon the interest Of the
slaveholding class.
The people Of the free States have
cherished the hope that the efforts made
to extend Slavery, which had fallen un-
dica'iye Of weakness, rather than amoi
lion. They have trusted that the saga
cious statesmen Of the s~layeholding states
would gradually perceive and acknowl-
edge the Inconvenience and danger Of
Slavery, and would take such measures
as they might deem wise and safe, Tor
its ultimate removal. They have feared
the effect Of agitation on this subject. re-
lied upon the good faith and honor OF
the slave holding States. and believe tha,
time, the natural growth Of population.
and the recognized laws of poluicaI and
social economy, would gradually and
peacefully work out the extinction of a
system so repugnant to justice and the
national character and welfare.
II has seemed to them incredible that in this
late age, when Christianity has for near two
thousand years been filling, the world with its
light, and when almost every nation on earth
has abolished ehattel Slavery, the effort should
be male, or the wish cherished, by any portion
of our people to make the interest of Slavery
predominant, and to con, ert his Republic, the
only Government which processes to be found
ed upon human rights, into the mightiest Slave
empire the world ever has seen. But it is i'm
possible to deceive ourselves longer. Tie e.
vents of the past two years have disclosed the
designs of the Slave power, and the desperate
means it is prepared to use for their accomplish
ment. We cannot bhut our eyes longer to the
fact that the Siayehelding interest is determin.
ed to counterfeit the tendencies OF tipe. and Of
civilization, by its own energy, by the bold APP
preparation Of all the powers and agencies Of
the Government, and by the violation, il need
be, Of the most sacred compacts and compro-
misses. 1t is resolved that Slavery shall be I'M
der the protection OF the national hag-that it
shall. no longer be the creature of local law,
but that it shall stand clothed with all the sane
tons, and sustained by all the power of this
great Republic. 1t is determined that the
President shall do its bidding, and that Con-
gress shall ~legislate according to its decrees.-
1t is resolved upon the reinforcement
Of the principles Of Republic anisim, and
the establishment in their stead Of an Oligar.