The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-01-10

and the Union triumphed signally. The
new Territories were organized without
restrictions on the disputed point, and
were thus !ctt to Judge in that particular
Tor themselves and the sense of consti-
tutionai faith proved vigorous enough in
Congress not only to accomplish this
primary object, but also the incidental
and hardly less important one of so amen
ding the provisions of the statute for the
extra ition Of fugitives under the safeguard
OF the General Government, and thus re-
lleve 1t from obstacles raised up by the
legislation of some oe the States.
Vain defamation against the provis-
ions of a law for the extradition Of fugi-
tives from service, with occasional cpl
sodes- Of f1anatic effort to obstfuct their
execution by riot and murder, continued
for brief time to agitate certain locall-
ties. But the true principle of leaving
each State and Territory to regulate it's
own laws of labor according to it's wn
sense of ight and expedlolency had ac-
quired fast hold of the public Judgment
to such adegree that. by common consent,
it was observed in the organizatio ion of the
Territory of Washington.
When, more recently, it became requis-
ite to organize the Territories of Nebraska
and Kansas, was the natural and legiti-
mate. if not the inevitable consequences
of previous events and legislation, that
the same great and sound principle which
has already been applied to Utah and
New Mexico. should be applied to them
that they should stand exempt from there
strictions proposed in the act relative to
the State of Missouri
These restrictions were, in the estima-
ton OF many thoughtful men, null from
the beginning, unauthorized by the Con-
stitution, contrary to the treaty stpua-
tions for the cesSion of Louisiana, andin-
consistent with the States.
They had been stripped of all moral
authority, by persistent efforts to procure
their indirect repeal through contradictory
enactments. They had been practically
abrogatel by the legislation attending the
organization of Utah, New -Mexico and
Washington. If any vitality remained
in them, it would have been taken Il yav
in effect by the new Territorial acts, in
form originally proposed to the Senate at
the first session Of the last Congress. 1t
was manly and ingenious, as well as pat
riotic and just, to do this directly and thus
relieve the statute book of an act which
might be of possible future benefit; and
the measure of its repeal was the final con
summation and complete recognition of
the principle that no portion Of the United
States shall undertake, through assump-
ton of the powers of the General Govern
ment, to dictate the social Institutions OF
any other portion.
The scope and effect Of the language
Of the repeal were not left in doubt. It was
declared in terms, to be 'the ture extent
and meaning of this act not to Legislature
Slavery into any Territory or State, moi
to exclude it thereform, hut to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to folm and
regulate their domestic institutions in theil
own way, subject only to the Constitution
OF the United States
The measure could not be withstood up
on its merits alone. 1t was attacked Will
violence on the false or deIu>ive pretex,
that it constituted breach of faith
Never was objection more utterly destitute
of substantial justification. When before
was it i'm magined by sensible men that re
2ulative or deelarative statute, whether
enacted ten or forty years ago, is irrepeaI-
able-that an act Of Congress is about the
Constitution? If, indeed, there we're ii
the facts any cause to impute bad faith
1t would attach to those only who have
never ceased-from the time of the enact
ment of the present day--to denounce and
to condemn 1t; who have constantly refus.
ed to complete it by needftl supplement
ary legislation, who have spared no exer
ton to deprive it of moral force; who
have themselves again and again attempt
ed repeal by the enactment of incompati
ble provisions; and who, by the invitable
reactionary effect of their own violence
on the subject, awakened the country te
perception of the true constitutional prin
ciple of leaving the matter involved to the
discretion OF the people Of the respectiv,
existing or incipient States.
: 1t is not pretended that this principle
} OF any other, precudes the possibility o
evils in practice, disturbed as political ac
; ton is liable to be by human PASSIONS
No 'orm of Government is exempt from
Inconvenience; but in this case they ar
the result of the abuse, and not of tn
legitimate exercise of the powers rcserv
ed or conferred in the organization of
Territory. They are not to be charged t,
the great principle of popular sovereign
; tip; on the contrary, they disappear befor
the intelligence and patriotism of the peo
pie, exerting through the ballot box, thei
peaceful and silent, but irresistible power
!; Ii the friends of the Constitution ar
to have another struggle, its enemies coul'
not present more acceptable issue thai
that of State whose Constitution clear
| ~ embraces "a Republican form of gov
) ernment, being excluded from the Unlo
: because its domestic institutions may no
/ in all respects comport with the ideas O
D what Is wise nd expedient entertained i
: some other State. Fresh from ground
! less imputatione of breach of faith agains
e others, men will nommence the agitatio
: of this new question with indubitable vi
: olation of an express compact betwee
v the independent sovereign powers of tn
: United States and the Republic of Texas
: as we'll as of the older and equally sol
emn compacts which assure the equait
t of all the States
: But, deplorabie as would be such vi
n olatlon of compact in itself, and in all it
$ direct consequences. that is the very leaS
e / of the evils involved When sectiona