Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-09

cacJ W Cpu''ut tHt fSNtS OF tAe otatsS NhiVH
thereafter might be organized out of any part OF
the original territory of Louisiana.
In all this, il any aggression here were, any 10
novation upon pre- existing rights, to which poT-
ton OF the Uaion are they justly charge15!e
This controversy pissed away with the occa-
sion, nothing surviving il save the dormant letter
of the statute.
But. long afterwards when. by the proposed
accession of the yepU lie OF Texas, the United
States were 70 take their next step IN territorial
greatness, similar contingency occurred, and be
came tue occasion fur systematjzed attempts TO in
teryeae in the d,rcstic Affairs Of one section Of
the Union, in defiance of their rights as States,
and Of the siipu!ations Of the constitution These
attempts ASSUMED practical direction, IN the
shape Of persevecng endcayOrs by some of the re-
personalities in both houses Of Congress to de-
prive the southern States of the supposed benefit
Of the provisions Of the act authorizing the organ-
iz,tion OF the State Of Missouri.
But. the good sense ofthe people, and the vital
force of the constitution. trumphed over sectional
prejudice, and the political errors Of the day, aud
the State of Texas returned to the Union as she
was, with social institutions which her people had
chosen for themselves, aud with express agree
ment, by the re aoneXing act, that she should be
susceptible of subdivision into plurality of States
Whatever advantage the interests Of the South
ern States, as such, gained ~ this. were Tar lne
riar ia results as they uutulJed IN the progress OF
time, to those which sprang from previous conces
sions made BY the South.
To every thoughtful friend Of the Cnion-to
the truo lovers of their couutry-to all who longed
and labored for the full success Of this great ex-
pertinent of republican Institutions was cause
Of graduation that such an opportunity had occur
red to illustrate our advancing power on this con-
tinent and to furnish to the world additional as
surance Of the strength and stability OF the const
tution Who would wish to see Florida still a
European colony? Who would rejoice to hail
Texas as 4 lone star instead OF one In the galaxy
Of States? Who does not appreciate the lncalcu-
liable benefits of the acquisition OF Louisiana =
And yet narrow views and sectional purposes
would inevitably have excluded them all from the
Union.
But another struggle on the same point eusued,
when our victorious armies returned from Mexico.
and it devOlYad on Congress to provide for the
territories acquired by the treaty Of Guadalupe
Hidalgo. The great relations of the subject had
now become distinct and clear to the perception
of the public miad, which appreciated the evils OF
sectional controversy upon the question OF the adj
mission of new States. la that crisis intense So
licitude peryaded the nation. But the patriotic
impulses of the popular heart, guided by the adj
moniory advice of the Father of his country, rose
superior to all the difficulties of the Incorporation
of new empire into the Union. In the counsels
of Congress there was manifested extreme antag-
onsm Of opinion and action between some repte-
sentatiyes, who sought BY the abusive and uncon-
stl,utional employment Of the legislative powers
of the government to interfere in the condition OF
the inchoate States, and to impose their own So
cia theories upon the latter; and other represen-
tatves who repealed the interpOsition of the gene
raj government in this respect, and maintained
the self constituting rights of the States In
truth, the thing attempted was, in form alone, &C
ton of the general government, while IN reality
il was the endcavor 6y abuse of legislative power,
to force the ideas Of internal policy entertained in
particular States upon allied independent States.
Once more the constitution and the Union TIL
umphed signally. The ney Territories were OF
panzed without restrictions the disputed point,
and were thus LEFT to judo in that particular for
themselves; aud the sense Of constitutional faith
proved vigorous enough in Congress not only to
accomplish this primary object but also the Incl
dental anO hardly less important one OF SO amend
inc the pro- sioGs Of the statute for the eXtradion
of fugitvcs iCJm service, as to place that public
duty under the safeguard Of the general govern
mens, and nus relieve it from obstacles raised up
by tho Legislation OF some Of the States.
Vain decama,;,o regarding the provisions OF
law for the eXtrGditlun Of iugitiveS from service,
with occasional episodes of frantic etOs to obsiruct
their execution by riot aad murder, continued, Tor
9 bret time, to agitate certain localities. But
the true principle of leaving each State and err
ritory to regulate its own laws Of labor according
TO It's own sense of right and eNpediency, had &C
quireo fast hold Of the public judgment, to such
decree, that, by common consent, !; was observed
in the organization Of the Territory OF Washing
ton.
When, more recently. it became requisite to or
rauize the Territory of Nebraska and Kansas, It
was the nataral and legitimate, II not the lneylta-
bic, consequence Of previous events aud !egiSla-
lion. that the same great and sound principle,
which had already been applied to Utah and New
Mexico, should be applied to .hem that they
should stand exempt from the restrictions proposed
in the act relative 10 the State of Missouri.
These restrictions we're, in the estimation OF
many thouuhtfal men, null from the beginning,
unauthorized by tho constitution, contrary to tue
treaty stipulatous for the cession of Louisiana,
and Inconsistent with the equality OF these States.
They had been stripped o! all moral authority
by persistent efforts TO procure their indirect re-
peal through contradictory enactments. lhey
had been practically abrogated by the legsla-
tion ATTENDING the organization of Utah, New
Mexico. and Washington. Ii any vitality re-
manned in them, it would have been taken away,
in effect. by the new territorial acts, In the form
originally proposed to The Senate at the first SEES
sion of the last Congress. 1t was manly and in
,enpous IS well as patriotic and just, TO DO this
directly and plainly and thus relieve the statute
book of an act, which might be OF possible iuiuIe
injury. but Of no possible future benefit; and the
measure of It's repeal was the final cOnsummatlon
and complete recognition of the principle, that no
norton OF the Unlted States shall undertake,
through assumption Of the powers OF the general
government TO dictate the sOcal Institutions Of
any other portion.
TIE scope and effect Of the language of repeal
were NOT Left in doubt. 1t was declared, in terms,
10 be "lhe true intent and meaning of this act not
10 lerislate slavery into any Territory or State,
nor to exclude il therelrOm, but to leave the peO-
nile thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way sub
;ect only TO the constitution of the United States"
The measure could not be withstOOd upon lis
merits alone. yswas attacksd with violence on
the false or sscs- Prete&t, that IL constituted
bresch oi, eaI sS,y.Never was objection more utter
" destitute s. substantial jurisdiction. When,
before. was it imagined by sensible men that
renuatiye or declaratlve statute, whether enacted
ten or forty years ago, is lrrepeaable; that an act
of Conrress is above the constitution lt,inueed,
there were in the facts any cause TO impute Dad
faith. il would attach to those only who nave
neyer ceased, from the time OF the enactment OF
the restrictive provision to the present day, to de-
nouuce and condemn it; who have constantly re-
fused to complete it by needtul supplementary
LEGISLATION; who have spared no eXer1lon 10 de-
ntive II of moral force; who have themselves a
cain and poain attempted its repeal by the enact
9ept of Incompatible provisions; and who, by the
inevitable reac,i0oary effect OF their own violence