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

raised by the legislation Of some Of tho
States. Vain decltm atom regarding the
provisions Of the law for the exlradiiion
Of fugityes from service, with occasional
episodes Of frantic effort to obstruct their
execution by riot and murder, continued
for brief time 10 agitatc certain locali-
ties, but the true principle Of leaving each
State and Territory TO regulate its own
laws of labor according 10 its own sense
Of right and expediency, had acquired
fast hold Of the public Judgment, u such
degree that by common consent, 1t was
observed in the organization Of the terri
tory Of Washington. When, more recent
~, it became requisite to organize the
territories Of Nebraska and Kansas. il
was the natural and Legitimate, it not in
evitable consequence Of previous events
and legislation, that the same great and
sound principle which had already been
applied 10 Utah and New Mexico, should
be applied TO them, that they should
stand exempt from the restrictions pro
posed in the act relative 10 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 stipula-
tons for the cession of Louisiana. and in
consistent with the equality Of the States.
They had been stripped Of all moral au-
thority by persistent Efforts to procure
/ their Indirect repeal through contradictory
enactments They had been practically
abrogated by the legislation amending the
organization Of the Territories Of Now
/ Mexico and Washington. re any vitality
remained in them, it would have been
taken away in effect by the new terrltori-
/ al acts. in the form orr ginally proposed IN
the Senate, at the first session Of the last
/ Congress. IL was manly and Ingenious,
MS well as patriotic and just, to do this
/ directly and plainly, and thus relieve the
statute book Of an not which might be OF
[ possible future injury, but no possible ia
ture benefit, and the measure Of its repeal
was one final consummation and completes
recognition Of the principle, that no por-
| ton Of the United States shall undertake
through assumption Of the powers Of the
general government 10 dictate the social
institutions Of any other portion. The
scope and effect of the language Of repeal
were not left in doubt. lt was declared
in terms to be the true intent and mean
/ Ing Of this act not n legisate slavery
into any territory or State, nor to exclude
it therefrom. but N leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own
way. subject only to the constitution Of
the United States.
The measure could not be withstood up
on its merits alone but was attacked with
violence on the false or delusive pretext
/ that it contained a breach OF filth. New
err was objection moro utterly destitute OF
substantial Justification. When before
was it imagined by sensible men that a
regulated or declarative statute, whether
enacted ten or forty years ago, is irrepar-
able that an act Of Congress is above
the constitution. If indeed there were
in the facts any cause to impute bad faith,
it would attach TO those only who have
never ceased from the time of the enact.
mcut OF the restrictive provision 20 the
present day, to denounce and condemn it,
who have constantly refused to complete
il by needful supplementary legislation
who have spared no exertions to deprive
it Of moral force who have themselves
again aud again, attempted to repeal it by
the enactment of such incompatible pro-
visions, and who, by the inevitable reac-
tionary effect Of their own violence on the
subject awakened the country TO percep-
ton af the true constitutional principle OF
leaving the matter involved 10 the discre-
ton Of the respective existing or incipient
States. Ii is not pretended that this prin-
ciple or any other, precludes the POSSIBLE
ity OF evils in practice, disturbed as po-
, litical action is liable TO be, by human
passions. No form Of government is ex-
empt from Inconvenience, but in this case
they are the result of the abuse, and not
Of the legitimate exercise of the powers
! reserved or conferred in the organization
Of territory. They are not to be charg-
ed to the great principles of popular SOW
: ereiguty. On the contrary, they disap
pear before the intelligence and patriotism
of the people, exerting though the ballot
box their successful and silent, but irresis-
tible power.
! If the friends of the Constitution are to
have another struggle, its enemies could
not present more acceptable issue than
that Of State where the Constitution
clearly embraces representative i1rm OF
government being excluded from the I'm
ion because its domestic institutions may
not. in all respects, comport with the
idea Of what is wise and expedicnt, enter
tained in some other States.
Fresh from groundless imputations Of
breach Of faith against others, men will
commence the agitation OF this new ques-
ton with indubitable violation Of an ex-
press compact between the independent
sovereign powers of the United States,
AID of the republic Of Texas, as well as
, Of the older and equally solemn compacts,
which insure the equality Of all the States
, But, deplorable as would be such viola
ton Of such a compact in ITSELF and in all
its direct consequences, that is the very
: least of the evils involved.
q When sectional agitators shall have sue
i ceeded in forcing this issue, can their pre-
/ tensions fail to be met by counter preten-
: sions Will not different States be com
: PEELED respectively to meet extremes with
. extremes aad if either extreme carry its
. point, what is that so far forth bat disco
: luton Of the Unionl If new State
, formed from the territory of the United
States be absolutely excluded from ad-
/, mission therein, that fact of itself con-
. stitutes the disruption Of the Union be-
a tween it and other States bat the pro-
J, cess Of dissolution could not stop there.
2 Would not sectional decision producing
! such results by majority of votes, either
Northern or Southern, Of necessity drive
out the oppressed and aggrieved minority,
and place in presence Of each other two
: irreconcilable hostile considerations
a Il is necessary to speak thus plainly of
/ projects, the offspring Of that sectional agi-
! tation now prevailing in some of the States
which are as impracticable as they are un.
constitutional, and which, if persevered in
4 must and will end calemitously 1t is either
4 disunion and civil war, or it is mere idle, an
a CRY, harmless disturbance of public peace
/. and tranquility. Disunion for what?
!, II the passionate rage OF fanaiicsm and partzar
spirit did not force the fact upon attention, il
: would be difficult 60 believe that any considerable
4 portion Of the people Of this onl ghtoned county could
= have 50 surrendered themselves a anatcal devO-
y 10" --.e9,fpDDoscd interests OF the relatively few
and disregard the interests oi the tetilly IN abandon
= OF Americans 10 rample under foot the nunoiionl
i. Of moral and constitutional obligation, and engage
In plans Of vndictive hostility against those who are
associated with them In the enjoyment OF the com
10 mon heritage Of our national institutions. Nor Is u
hostility against their ellowc citizens Of section
, ct lite Union alone. The interests, the honor the
l. duty the peace and the prosperity Of the people OF al
ii sections arc equally Involved and npeued in thi