Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-09


erunlent IS exet4 pt iron, inconyeniences Tut
in this case they are the result pf the abuse .
and not oE tlsp legitimate exercise, ofthe pow
crs rcse e-e- or conferred Is the Organization
of Territory They are rot TO he charged
10 the great principle of popular sovereignty
On the contrary. they disappear before the
intelligence and patriotism oi tLe people. exer-
ting throuxh the allot-box their peaceful and
silent but irresistible power.
IF the friends of the constitution are to have
! another struggle, its enemies could not pre-
sen. more acceptable issue, than that of a
State. whose constitution embraces =. repub-
Iiean form of government being excluded
from the Union because its domestic institu-
tions may nea in all respects conport with the
idea OF what IS wise and expedient entertained
IL some other States FRI sh from groundless
imputatlous of breach of faith against others.
lDen will commence the agitation Of this new
question with indabitable violation of m ex-
press compact between the Independent soyer-
eign powers of the United States and of the
republic OF Texas, well of the older and
equally solemn compacts, which assure the
| equality OF all the States.
But, dep,orahle as would be such viola
tion of compact In itself, and in all its direc;
consequences, that is the very least of the
evils involved. When sectional agitators
shall have succeeded in forcing on this issue,
can their pretcntions fail to be met by counter
pretensiops Will not 1iferent States re-
spectiveY DC compelled to meet with ex-
tremes. And, If either extreune carry its
point, what is that SO far forth but dissolution
of the Union If new State, formed from
the territory of the United States. be abso-
lutely excluded from admission therein, that
hot
it and the other States. But the process of
dissolution could not stop there. Would not
sectional decision, producing such result by
a majority of votes either northern or south
ern. of necessity drive out the o pressed and
aggrieved minority, and place in presence of
each other two irreconcileably hostile confed-
erations.
1t is necessary to speak thus plainly of pro-
jects, the offspring of that sectional agitation
now prevailing i'll some of the States, which
are iWpracteable they uneonstitu-
tIona, anu which. if perseyered in. must and
will end calainitously. 1t is either dsunion
and civil war, or it is mere angry, idle. aim
less disturbance of public peace aud tranquil
ity. Disunion for what? If the passionate
rage of fanaticism aud partizan spirit did not
force the fact upon our attention. it would be
difficult to believe, that any considerable por-
tun of the people of this enlightened country
could have So surrendered themselves to fa-
natical devotion to the supposed interests OF
the relatively few Africans in the United
States, totally to abandon and disregard
the interests of the TWENTY-FIVE millions o.
| Americans-to trample under foot the injunc-
rions of moral and constitutional obligation
ani to engage in plans of vindictive hostility
| against those who are associated with them in
the enjoyment of the common heritage Of our
national institutions.
Nor is it hostility against their fellow-citi-
zens OF one section of the Union alone The
interests, the honor, the duty. the peace. and
the prosperity of the people of all sectio rs are
equally involved and imperilled in this ques-
ton. And are patriotic men in any part of
the Union prepared, on such an issue. thus
madly to i.vlte all the consequences Of the for
feiture of their constitutional engagements
! 1t is impossible. The storm of fFaayv aud
faction must inevitably dash IN vain ~ gainst
the unshaken rocks of the consii1ution.
shall never doubt it. / know that the Union
| is stronger thousand times than Ell the wild
and chimercial schemes of social change which
are generated, one after another, III the un-
stable minds of visionary sophists and interes-
ted agitators. | rely confidently on the pat
riotism of the people. on the dignity and self
respects of the States, on the wisdom, of Con-
gress, and above all. on the continued gra-
cious favor of Almighty God, to maintain,
against all enemies whether at homo or abroad
the saEctity of the constitution aud the integ-
rity of the Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
/ WASHINGTON. Dec. 81, 1855.