Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-01-10


Bat, long aherward. when. by the proposed !
accession Of the Republic Of Texas. the United
States we're TO take their next step in Teruiori-
Al greatness, similar contingency occurred
and became the occasion for systemalzsd at.
tennis to intervene in the domestic affairs Of
one section Of the Union. in defiance Of their
rights as States, and Of the sipulstions Of the
Constitution These attempts assumed Prac-
teal direction, iu the shape Of persevering en-
deyors. by some Of the representatives,, IN 0olh
Houses Of Congress. TO deprive the Southern
Stales ofthe supposed benefit Of the provisions
Of the act authorizing the organisation Of the
State Of Missouri.
But The good sense Of the people, and the vi
tai force OF the constitution, triumphed over
sectional prejudice, and the political errors oi
the day. and the State oi Texas returned 10
the Union as she was, with social institutions
which her people had chosen for themselves
and with express agreement by lhs re'annex'
inc act, that she should be susceptible OF sub
division into plurality Of States.
Whatever advantages the interests OF the
Southern States as such, gained by this, were
Ear inferior in results, as they unfolded IN the
progress Of time, to those which sprang from
previous concessions made by the South
So every thoughtful friend Of the Uuion,-to
the true lovers Of their country,-to all who
lonped and labored for the full success ofthis
great experiment Of republican institutions, -
i was cause Of graduation that such an oppor-
J tunity had occurred TO illustrate our advancing
mower on this continent, and to furnish TO the
! world additional assurance Of the strength and
stability of the Constitution. Who would like
TO see Florida still an European country? Who
, would rejoice to hail Texas as a lone star, in.
= stead of one 10 the galaxy Of States? Whodoes
not appreciate the incalculabe benefits OF the
ACQUISITION Of louisiana? And yet narrow views
and sectional purposes would inevitably have
= excluded them all from the Union.
Blu: another Struggle on the same point en-
sued. when our victorious armies returned from
Mexico and it devolved on Congress TO pro
vide for the Territories acquired by the treaty
OF Gaudaloupe HdalgO. The great relations
of the subject had now became distinct ant
clear to the perception Of the public mind which
appreciated the evils of sectional controversy
! upon the question of the admission ofnew
y States. In that crisis intense solcitude preva.
} ded the nation. But the patriotic impulses o
u : the popular heart, guiied by the aGmOnitor!
y advice of the Father of his Country, rose supe
rior TO all the difficulties ofihe incorporation G
a new empire into the Union. In the counsel
u of Congress there was manifested extreme an
u tagonism Of opinion and action between som
)" Representatives. who sought, by the abusiv
e and unconstutiona employment OF the legisla
live powers Of the government, to interfere
10 4 Al. =. i. o,I ;,c
!, pose their own social theories upon the latter
n and other Representatives, who repeed the in
IS terposition Of the general government in tn
;" respect, and maintained the self-consituin
o. RIGHTS of the States. In truth. the thing a
tempted was, in form alone action OF the ger
4 era government, while in reality it was th
nc endeavor, by abuse oflegislalive power to fore
the ideas Of internal policy, entertained in pal
y ticular States, upon allied Independent State
le Once more the Constitution and the Union II
ye umpeei signally. The new Territories wei
es Organized without restriction IN the dispute
q, points, and were thus left TO Judge in that pa
iicuar for themselves; and the sense OF COnst
w tional faith proved vigorous enough in Con
H. gress, not only to accomplish this primary oh
M iect. but also the ndentical and hardly less in
Die portant one, of so amendng the provisions
the statute for the ex'raduon of fugitves fro
i service, as to place that public duty under Il
eu safeguard of the general government, and thu
ess relive it from obstacles raised up by the legi
ith lation OF some Of the States
itb Vain declarations regarding the provisions
- law for the ex,radtiOn of fugatives from ser'
ces. with occasional episodes of frantic effort
lfu obstruct their execution by riot and murd'
at continued, for hrief time, 10 agitate certa
ant localities But the true principle, Of leavi
ION each State and Territory to regulate its own a'
- of labor according to its own sense of right a
'ne expedency, had acquired fast hold of the pu
lie Judgment, to such degree .that.by comm
bat consent, it was observed in the organization
ion the Territory of Washington.
m. THE NEBRASKA BILL.
in When more recently, it became requisite
organize the Territories of Nebraska and Ka
-, zas, it was the natural and legimase, II not
Inc inevitable, consequence ofprevious events a.
lad legislation, that the same great and sound pri
the ciple which had already been applied TO VI
~. and New Mexico, should be applied to theI
that they should stand exempt from the restr
er' tons proposed in the act relative to the St'
es of Missouri,
iu- These restrictions were, in the estimate
w; many thous htru! men; null from the beglnni
er- unauthorized by the Constitution, contrary
:. the treaty stipulations for the session Of Lou
ana, and Inconsistent with the equality OF
" States
ra- They had been stripped ofal moral auth
lis ity by persistent efforts to procure their inc
of rect repeal through contradictory enactmen
IA They had been practically abrogated by
'nu t legislation attending the organization of Ut
My New Mexico and Washington. If any vita
the remained in them, it would have been tai
away, in effect, by the new territorial acts,
;. the form originally proposed to the Senate
IN the first session of the laet Congress. 1t '
it manly ingenious, as well MS patriotic and j.
me to do this directly aud plainly, and Il
:. L-al;oun Lhn Stntutn hnnk Of an act Which mi