True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-17

ating the feelings of the North, and pro.
ducing more alienation than now ex-
lists. 1t was evident 10 every body that
the times are sadly out of joint and there
must be some occasion for it. There
must be some latent disease that required
a remedy, and thus the first step in seek.
ing to produce better state Of things and
give peace and tranquility to the country,
would be to 60 back TO the first principles
and seek for the root Of the evil. In do
ing so he deemed that he had found the
Pandora's box whence all the difficulties
originated, in the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise. Before that fatal step was
taken, all was quiet, tranquil and har-
mony but since, all had been discord
and contention, bloodshed and strife.
This result was predicted by him at that
time. He made the remark that the
aged might witness the commencement
of the evil consequences which would
flow from that repeal but the youngest
child then born would not then live to be-
hold their termination. lie hoped, how.
ever, and believed that they would ter
inmate without any fearful disaster to the
Union, and that the wisdom of the Ameri-
can people would devise some remedy for
these struggles which had sprung from
the ambitious views Of individuals, and
that Providence which had guided this
nation through peris in days past, had
yet rich blessings to lavish upon US. If
the Missouri Compromise could be re.
pealed, after having been regarded as a
sacred compac! for the third of century
the organic by which the territories Of
Nebraska aud Kansas were organized
was also repealable and consequently
all the acts of the territorial Legislature
when they have been made in pursuance
of that organic act He presumed no
one would deny that the people of Kan
sas, did not, of their own unbiased free
will and accord, enact The laws now said
to exist in that territory. l. WIS done
by extraneous influences, and those laws
were proscriptive and contrary to the
spirit Of the Constitution, disgrace to
the age, and they ought not to be suffered
to remain on the statute book. He lie.
fined his political position and defended
the American party.
Mr.. Clay inquired whe her the Senator
from Texas meant to have it untlerst oOd
that nasmuch he had left the Democratic
party in consequence Of their repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, and joined the
American party that the latter were in ia
vor of the restoration of the Missouri
Compromise 2" -........
Mr.. Houston replied that the American
party were not, as a party, in favor of
restoring the compromise, although some
members. it might be, of that party were
opposed to all agitations which would en- :.
danger the peace of the country, or threat
en- the prosperity Of the Union. For his
par he thought it would be impolitic and
unwise, as there were insuperabe objec-
tions to its restoration but he would freely
give more than half he possessed if ii
could he restored so as to leave things
exactly as they were before it was repeal.
ed but his cardinal principle was that
'lhe Union must and shall be preserved;
if he were TO hear man of the party 10
which he belonged utter word against
this Union, although three score years
might have somewhat relaxed the vigol
of his frame, he would knock him down
forthwith.