Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-09


OF repeal were not left in doubt. IL was
declared. in terms, TO be 1.-THE true intent
and meaning of this act not 10 legislate
slavery into any Territory or State. nor
10 exclude it thereGrom. but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic Institutions in
their own way. subjenr only TO the con-
| s~tiiulion Of the United States"
The measure could not be withstood
upon its merits alone. 1t was attacked
with violence on the false or delusive
pretext that it constituted "a breach Of
faith. Neve- was objection more utterly
destitute of substantial Justification
When before was it imagined by sensible
men that a regulative or declarative Stat
ute. whether enacted ten or forty years
ago is irrepealable-that an act of Con-
gress is above the constitution? Ii, in
deed, 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 enactment of the resIric-
tive provision to the present day, to de-
nource and to Condemn it; who have con-
stantly refused to complete it by needful
supplementary legislation; who have spa
red no efforts to deprive it OF moral force;
who have themselves again and again at
ten pied 10 repeal bv the enactment of in
compatible provisions; ard who, by the
inrvitable reacginnarv effect of their W
violence on the subject. awakened the
country to perception of The rue consii-
iulional principle of leaving the matter
invoked to the discretion of the people OF
the respective existing or ineipirnt States.
1t is not pretended that this principle,
or any ether. precludes the possibility Of
evils in practice, disturbed aS political &C
ton is liable TO be by human passions
NJ fo,m of govrrnmei i exempt from in
c~onveuiencrs: but in this case they are
the result of the abuse, and moi of the le
climate exercise Of The powers reserved
or conferred in the organic ttIon of u
erritory. They are not Ia b. charged
to the great principle OF popular suve-
reignty; on the contrary. they disappear
before the intelligence and patriotism OF
the people, exerring through the ballot
| OK the peaceful and silent but ~irreSist-
ib;- power.
Ii the friends of the Constitution are to
have another struggle, its enemies could
not present a more acceptable ISSUE Ina
thai of a State, whose Constitution clear
ly embraces "a republican form of gov
ernment. being excluded from the Un-
ion because It's domestic institutions may
not in all respects comport with the ideas
of what is wise and expedlent entertain
ed in some other State. Fresh from
groundless impuIationS of breach of faith
against others, men will commence the
agitation of this new question with indu
bitable violati IN of an express compact
between the independent sovereign pow
ers of the United States and of the Re-
public Of Texas, as well as of the older
and equally solemn compacfs which as
sure tie equality of all the States.
But, deplorable as would be such a vi
olaIion of compact in itself. and in all its
direct consequences. that is the very
least of the evils involved. When sec
tional agitators shall have succeeded in
forcing on this issue. can their preten-
sions fail TO be met by counter preten-
sions? Will not different States be COM
PEELED respectively to meet extremes with
extremes? Ard. if either extreme carry
its point. what is hat SO far forth but
dissolution of the Union Ii a new State
formed from the territory OF the United
States. be absolutely excluded from ad-
mission therein. the fact of itself constl-
tutes The disruption of union between it
and the other States. But the process
If dissolution could not stop there
Would not a sectional decision. produ-
cling such result by a majority OF votes.
either northern Or southern, of necessity
drive out the oppressed and aggriev'd
minority, and place in presence of each
other Two irreconcilably hostile confede-
rationS.
Ii is necessary to speak thus plainly
of projects, the offspring OF that sectional
agitation now prevailing in some OF the
States. which are as impractIcable as
they are unconstitutional, AMI WATCH, it
pe~rsevered in. must and will end caltm-
iiouSly. IL is either di>union aud civil
war. or it is mere angry. Idle. almless
disturbance at public peace fnd trarquil-
ity. Disunion for what? 1.-THE pt>sion-
ale rage of flnalicisn AMI ptruzm spir-
it did not force the fact upOG our alien
ion. it would be difficult To beli-ve that
aay considerable pr ion of the people
of this enlightened Country could have
so surrendered themselves 10 a ~fanarical
devotion to the supposed interes> OF
The relatively few Africans IN the UNI
led States, as totally 10 abandon and
disregard The interests of the twenty
five millions of Americans 10 tram
pie under foot the injunctiuns of mIrAl
and constitu ionai oblIgation-anl To en-
gage 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
citizens of one section of the Union alone.
The interests, the honor. the duty. the
peace. and the prosperity Of the people of
all sections are equally involved and i'm
perilled in this question. And are pat
riotic men in any part of the Union pre-
pared, on such an issue, thus nadly TO
invite all the consequences of The forfeit
ure OF their constitutional engagements?
1t is impossible. The storm OF phrensy
and faction must inevitably dash itself IN
vain against the mistaken rock of the
Constitution. | shall never doubt it. |
know that the Union is stronger a thou
sand times than all the wild ard chimer-
ical schemes Of sorial change, which are
generated. one after another. in the un-
stable minds of visionary sophis:s and in
terested agitators. l rely confidently on
the patriotism of the people. or the dig
nifty and self-re>prct of the States, on
the wisdom of Congress. and above all,
on the continued gracious favor of AL