Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-01-05

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sion, nothing surviving it save the dormant let.
ter of the statute.
But, long afterwards, when by the proposed
accession Of the republic Of Texas, the United
States were 10 take their next step 10 territorial
greatness, a similar contingency occurred, and
became the occasion for syslemaiized attempts
to intervene in the domestic affairs Of one section
Of the Union, In defiance Of their rights as states
and Of the stipulaiions of the constitution
These attempts assumed a practical direction, In
the shape Of perservering endeavors by some Of
the representatives in both Houses Of Congress
to deprive the southern states Of the supposed
benefit Of the provisions Of the act authorizing
the organization Of the state Of Missouri
But the good sense Of the people and the
vital force OF the constitution triumphed over
sectional prejudice and the POLITICAL errors Of the
day, and the state Of Texas returned 10 the I'm
ion as she was, with social institutions which
her people had chosen for themselves, and with
express agreement, by the re-anneSing act, that
she should be susceptible Of subdivision into a
plurality Of states.
Whatever advantages the interests Of the
southern states, as such, gained by this, were
far inferior ia results, as they unfold in the pro-
gress Of time, to those which sprang from pre-
sious concessions made by the South.
To every thoughtful friend Of the Union--to
the true lovers of their coun,ry-to all who
longed and laboreJ for the full success Of this
great experiment Of republican insliiu,ions-it
was cause Of graduation that sach an opporiu-
uiiyhad occurred to illustrate our advancing pow
or on this continent, aud TO furnish 10 the world
additional assurance Of the strength and stability.
Who could wish to see Florida still a European
colony' Who would rejoice TO hail Texas as
lone star, instead of ode in The galaxy Of sta
les Who does not appreciate the incaleulable
benefits Of the acquisition Of Louisiana And
yet narrow views and sectional purposes would
inevitably have excluded them all froui The
Union.
But another struggle on the same point en-
sned, when our victorious armies returned from
Mexico, and it dcvolyed on Congress to provide
for the territories acquired by the treaty Of Qua
daloupe Hidalgo. The great relations Of the
subject had now become distinct AID clear to
the perception of the public mind, which appre-
caied the evils Of sectional controversy upon
the question Of the admission Of new states
!" '"a' ui's's INTENSE 7"'0''"ue ei'aNeu 'he VA
ton but The patriotic Impulses Of the popu-
lar heart, guided 81 the admontory advice Of
the Father OF his Country, rose superior to all
the difficulties Of the incorporation Of new en-
pire into the Union. 10 the counsels Of Con
gress there was manifested extreme an'asonism
OF opinion and ae'ion between some representa-
yves, VINO sought by The abusive and unconsii-
tutional eu,ployment Of the legislative movers
OF The government to interfere IN the condition
oil The inehoaie States and to impose their own
social 'heoiIes apoa 'he latter and other rep
reseniauves, VINO repealed the in'erposI'ion oil
the general government IN this respect, and
maintained The seli-eonsiiinilng rights OF the
states. 10 truth, the thing attempted was, IN
form alone, action Of the general government
"hile IN reality It was the endeaVor, by abuse
oil legislative power, TO force The ideas OF inter
nal policy entertained IN particular States upon
ai!'ea 'naependen, states Once more Inc con
w ' -iJI4l9hllsssdd SPiIhaajIlI re-
siriciions on the disputed point, and were thus
left 10 Judge in that particular for themselves {;
and the sense Of constitutional faith proved Wig
orous enough in Congress not only to accom-
plish this primary object. bu, also the ineideu,-
al and hardly less importan, one Of so amending
the provisions Of the statute for the exiradiion
OF lugliiycs for service, as to place that public
duty under the safeguard ofihe general govern
ment, and thus releiee it from obstacles raised
up by the legislation Of some Of the states
Vain defamation regarding the provisions Of
law for the extradiion of fugtives from service
with occasional episodes Of frantic effort TO OBJ
siruct their execution by rio, and murder, con-
tinued, for brief time, 10 agitale certain local
tiles. Bot the irne principle, Of leaving each
state aud territory 10 regulate its own laws of
labor according to its own sense Of right and ex-
pediency, had acquired fast hold Of the public
judgement, to such degree, that, by common
consent, it was observed in the organization of
the territory of Washington.
When more recently, it became requisite to
organize the territories of Nebraska and Kansas
II was the natural and legitimate, if not the in-
esiiable, consequence ofprevious events and leg
lslatiun. that the same preat and sound nripc;-