Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-02-06
ErDEBAI. pROsPECTs.

"
touching on subject which is so hobby-ridden,
and about which the press of the country is so
constantly producing and reproducing Indeed
SO stale and Improbable have become the reite-
rated remarks on this and kindred subjects. that
we can hardly ask hearing when we venturet to
approach it There are SO many subjects more
nearly affecting our true interests, matters of
every day concern and of every persons inter
est, that in these days of political wrangingand
party subseryiency the great mass Of the peo-
ple turn with disgust from the Scene, content to
wait until the time when, under the Constitu-
ton and the laws, it viii be referred to them to
calm these troubles, to pour the oil Of their pa
triotism upon the troubled waters, to bid dema-
gogues and trading partizans stand back and let
the constitution, the laws, and the patriotism
of the masses once more take their trne posi-
ton.
The election of Sir. Banks as Speaker of the
House of Representatives, is regarded by many
as indicative of unfortunate results othc Union
and to the preservation of TINT system of free
and equal rights to all, which has so long been
the boast of our system of Government
For our own part, we are inclined to think
otherwise, and We even hope it may prove for
tunate
The balloting for seven weeks has proved to
the country that a majority of the House, even,
are opposed to the mad ianaticism Of which Mr..
Banks is the exponent, and from this fact we
apprehend that the present House, even under
Mr. Banks, is powerless for harm, while the mem
bers Of the party to which he belongs will and
do see the necessity of caution. 1t is fact of
Importance which cannot have escaped the ob-
servation Of those who have attentiycly marked
the history of our partizan leaders, that where
men Of character and intelligence come to act in
high and independent political positions in the
Government they seem at once to feel a new
impulse, the spirit Of conservatism appears to
control, and we find men, heretofore suspected
and obnoxious to censure, turn at once to the
Constitution and discover themselves as it were
from their old issues and extremes, and look 10
their duty and the cardinal interests of every
section. May this be the case even with Mr..
Banks, andmay the present session oCCOngress
eycntuate more fortunately than any anticipate
Still, whatever may be the action of Congress,
we look hopefully to the people Of the Union
II their representatives run into extremes, that
party which is guilty will go down before the
grand inquest Of the nation.
There are now but two political parties in
the country, namely, tue Black Republican and
the Constitution party, call them by whatever
name. The whole South and the Northern de-
mocraey stsnd Onthe one side, and the Northern
fanatics on the other Whether the people of
the North viii sustain their faetlous representa-
tives, remains to be seen. We trust they will
not We have already noticed indications not
40 much of change in public sentiment, as of
an awakening to the perception of their copsti-
tutional duty, and determination no longer to
permit themselves to be misrepresented in our
national councils by the demagogues and fanat
les who now disgrace the halls of the popular
branch Of our Federal Legislature. As sam
pie Of the manifestations of public sentiment at
the North to which we have alluded, We subjoin
the following report of q committee of the Leg
islature of Pennsylvania on the subject of the
transit rights of Southerners with their servants
The report does not recommend the resolution to
which its sentiment would lead, namely, the re-
poal of the act Of 1917 alluded to- but still it is
far more indicative of healthy state than many
Norther emauations with which the South has
recently been favored
SLAVERY IN PENNSYLVANIA.
We yesterday published the Report of the Mi
nority Of the Judiciary Committee in the Penn
syIvaaia Assembly on the question of allowing
slaves to be carried through the State. Wenow
give the Report of the Majority Of that Commit
zee, who hold that such Alright oftransit already
Exists:
''The Committee on Judiciary, to whom was
referred the petition of Col. Joseph Paxton Of
CattawisSa, praying for the enactment of a law
securing to the citizens of Slaveholding States
of this Union the right of transit through this
State with their slave property, respectfully re-
port that they have had the subject under con-
siCleration and have come 10 the conclusion that
the right Of transit through Pennsylvania, with
th,ir slaves, is already secured to the citizens of
the Slayeholdings States by the law Of nations
and the Federal Constitution; and thatnO statute
Of the State affects to disturb that right Before
the adoption Of the Constitution of 1857 slaves
wore held and recognized as properly in all the
States Of the Confederation save one. Each
State was sovereign and independent Republic
and that comfy which is recognized by The law
of nations, as existing between friendly powers,
extended to and prevailed among the several
States, aud the right Of transit with their then
undisputed property was not contraycned.
Upon the adcption of the Constitution prop
erty in slaves was positively recognized, and e.
pecialy protected by the provision for the rendi-
ton Of ftlgitives from lahor. Slaves were rccog-
nized as legitimate property at that ime, not
only by the Federal Constitution, but by the
laws Of thsscveral States Of the Onion, Including
Pennsylvania.
'.HSving adopted the Constitution, and thus
pliehted her honor to the faithful observance of
alIits covenants, she will not now dishopor her
s.lf6y denying her bond or Violating any Gifts
Obligations The laws ofnati0ns gives the right
ofpeacihle and orderly transit to both persons
and property, and that right is ratified and con-
tiFusd by the Constitution, more especially in
the clause which reserves to Congress the exclu-
sive right to regulate commerce among the States
This reserved right is construed by the Counts
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