True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-01-30

ual peril and enormous loss upon our Riv-
ers and Lakes for the want of compare
lively insignificant appropriations for the
improvement Of then channels and har-
bors. The injustice Of unequal grants
Of lands is perhaps beyond remedy; but
it viii be. our own fault il our Rivers and
Harbors continue to bo thus neglected.
While in these and many other impor-
tant details of administration, the inter-
ests Of our own Stale are deeply affected
by the action Of the National Gov
efnment, we are even more vitality con-
cernednin the great principle by which
that action and the progressive develop
ment Of our country are regulated and
controlled.
A man is more than his circumstances,
as freedom is better than wealth, as rights
are more important than institutions, il
lbecomes as to look well to the fun damen-
tai ideas which determine the character
of Government, and the course Of its
practical operation.
The basis Of American institutions is
the democratic principle ofequality among
men. They rest upon the solid fouuda-
lion Of popular consent. The primary
objects of their establishment are the de-
fence and protection OF personal rights.
III they fail to secure these ends, it is the
duty of the people who established ia
} amend or change them. To organize ant
! administer government upon these prln
ciples is the true work of republican
people.
\ While the democratic idea thus const
flutes the basis of American Institutions
various exceptions, under the pressure o
real OF supposed exigencies, have beer
admitted to its universal application
Among these, slavery, the creature
of despotism, and the deadly opposite
Of democracy, claims balelul pre-emi
nence.
When our country asserted her indie
8 pendence slavery existed in all the States
lis evil influences, social and political
e were, however, we'll understood, and il
e rreconcilable antagOnism TO the rights o
), human nature and the principles of JUS
< government, was universally acknowl
edged.
1t The founders of the Republic, in fra
n ming our institutions were careful 10 Civ
e no national sanction 10 this porlentou
G anamoly; but they attempted no interlel
n ence with its existence in The Slates.-
d Outside Of State limits, they allowed
Z no shelter. Within S,ate limits, the.
9 left it 10 the exclusive disposition {
States Immediately concerned. No fat
n is better established by the records of ii
le past, than the prevalence, during Inc ca
'e Iier period Of our history, of an almo
universal expectation that slavery, excl
ded by positive prohibition, from all n
, lional territory, would gradually but ce
Iainly, and at no distant day, under Il
operation of the principles Of the Decl
ration of independence, and through u
action of the State authorities, disappe
wholly from every State Of the Unio
The foremost champions of freedom we
citizens of slave States, and occupied Il
, highest stations in the State and nation
=. Governments.
i In 1884, Immediately after the parti
adjustment of the conflict between Il
,s claims CT the Union and the pretensiGl
n of the States inrespect to the terrific
Z between the Alleghanies and the Missi
70. sippi, through the cession, by Virgin
m. of the territory northwest of the Oh
,p. Jefferson proposed to provide fore'
bo against the extension of siave.y by p,
ss, tive prohibition Of its existence after | 8
nj. in any territory ceded or 10 be ceded,
ho in any State 10 be created out of su
cb territory. This proposed prohibition
=, ceived the votes of sixteen out of twent
ri. three delegates, and of six out Of nj
no States in The Congress of the Confede
on ton. II failed to become law by rea:
rcd Of that provision of the Articles of G,
or federation which made The concurre
Of at least seven States necessary TO
ver affirmative decision of any question. l
;nC great majority in its favor indicates, hc
oh, ever, the prevalent sentiment Of the til
Of Three years later. the Ordinance
ad. 1857 imposed upon the soil of the te
M tory northwest Of the Ohio an indel
me prohibition of slavery. That Ordina
eo. was adopted by The unanimous W
u,o, of all the States. in Congress. l. CO.
the ed every inch Of territory subject to
lore exclusive regulation Of the General G
.ev- ernment. =.
,ute In the same year the National Cor
sr,,. .ulion was framed. Mr.. Madison de
ou, red it t"wrong to admit in the Cons
-. .Lo ia, ,I,at .hara couII he nrOn,