Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-01-05

| US pMIlOIc nuu JUST, 10 90 tnls ulrec1ly ana
plainly, and thus relieve the statufe-book Of an
act, which might be of possible future injury,
but Of no possible future benefit and the nea-
sure Of lis repeal was the final consumation
and complete recognition Of the principle,
that no portion ofthe United States shall un-
derfake through assumption of the powers OF.
the general government, 10 dictate the social
institutions Of any other portion.
The scope and effect Of the language of
repeal were not left in doubt. II was de.
clared in terms, to be "ihe true intent and
meaning of this act not TO legisate slavery
into any Territory or STATE nor to exclude il
therefrom, but 10 leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate their do
nestle institutions in their own way, subject
only TO the constitution of the United States"
The measure could NOT be withstood upon
IT'S merits alone. IL was attacked with vio-
ience, on the false or delusive pretext that il
constituted breach of faith. Never was OBJ
lection more utterly destitute of substantial
Justification. When before, was il imagined
by sensible men, that regulatve or declara-
tire statute. whether enacted fen or forty years
ago, is epealable,-thaf an act of Congress
is above the constitution? If indeed. there
were in the facts any cause to mpute bad
faith il would attach TO those only who have
never ceased, from the fine Of the enactment
OF The restrictive provision 10 the present day
TO denounce and condemn il; who have con
stantly refused to complele THY needful sup
Elementary Legislation; who have spared no
eXertion 10 deprive il Of moral force: who
have themselves again and again attempted
liz repeal by the enactment Of incompatble
provisions; and who, by the inevitable reac-
tonary effect of their own violence on the sub
lect, awakened the country TO perception Of
yl,, I,t,s, D. L l. Al.
mattrr involved 10 the discretion Of the peo-
pie OF The respective existing or incipient
States.
1t is not pretended that this principle. or
any other, precludes the possibility of evils
IN practice, disturbed as political action is
liable TO he by human passions. No form of
government is exempt from Inconvenience
but in this case they are the result Of the
abuse, and not the Legitimate exercise, of the
! powers reserved or conferred in the organiza-
! tion of Territory. They are not to be
charged to the great principle Of popular
sovereignty; on the contrary, they disappear
before the intelligence and patriotism of the
| people, exerting through the ballot box their
peaceful and silent but irresistible power.
IT the friends Of the constitution are to
have another struggle, its enemies could not
| present more acceptable issue, than that of
u state, whose constitution clearly embraces
"a republican form Of government" being ex-
| cluded from the Union because its domestic
institutions may not in all respects comport
with the ideas of what is wise and expedient
entertained in some other state Fresh from
grourdess imputations Of breach of faith
against others, men will commence the agita-
tion of this new question with induhitable
violation OF an express compact between the
independent sovereign powers Of the United
States and to the republic of Texas, as well
ns of the Older and equally solemn compacts,
which assure the equality Of all the states
But. deplorable as would be such viola
ton Of compact in itself and in all its direct
consequences. that is the very least of the
evils involved. When sectional agitators
shall have succeeded in forcing on this issue,
can their professions fail to be met by coun-
ter pretensions? Will not different states
be compelled respectively to meet extremes
with EXTREMIST And, if either extreme car
ry lis point, what is that so far forth but dis
solution of Union If new state. formed
from the territory of the United States. be
absolutely excluded from admission therein,
that fact Of itself constitutes the disruption
OF union between it and the other states But
the process Of dissolution could not stop
there. Would not sectional decision, pro
ducing such result by majority of votes,
either northern orsouthern, of necessity drive
out the oppressed and aggrieved minority,
and place in presence of each other two ire
concably hostile considerations
1t is necessary TO speak thus plainly Of
projects, the offspring Of that sectional agta-
ton now prevailing in some Of the states,
which are as impracticable as they are uncon-
stitutional. and which, if persevered in, must
and will end calamitously. 1t is either dis
union and civil war, or it is mere angry, idle,
aimless disturbance of public peace and tran
guilty. Disunion for what? If the passion
ate rage OF tanaticism and partisan spirit did
not force the fact upon our attention, it woald
be difficult to believe that any considerable
portion Of the people Of this enlightened
country could have so surrendered themselves
TO n ianatical devotion to the supposed inter-
ests Of the relatively few Africans in the
United States, as totally to abandon and dis
regard thenterests of the twenty-five millions
OF Amerlcans--to trample under foot the in
functions of moral and constitutional obliga-
tlon-and to engage in pains OF vndictive
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-citl-
2ens Of one section of the Union alone. The
interests, the honor, the duty, the peace, and
the prosperity oil the people OF all sections
are equally involved and imperiled in this
question. And are patriotic men in any part
OF the Union prepared. on such an issue, thus
madly to invite all the cons quences Of the
forfeiture Of their constitutional engagements?
II is impossible. The storm of phrcnzy and
faction must inevitably dash itself ia vain
against the mistaken rock Of the Constitu-
tion. | shall never doubt it, | know that
the Union is stronger a thousand times than
all the wild and chimerical schemes of social
change which are generated one after another
in the unstable minds Of visionary sophists
and interested agtators rely confidently
on the patriotism of the people, on the digni- |
~ and self respect Of the States, on the wis
dom of Congress, and, above all, on the con-
t!nued gracious favor of Almighty God, to |
maintain, against ali enemies whether at
home or abroad, the sanctity of the Consti- |
tuition, and the integrity Of the Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WAsu!NGToN, December 81, 1855