The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-01-25

Struct their execution by riot and murder, cor
tnued, for brief time, 10 agitate certain local
ties. But The true prlncIpie, oil leaving each
State and Territory to regulate its own laws of
labor according to its own SENSE oil right and
expedency, had acquired fast hold of the pub
lie Judgment, to such degree, that, by common
consent II was observed in the organization OF
the Territory OF Washington.
When, more recently, it become requisite to
organize the Territories of Nebraska aud Kan
Sas, it was the natural and legitimate, II not the
inevitable, consequence OF previous events aud
legislation, that the same great and sound prln-
cipIe which had already been applied 30 Utah
and New Mexico, shoolibe applied 10 them;-
that they should stand exempt from the restric-
tionS proposed ftfe act relative to the State OF
Missouri. saHi
These restrictions were, in the estimation OF
many thoughtful men, null from the beginning,
unauthorized by the constitution, contrary to
the treaty stipulatons for the cesslon OF LOUIS
lana, and inconsistent with the equality OF these
States.
They had been stripped of all moral authori-
y, by persistent efforts to procure their indirect
repeal through contradictory enacimenis. They
had been practically abrogaed by the legislation
attending the organization OF Utah, New Mexi-
co and Washington. II any vitality remained
in them it would have been taken away, 10 ef-
feet, by the new territorial acts, in the form
originally proposed 10 the Senate at the first
session of the last Congress. 1t was manly and
ingenious, as well as patriotic and Just, TO do
this directly, and plainly and thus relieve the
statute-book oi an act, which snlght be of possi-
bic future injury, bot OF no possible future brn-
eft: and the measure of lis repeal was the fna!
apar nlHtp
principle, that no portion OF the United States
Shall undertake, through assumption ofthe pow
ers of the general government, TO dictate the So
cial institutions ofany other portion.
The scope and effect Of the language OF re-
peal were not left ia doubt. Ii was declared,
in terms, 10 5e 'tbe true intent and meaning OF
this act not TO legslate slavery into any Terri
, tory or Stalr, nor to exclude it thereirom, but
to leave the people thereof perfectly free TO eim
and regulate their domestic institutions IN their
own way, subject only to the constitution oi the
United States"
Tie measure could not be wthstood upon lis
merits alone. 1t was attacked with violence on
the false or dplusve pretext, that 1t eonstitutee
. breach of faith Never was objection more
: utterly destitute of substantial justihcatlon.-
q When, before, was it imagined by sensible men
c,a 80, ,tso sfante = whether
e that an act of Congress is above the constitutions
h Ii, indeed, there were in the facts any cause 10
h lmpute bad faith, it would attach TO those only
Ii who have never ceased. from the time of the
a enactment of the restrictive provision to the
present day, to denounce and condemn ii; who
e have constantly refused to complete it by need
e iul supplementary legislation; who have spared
e exertion to deprive II of moral force; who
n have themselves again and again attempted lis
repeal by the enactment of incompatible provi-
O sions and who, by the inevitable rpactonary eff
10 feet OF their own violence on The subject, ava
is kened the country to perception of the true
it constitutional principle Of leaving the matter
i involved 10 the discretion of the people OF the
: respective existing incipient States.
ID 1t is not pretended that this principle, or any
i Other precludes the possibility of evil in prac-
e tce, disturbed political action rs liable to b.,
Id by human passions. No form OF government Is
,t exempt from inconveninces; but in this case
ot they the result Of the abuse and not oflegi-
= mate exercise, OF the powers reserved or con-
rs ered in the organization OF Territory. They
;e not to charged to the great principle of pop
uar sovereignty: on the contrary, they disap-
A. pear before the intelligence and patriotism o
m the people, eXerting through the hallotbox their
ie peaceful and silent but irresistible power.
a 1.-THE friends OF the constitution are to have
b. another struggle, lis enemies could not present
le more acceptable issue than that OF State
a. whose constitution clearly embraces 'ta repub
he Iican form of government being excluded
In from the L MON because It's domestic Institution:
a. may not in all respects comport with the idea.
ar oi what is wise and eXpedient entertained II
be some other State. Fresh from groundless i'm
he putations of breach OF faith against others,
re will commence the agitation of this new ques.
,ss ton with indubitabe violation OF an express
OF compact between the independent sovereign
a. powers Of the United States and of the republic
IL OF Texas, as we'll as OF the older and equally
RS solemn compacts, which assure the equality o
% all the States. I7&
IN But, deplorable as would be sach violation
D. of compact n itself, and in all its direct conSe-
of q0ences that is the very least OF the evils IN
nd volved. When sectional agitators shall have
be succeeded in forcing on this issue, can the
in pretensions fail to be met by counter preten-
1t sions2 Will not different States be compellee
se respectively, to meet extremes with extremes
r. And, If either extreme carry IFS point, what is
on that So far forth but dissolution OF the Union
n II ncw State formed from the territory OF the
- United States, be absolutely excluded from adj
ut mission heren that fact OF itself constitutes the
us disruption of Union between it and the other
$ States. But the process Of dissolution could no,
g stop there. Would not sectional decision
sh producing Snch result BY majority OF votes
nd either northern or Southern, OF necessity urive
be out the oppressed and aggrieved minority, and
of place in presence OF each other Two irreconcle-
lie ably hostile considerations
" 1t is necessary to speak thus plainly OF pro-