The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-29

IAllOun proposed MAKE le issue OF
ference and HOdiScrnnaOH there but abolition
list in the Senate since that day aboonsm has become
strong enough, aided by coalitions usons aud combina-
tons to furnish plausible grounds for the boasttu remarks
of Mr. Wilson Whenever his predictions shall be verified
the present federal Union will to exist 1t is then
beyond all peradventure question of union dsunion
which is to be tried.
We have disposition purpose the con
duct OF those eminent statesmen who have sought for
y forty year to avoid quiet sectional agitation by
resortiDg to what Mr.. Calhoun deuominates srPsiehe
concession compromised instead of adheriDg inhesibly to
ytyht, justice ptighted ta and The Constitution" II is
freely admitted that the expedency policy has BEEN from
time to time adopted upon patriotic considerations and
motives Nor would we rashy assume that il was excu-
sable, in view of surrounding circumstances yield to
pressure which dictated compromises that
have been made in which straght-ou constitutional is
has been put aside But do maintain that the facts
vauntngy paraded by Mr. Wilson suggest forcbly the
inquiry whether past experience in compromises does
not indicate the wisdom of making faithful trial
Of adherng unshrinkngly to the requirements of the
sGtuton
In framing the federal constitution, the policy Of con-
cession and compromise political necessity, and was
uuquestonably right But think it is difficult TO JUS
uy any compromise Whch involves an evasion OF Floa-
ton Of the constitution. sxpedency may give
temporary repose to the popular mind and have
the appearance of remedyng eectualy existing evils and
of avoiding permanently Threatening dangers. But on
question vital that of slavery, time is expose
the deson and to develop the fact that the evils and dan
gers have only been postponed reappear aggra
waited forms For the truth of these remarks appeal to
the entire legislation of the federal the sub
ect of slavery from the time when the admission of Mis-
souri, as a State was resisted in 1919 down the
present time Does any at this day doubt that if
instead of compromising the question in 1920 Con-
gres had planted itself upon the solid ground of the
constitutional equality of the States, and had dsclaimed
any constitutional power TO establish prohibit slavery
in the Territories the dangers which now threaten the
Union would have been averted Does any be-
ieve that when in 1885, Congress appealed to by pc
ons abolish slavery in this District and to abolish
the interstate savetrade anything gained by the
policy Of recei0ing the petitions and laying them the
table without further consideration Will any
main that when Mr. Calhoun in 1885, urged the Senate
to make the issue direct the consion-no ntsrrsncs
discrimination it better put that issue aside and
adopt the policy of concession szpeiisncy and compromised
The legitimate consequence of this repeated to
concession and compromise was that in ls47 when the
proposition made TO embarrass the bills making APP
preparations the Mexican by propoe, prohibiting
slavery the territory be acquired the power of Con-
gress make the prohibition scarcely questioned in
entire section of the country 1t this question
that the constitution investigation commenced and
continued until has eliminated in the issue which the
national democracy stands The FIRST spark struck
from the luminous mind of Lewis Cass when December
s47 the writer of this article he declared
that Congress has constitutional power prohibit
slavery in the Territories If General Cass had cover
ed his with undying honors by long lifetime Of
other valuable public services the argument which be
made afterwards this question in the Senate would Sc
cure for it immortality The first fruit of that argument
the Compromise Of 1850, and whilst that only
compromise because IL embraced the settlement series
embarrassing questions did not like those which had
gone it. involve any violation Of the
sution 1t recognised and asserted the great oonsttu
tonal principles of and -dscrimna
ton regard Utah and New Mexico and only de-
fectve in declaring in terms it did in spru that
those principles be of universal application 1t
great step in forward direction. 1t brought US
the full occupancy of the constitutional
ground that it only necessary expunge the line OF
80 deg 30 min entire equality all the States
and TO erpe forever Congress the demon abolition
agitation.
1t hardly be expected that the champions of POI
litica fanatcism would surrender this line without des
perate struggle Whilst they had for more than thirty
years constantly repudiated final settlement OF the
slavery issue they bad been enough all the time
claim the benefit of its existence precedent establishing
the despoc power OF Congress in the Territories II any
suPpose that Judge Douglas chairman Of the Sen
ate Committee Territories and President Pierce
red in the policy of restoring the constitution to its og
nal efficacy by wPng out every trace Of the Missouri line
in the bill for the organization OF Nebraska without fully
counting the cost and thoroughly weighing the consc-
quences, him that ho is greatly mistaken. This
question presented them Shall surrender al
that gained by the Compromise Of $50 by recognising
the validity of the Missouri restriction shall restore
the constitution the solid basis which its trainers
planted il by expressly declaring the principle of
interference and non-discminaon be Of universal aud
permanent application II clear that this latter alter
ma tive would stir fnAcsm to It's very foundation and
that the capacity Of ed,rsve system to endure an
other sectional upbesving mutt be rsked five had then
had the bead Of the territorial committees or at the
White House, Of timid nerves who preferred
temporary quiet storm which would secure
repose the Territory Of Nebraska would either have been
left to the occupancy Of the red or ib organization
would have resulted in the final triumph Of abotonsm
II is to be borne in mind that IL there had been the least
A.f.E-