The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-12-11

and Congress or the States may in their
discretion propose amendments to it, SOL
emn compact, though it in truth is be-
tween the sovereign States Of the Union.
In the present instance, political enact
ment, which had ceased to have legal
power or authority Of any kind, was re-
pealed. The position assumed. that Con-
gress had no moral right to enact such
repeal, was strange enough, and singu-
larly SO in view of the fact that the argu-
ment came from those openly refusing
obedience to existing laws Of the land,
having the same popular designation and
quality AS compromise acts-nay, more.
who unequivocally disregarded and con-
demned the most positive and obligatory
injunctions of the Constitution itself, and
sought. by every means within their
reach, to deprive a portion of their fel-
low citizens Of the equal enjoyment OF
those rights and privileges guaranteed
alike to abby the fundamental compact
Of our Union.
This argument against the repeal Of
the statute line in question, was accom-
panied by another of congenial character,
and equally with the former destitute of
foundation in reason and truth. 1t was
imputed that the measure originated in
the conception of extending the limits oil
slave lador beyond those previously as
signed to it. and that such was its natural
as well as intended effect, and these base
less assumptions were made in~the north.
ern States, the ground of unceasing as.
sault upon constitutional right.
The repeal in terms of statute, which
was already obsolete, and also null fol
unconstitutionality, could have no infiu
ence to obstruct OF to promote the prop
agation Of conflicting views of political Oh
social institution When the act organ
izing the Territories Of Kansas and Ne
braska was passed, the inherent effect up
on that portion of the public domain thu
opened to legal settlement, was to admi
settlers from all the States of the Uniol
alike. each with his convictions of publ
policy and private interest. there to foun'
in their discretion, subject to such limita
tions as the Constitution and acts of Con
gress might prescribe, new States here
after to be admitted into the Union. /
WIS free field, open alike to all, wheth
er the statute line of assumed restricto
were repealed or not. That repeal di
not open to free competition of the divers
opinions and domestic institutions fipl
which, without such repell, would hav
been closed against them: it found ths
field of competition already opened, i
fact and law. All the repeal did was
relieve the statute book of an objection
. able enactment, unconstitutional in effec
and injurious in terms to a large porto
of the States. e 's
6 Is it the fact, that. in all the unsettle
regions Of the United States, if emigrt
ton be left free TO act in this respect fe
itself, without legal prohibition on eithe
, side, slave labor will spontaneously g
everywhere, in preference to free labor
!, Is it the fact, that the peculiar domest
institutions of the Southern States posses
: relatively so much Of vigor. that, wher,
soever an avenue is freely open to all til
world. they penetrate to the exclusion
: the Northern States? Is it the fact, TIL
{ the former enjoy. compared with the la
: ter, such irresistibly superior vitality, il
: dependent of climate, soil, and all 9th,
t accidental circumstances, as to be able
y produce the supposed result, in spite
n the assumed moral and natural obs, acl
/, to its accomplishment, and of the mo
: numerous population of the Northe
States? '' s-1
# The argument of those who advoca
), the enactment Of new laws of restrictio
! and condemn the repeal of old ones.
Q effect AYERS that their practical views
!, government have no self extending
a self-sustaining power of their own, al
will 60 nowhere unless forced by act
/. Congress. If Congress do but pause f
Il a moment in the policy of stern coercio
i if it venture to try the experiment of lea
ing men to Judge for themselves what
S stitutions will best suit them; if it be n
i strained up to perpetual legislative ex'
;e ton on this point; if Congress proceed
% act thus in the very spirit Of liberty, it
v at once charged with aiming to exte
ID slave labor into all the new Ferritor
At of the United States. ="
nt OF course, these imputations on the
y tentions of Congress in this respect, CO
IN ceived as they were in prejudice. a
er disseminated in passion, are utterly d.
IF titute Of any justification in the nature
to things, and contrary to all the fundamt
as tai doctrines and principles of civil iibe
id and government. --..s
of While therefore, in general, the peo]
i'd of the Northern States have never, at a
n time, arrogated for the federal Cover
he ment the power to interfere directly W
ad the domestic condition Of persons in
$, Southern States, but on the contrary hs
OF disavowed all such intentions, and h;
d. shrunk from conspicuous aff1iction W
nd those few who pursue their fanatical {
sh Ijects avowedly through the contempla
on means of revolutionary change of
s. government. and with acceptance of
ry necessary consequences--a civil and s
Id vile war-yet many citizens have suff
all ed themselves to be drawn into one e
re- nescent political issue of agitation al
another, appertaining to the same SCI
,at opinions, and which subside as rapi
he as they arose when it came to be seen
ew it uniformly did, that they were inco
ke patible with the compacts of the Con
,ot tuition and the existence of the Union
nt Thus, when the acts of some of the Sta
.ed to nullify the existing extradition law
iii posed upon Congress the duty OF max
= new one, the country was invited
The agitators to enter into party organizat
ri. for its repeal; but that agitation speet
de- ceased by reason Of the impracticab'
1laf;tr nh;nnts Go when the siainfa