The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-12-10

amendment by its very terms and Congress
or the States may, in their discretion, propose
amendments to 1t, solemn compact though
1t IN truth is between the sovereign States Of
the Union. Ia the present instance, politi-
cal enactment which had ceased to have le-
gal power or authority oi any kind, was re-
pealet. The position assumed, that Congress
had no mora! right to enact such repeal, was
strange enough, and singularly 50 in view Of
the fact that thrargument came from those who
openly refused obedience to existing laws of
the lard, having the same popular designa-
tion and equality as compromise acts--nay,
more, who uneqniyocally disfegarded and
condemned the most positive and obligatory
| iajunetioGs Of the Constitution itself, and
sought by every means within their reach, to
deprive portion Of their fellow citizens of
the equal enjoyment Of those rights and
privileges guaranteed alike to all by the fun
dameatal compact oi our Union.
This argument against the repeal Of the
statute line in question was accompanied by
another Of congenial character, and equally
with tie former destitute Of foundation in
reason and truth. Ii was imputed that the
measure originated in the conception of ex>
tending the limits Of slave labor beyond those
previously assigned to it, and that such was
its natural as well as its intended effect and
these baseless assumptions were made, in
the Northern States, the ground Of unceas-
Ing assault upon constitutional right.
The repeal in terms of a statute which
was already obsolete, and also null for un-
consttutionality, could have no influence to
obstruct or to promote the propagation Of
conflicting views Of political or social insti>
tuition. When the act organizing the Terri-
tories Of Kansas and Nebraska was passed,
the inherent effect upon that portion Of the
I public domain thus opened TO legal settlement
was TO admit settlers from all the States of
the Union alike, each with his convictions Of
public policy and private interest, there to
be found in their discretion, subject 10 such
limitations as the Constitution and acts of
Congress might prescribe, new States, here
after 10 be admitted into The Union. Ii was
free field. open alike to all, whether the
statute line olassumed restriction were repeal
ed or not. That repeal did not open TO free
competition Of the diverse opinions and do
lneStic institutions a field, which, without
such repeal, would have been closed against
them it found that field Of competition alrea,
1 dy opened in fact and in law. All the re-
peal did was to relieve the statute book of
an objectionable enactment, uncOnstitution-
al in eff CT. aud injurious in terms to large
portion Of the States.
Is it tie fact, that. in all the unsettled re-
gious Of the United States, if emigration be
lett free to act IN this respect for Itself, wita>
out legal prohibitions on either side, slave
labor will spontaneously 90 everywhere, in
preference To Zee labOrs j. il the fact that
the peculiar domestic institutions oil the
Southern States possess relatively 50 much
of yigor, that, whercsoeyer an avenue is
freely open TO all the world, they will
penetrate 10 the exclusion of those pf the
Northern Safes: Is it the fact that the
former enjoy, compared with the latter.
such irresistibly superior vitality, indepen-
dent Of climate, soil and all other accidental
circumstances. as TO be able to produce the
supposed result, in spite Of the assumed mo-
raj and natural obstacles TO its accomplish
ment, and Of the more numerous population
Of the Northern States;
! The argument uf those who advocate the
! enactment uf new laws oil restriction and
condemn the repeal OF old ones, ia effect
ayers that their particular views Of governs
mcnt have no self.extending or self sustain
ng power Of their own, and will 20 nowhere
unless forced hy act Of Congress. Aud it
Congress da but pause for moment in the
policy uf stern coercion; il it venture TO try
the experiment Of leaving men to judge for
themselves what institutions will best suit
them; Il Il be not strained up TO perpetual
legislative excrtion on this point; IL Congress
proceed thus TO act in the very spirit OF lib,
eriy, il is at once charged with aiming to ex,
/, tend slave labor into ali the new Territories
! Of the United States.
Of course, these impniaons on the intentions
Of Congress in this respect, conceived as they
} were IN prejudice, aud disseminated in passion. /.
are utterly destitute Of any justification in the
nature Of things, and contrary 10 al Tie fundI-
mental docldnes and principles Of tiv liberty
: snd sell government.
= While, therefore, in general, tile people o
! tie Northern States have never, a. any time,
I, afogaed uf the federal government The power
to inlerlere directly Hilb the domestic condition
J II persons in the S1uihprn States, bni on the
J contrary have dlsayuweI all such intentions
D and lave SHRINK from ednsrlruou. aflilialinn
wlth ll,cse few who pursue tl,eif lanatjcAl oh
, jeeis asowedly through the contemplated means
Of revolutionary change oi tie government. aud
viii acceptance Of the necessary consequences
i IA riSil and setyI'e war--yel many ciuzsns
{ have suffered themselves 10 be drawn into one
j rysnrsren, political issue ui agitation aItrr an.
n1her. arrsraning to tic sime eel VI opinions
: aud which subsidized as rapidly as they arose
wien il came 10 be seen. as ii uniIUlmly did
+ lhai they we'c incompatible with the compact.
!. - lie Consultation and the existence ii Til,
I tininn. Thus, when the acis Of some of IL,
!. Staies 10 uuiliy The cysilnc exlra,lrinn law n
! posed ppoH Crnsrss the dnly ~ passing new
= une, lie c uuty was invited by sgita,ofs Il
+ rnpt into parry organization lor lis repeal bu
q thsi agitation speedily ceased rs frasnl of IL,
e npfar icsIlllily n tts ahirrt Sn, vhrn III.