Demoine courier., 1856-10-16
"sbow your PASSPORTS"

naturally suggested, and well written re-
marks about the value Of The Union, and
The importance Of lis preservation.
Snow YOUR PASSPORTS - bout ten
days ego. the passengers on the fast
live 10 Baltimore were reused from their
half sleeping condition by a practical
Joker, calling GU, suddenly in The cars.
Show your passports.' The joke had
telling effect. The train had just
passed By the ClaSmont Station. which
is near the dividing line between Penn
sylvania and Delaware--bciween the
North and the South.
From the tone of the remarks with
which this is followed up. il is eviden.
tina, it was intended as plea in behalf Of
the Buchanan Party; as indeed that par.
ty has assumed of late TO be the especial
champions of ,he Union. In this in.
stance the manner in which it is attempt
ed 10 substantiate their claim TO that high
distinction is peculiarly unfortunate.
This little ";oks" calls TO the mind of
every reader the interesting fact that our
Jaws and institutions are of such char
acier that under their protecting agis the
American citizen can move from place
to place Throughout, the length and breadth
Of the land and perform whatever lawful
act he sees f. 10 perform without let or
hindrance. II is this liberty which
makes an American proud Of his country,
and in proportion az he thus admires our
free institutions and is proud of them
50 If we mistake not, will his indignation
be aroused at any invasion or betrayal Of
liberty, which is committed or suffered
by those whose dniy j, is to administer
the Government. lie. all therefore in
whose bieast sentiments Of devotion 10
the constitution and Union are aroused
by the perusal of this little extract. and
we earnestly wish that il may be dwell,
upon by every citizen. let all we ask turn
to the consideration of the gross and
unparalleled outrages upon the rights OF
Freemeu which have been committed
with impunity in the neighboring State
OF Missourl.
Americans who in the exercise Of their
Constitutional rights and in The rursu
ance Of their own free wills have found
them selves traversing one OF The great
public throughfares OF the country, have
been confronted, not by uniformed Of
fcials with the demand "show your
passp orls' but by insolen, armed bands
of men stripping them Of their rights TO
60 where they might please to 60. under
The alternative of surrender OF their
condolences or their lives. Not once
merely mas this been done, but lime al
ter time, and for months no man who is
opposed to the extension of slavery has
dared to ascend the Missouri River ex-
csp, under disguise of his sentiments.
And the party which permits these
things while in power. and while asking
for continuance Of power winks a,and
encourages them, claim to be The espe.
cial champions OF the Union, and inso-
len.ly apply to all WHO do not join them
the epithei, Disunionist. God save the
Union If such men are its keepers
They the friends and preservers of the
Union! Even while they pirate Of their
loyalty, they have Dissolved it. What is
the Union! In what does /. consist.
When We say tina, il is thirty one States
united together in one name and under
one Constitution, we do not adequately
define il. There is wanting the very ca
sen,lal and vital consideration, that citi-
zens of one Of the States are protected
in The full enjoyment of Their conssitu
,ionaI rights in all of the other Siates.-
When this fails 10 be done, although i,
happen 10 but single individual, for
him the Union is dissolved, and accord.
ing to all enlightened law giyers he owes
il no further allegiance. And when this
failure extends to whole classes, 10 all
men holding certain opihion, and as il
Eow is, 10 the great mass OF the paople
of the North, then il 10 plain that the
Union is dissolved. The case now il
that all who are unwilling to aid in OK.
tending slavery over Kansas, are iorcibly
prevented from passing along public
route, and IN permitting and coun'enanc'
ing this infringement of right the Ac-
) ministra,ion has suffered dissolution oil
the Union. Let its supporters clear u
this matter before they presume 10 cal
anybody disunionist.
The Union which our Fathers estab
7 Iished and handed down to us was .
Union no. Of States merely bu. OF rights
Under it an American citizen wherever
7 he might be within the Limits Of .hs