Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-09-12
FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER ". 1856.

and guarantee of this right in virtue of the reaty Of
Louisiana. As we propose hereafter a more par'icu-
lar consideration of the effect Of that treaty in this
conncxiu it will suffice for the present to say, that
BY the compact by which the territory Of Louisiana
transferred to the United States, full power was
reserved and guaranteed tn the of kansas and
Nebraska TO determine their social and political!
Institutions That treaty is part Of the supreme law
of the land and the Missouri restriction being in
conflict with it, was null and void from the begin
ming.
7th II matters not however, though the Missouri
Compromise had been valid aud just, and was III
vested with all the snlamnity Of snrtunal compact,
it was still nothing than nm ordinary legislative
enactment, cmbodying the will of the particular Com
gress which enacted it, aud liable like every other
law TO modification aud repeal according I" the wiser
experience OF subsequent times II Is absurd ior any
Legislature 20 undertake 10 bnG s Successors Tor
all future time, By arbitrarily describing particular
enactment ns "conpact' and compromise. -
Laws are nale 10 be repealed when the people
w it,
ol. Another ground Of d,nuncation against the re-
pes of the Missouri restricnn is the charge that II
provoked all the agitation which aiicts the country
Post hoc ergo ;,ryptcr koc. The agitation is certainly
subsequent in point of time to the repeal OF the Mis-
souri, restriction, but is in SENSE the Legitimate con-
sequence of that measure The disturbances III haii-
SIS uro not trateebc to the repeal for then there
would Ge equal commoiion III Ncbraska. Everybody
in the Suuh contends that the violent propagandi'm
of the aboiitionsts is the cause Of all the troubles
and alarms in Kansas.
Yth. but, what does this hjectOn amount to Sim.
ply To assertion that the repeal of the Missouri re-
sr.c"n has provoked the aboion;Ss to resentment
and wrath; for all the ''ason' is tracesbie 10 the
machinaious of the Black Republican, party
1t is no argument asaiGs: the repeal of an
obnoxious and unconstitutional law, to affirm that il
has cxasperGted party of crazy fanatics and unacru
pulous roii;icians The yndicaon OF the tOnsttu
ton and the -astac'Ou Of tho South, arc OF infinite
ly greater moment than The passions and lrcIudlccs o.
nny section. II might De coHtcndcl with as much
reason that Le fugitive slave in~ should be surren
Irred, t. appcuse iho anger oi the Aboonlsts, ms
that an oous an, unconstitutional enact men, should
be perpctaa'vd for the same purpose Indeed the re-
peal o. the fugitive slave law would infict less vio
lencc on the Constitution aud injury upon the South
Than the reef 4cttnen, of the Missouri R"striction
Criminals arc npt shr;yk' vixen the halter draws
but The authority oi law Is not affected by theIl
curscs The ), ,tih should stand h iaore stout!y by
the Constitution for all tha "asta;;vns' OF the Abo
! litivnists.
II is Of ;r.poltaGce times, to explore the gro"n'
ana as certain if we occupy tenab!o position. The
/ Ieuuuciution of the Kansas. Nebraska act by TIT
Fillmore party in this State, suggested review o
the reasons OF that great measure. The argument
raiireg limited than developed in ful! proportions; bn
! every Intelligent and candid person must acknow
| l-Gga that in approving the repeal ct the Missouri
Restriction tn" Democracy occupy not merely tena
! bic but an imprcsuah. position before the South.