Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-05

us and tp furnish to the world additional a,
Who would see Florida still Enson constitution, e'
Who would rejoice to hail Texas as lone star nstsoJ -
Inc ,ncacube benefits acquisition Louisiana And
and sectional purposes would inevitably
nave excluded them all from the Union
another struggle the point ensued when our
armies returned from Mexico and It devoved
treaty Ct Guadalupe Hdaes The eress rcson. 1y inc
MAD now become distinct and clear to the perception
Of the public mind which appreciated the evils Of sec
sa In that intense soicitude pernasS o.
nation ot ,oe patriotic impulses Of the popular heart
Country superior to all the difficulties of the nco
ration OF new empire into the Union In the counseis Of
Congress there was manifested antaponsm n nnu
ion and action between representatives who soht
by the abusive and unconstitutional employment Of III
condition Of the nchoae States and to muose them in ,ns
social theories the latter; and other
in and the sos
Of Inc states In truth the thing attempted form
endeavor By abnse Of "ns reality
States upon allied independent States Once more ,be
Territories were organized without restrictions on the dis
gued point and thus left judge in that particular
for themselves and the of faith proved
vigorous enough in Congress only accomp sh hi,
primary object but also the incidental hardly less @
Porant Of amending the provisions of the statute
for the exadtion gtives from service as to place that
public duty under the of the general governs
legislation of some of the s ates. r y mo
Vain defamation regarding the provisions of for the
sodes of frantic Effort to obstruct their execution bS r"t
and murder continued for brief time, agitae certain
locait But the true principle Of leaving each State
ana territory to regulate its laws Of labor according
to its own sense of right expcdeucy acquired fast
hold of the public judgment such degree, that by
common CONSENT 1t observed in the organization of tho
Territory of Washington.
When, more recently, it became requisite to organize
and legitimate if the inevitable consequence of nra
vIo"s events and legislation that the great and so,nd
Mexico should be applied to them that thew n sbon eM
stand exempt from the restrictions proposed the ac, rca.
tive to the State Of Missouri
These restrictions were in the estimation of MANY
thoughtful men, null from the beginning unauthorized nv
cesson of Louisiana and inconsistent with the equality Of
the States. i"'' VI
They had been stripped of Ill authority by per
sstent efforts 10 procure their indirect repeal through con-
Trajectory enactments They had been practically abrua
ted by the Legislation attending the organization of Utah
New Mexico, and Washington If any vitality ren,aine, in
hem it would have been taken away in effect by the new
errtora: acts in the form originally proposed to the Sem
ate at the first session OF the last Congress- II was manly
and ingenious we'll pa rotic and just to do this d.
recty and plainly and thus relieve the of an
act. which might be Of possible future injury but of no
P"ss be future benefit and the Of its repeal was
the flnat consummation and complete recognition of the
principle that portion of the United States shall under
take through assumption of the powers the general puv-
ernment to dictate the social institutions Of any other Dor
left in doubt 1t declared terms to be the true
intent and meaning of this act not to egsae slavery into
bnt IN
leave the people thereof perfectly free form aud regulate
their domestic institutions in their way subject onv
4 to the constitution Of the United States"
The could not be wthstood upon its merits alone
1t attacked with violence the false or deusva ro
text that it constituted breach of faith Never OBJ
lection more utterly destitute Of substantial Justification
When before was imagined by sensible men, that reg
uave or decaative statute whether enacted ten forty
the constitution! If indeed there were in the facts any
cause to impue bad faith would attach those only
who have ceased from the time of the enactment of
the provision the day denounce and
to condemn it who have constantly refused complete
by neednl supplementary legislation who have spared no
exeron to deprive it of moral force who have themselves
again and again attempted its repeal by the enactment of
incompatible provisions and the inevitable cac,ion-
airy effect of their on tue subject awakened
the country to perception of the true constitutional principle
of leaving the matter involved discretion Of the peo
pie of the respective existing or incpient States.
It is not pretended that this principle or any other
tica action liable by human passions No form of
government is exempt from inconvenience; hut in this
case they the result of the abuse and not of the g
mate exercise of the powers reserved conferred the
organization of Territory They not to- be charged
the great principle of popular sovereignty: the contrary.
people, exerng through the balotbox their peaceful and
silent and irresistible power
struggle, its enemies could not present acceptable
ISSUE than that OF State whose constitution clearly
ded from the Union because domestic institutions may
not in all respects comport with the ideas of what is
and expeden entertained IN some other State. Fresh
from groundess imputaons of breach of faith against
Others men will cummence the agitation of this ques
tween the independent sovereign powers of the United
States and of the republic of Texas well of the older
and equally solemn copacts which assure the equality Of
all the States.
But, deplorabe would be such violation of compact
in Itself and in all its direct consequences that is the very
least the evils involved When sectional astators shall
have succeeded in forcing this ISSUE their preten
sons fail to be met by counter preensons? Will diff
erent States be compelled respectivey to meet extremes
What is that far forth but dissolution of the Union?
If new State formed from the territory Of the United
dad OBJ
that fact of itself constitutes the disruption of be-
tween and the other States But the process of dissou
ton could not there Would sectional decision
producing such result by majority of votes either north:
ern or southern Of necessity drive oppressed and
aggeved minority and place presence of each other two
lrreconc'leably hostile considerations?
necessary to speak thus plainly of projects the off
spring of that sectional agitation prevailing in some
of the States which are as mpraccabe as they
stituona and which, fpersevered n must and will end
caamitonsy 1t is either disunion and civil war, OF 1t IS
as amfss pue
anaticsm and partisan spirit did not force the TACT upon
attention. it would be difficult to believe that any con-
could have surrendered themselves anatca devo-
ian to the supposed interests of the few Africans
the interests of the twenty-five millions of Amcricans.o
trampe under foot the nuncons and constitution
y against those who are associated with them in the enjoy
Nor is i hostility against their ieiowitizens
ton of the Union alone The interests, the honor the
duty the pence and the prosperity of the people Of all
tons are equally involved and impered in this question.
such ISSUE thus mady invite all the consequences
ofthe forfeiture of their constitutional engagements?
impossible The storm of phrensv and faction must inevi-
tally dash itself in vain against the unshaken rock Of the
constitution Ishall doubit know that the Union
schemes social change which are generated one after an
the unstable minds ofvsionsy sophss and ntsres
ted agafors rely confidently on the pa'riotsm of the
wisdom of Congress- and above ALL the continued gs-
cous favor of Almighty God to maintain against all