The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-04-01
NO.493.

of the United States. Thus has the Federal
Government solemnly recognized the usurpa-
souri, and pledged all the power Of the Uni
ted States to its support. American history
furnishes no parallel to the cruelty and tyran-
ny OF these acts Of the present Admins
tration. The expulsion Of aliens, and the
penalties inflicted upon citizens for exercising
freedom Of speech and of the press, under
the Alien and Sedition laws, which were
overthrown by the Republican party of 1898,
were lenient and mild when compared with
the outrages pcrpetrated upon the people Of
Kansas, under color Of law, by the usurping
invaders sustained by the Federal Govern
mcnt.
/ With a full sense Of the importance Of the
declaration, we affirm that the execution Of
these threats by the President Of the United
States upon the people of Kansas, would be
an unconstitutional exercise Of Executive
power, presenting case of intolerablc tyran-
ny:-that American citizens cannot submit
purpose, those by whose sgency it may a e
split will b. held TO strict Z and stern ao-
count by the freemen of the Republic. So
| pam, pdlIhDlc duu QSllDcittc u NlOlNllOu VI
the Constitution would justify the interposi-
tion of the States, whose duty it would be,
by all the constitutional means in their power
to vindcate the rights and liberties of the
citizen against the power Of the Federal
Government; and we take this occasion 10
express to our fellow-citizens in Kansas,
against whom these unconstitutional acts are
directed, our profound sympathy with them
in the resistance which it is their right and
their duty to make to them, and our deter
nination to make that sympathy efficient by
all the means which we may lawfully employ.
Thus for period of twenty-five years, has
Slavery been contending, under various pre-
texts, but with constant success against the
tendencies of civilization and the spirit of our
institutions for the extension and perpetuation
of its power. The degree in which the Gen.
eral Government has aided its efforts may be
traced in the successive steps it has TAKEN
In 1887, all the States in the Confederacy
united in ordaining that Slavery should be
forever prohibited from all the territory be-
longing to the United States. In 1889, the
first Congress of the United States passed
law re-affirming this ordinance and re-enact-
ing the prohibition of Slavery which it con-
tanned. In 1920, the slaveholding interest
secured the admission of Missouri as Slave
State into the Union, by acceding to SINH
lar prohibition of Slavery from the Louisiana
territory lying north of 36 deg. 80 min. In
1854, that prohibition was repealed, and the
people of the territory were left free to admit
or exclude Slavery, in their own discretion
In 1856, the General Government proclaims
its determination, to use all the power of the
United States to enforce upon the people
obedience to laws imposed upon them by
armed invaders, establishing Slavery and Wis
iting with terrible penalties their exercise Of
: freedom of speech and of press upon that
subject. While two-thirds Of the American
people live in States where Slavery is forbid
den by law, ard while flve-sixths of the cap
ital, enterprise and productive industry of
the country rest upon freedom as their basis,
Slavery thus controls all departments of their
common government, and wields their pow
ers on its own behalf.
THE PLEAS URGED IN DEFENCE OF THESE AG-
eREssIoNs OF SLAVERY.
AS matter of course, for all these acts
: : and for all the outrages by which they have
been attended, the Slaveholding interest pre-
tends to fiud warrant in the Constitution of
!, the United States. All usurpation, in
countries protesting to be free, must have the
color of the law for its support. No outrage
committed by Power upon Popular rights, is
left without some attempt at vindication.-
/, The partition Of Poland, tho overthrow Of
the Constitution of Hungary, the destruction
of Irish Independence, like the repeal of the
, Missouri Compromise and the conquest OF
/. Kansas, were consulnmate6 with q scrupu-
! lous observance Of the forms of law.
: THE PLEA THAT THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE
n WAS NOT COMPACT.
Y /. The repeal of the Missouri Comprom-
c Use, it is urged on behalf Of thoe by whom,
it was effected, involved no violation of good
q faith, because that Compromise was merely
t an act Of Congress and as such repealable at
e pleasure. Regarded rs legal tcchnicality,
@ we are not disposed t. contest this Plea
@ The COMPROMISE was undoubtedly embodied
G in Congressional enactment, subject to re-
: peal. But in this case by the nature Of the
g transaction, the faith of the parties was
l. pledged that this enactment shouidnot be re.
: pealed. The spirit Of the law, whatever itt
: form was the spirit of q compact. lis enact
If men was secured by an exchange Of cquiva
Is lents. The Saveholding interest procured
o the admission of Missouri into the Univn, by
It conseniing, and voting through its reprcsen
r tativcs in Congress, that north of its south
, ern.linc, in the Territory of Louisiana, Slave
e ry should bo prohibited forerer. Without
# that consent and that vote the admission o
n Missouri could not have been secured no,
would the prohibition of Slavery until 1854
i or until any other date, or for any other time
v than that specified in the act-namely, for
n erer,--have purchased the assent of the Free
V States to the admission of Missouri as Slave
is State into the Union. The word .forerer
is therefore, was material part Of the law
of and Of the consideration for its enactment =
= Such law may be repealed; but its rcpca
); is the rupture Of a compact, the Reputation
al Of a solemn covenant The Missouri Com
D. promise has been regarded as such compact