The weekly Minnesotian., 1856-12-20
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER II, 1855
The Presidents Message.


to the wicked and malicious charges prefe,
red by this pettlfogging slave of the Sout
against number Of the patriotic States {
; The North; that many Of the Northern State
had passed laws to facilitate the escape, an,
to prevent the reclamation and extradition q
I runaway slaves. '+
Ignorant Of the laws with which be profes
scs to be familiar, or wantonly perverse ant
wicked, knowing the truth, he proclaims t.
the world, as part of the political histo,,
! OF the country, one Of the grossest libels evel
penned by hireling hands; and not satisfied
to stop here, hU has the unblushing effront.
cry to declare that many of the Norther,
States have, by positive enactment, forbidde Il
their officers under the severest penaltes, to
participate in the execution Of aa4 oct O,
Coagsess ssAatesvr.
AS stated in our article of yesterday the
Acts OF the various States referred to, in
stead Of containing the provisions such as al
legged in the Message, are purely acts Of non.
Intervention. Neither in lettas Of spirit do
they facilitate the escape Of fugitive slaves,
or to prevent their extradition; but are acts
passed in accordance with the demands, and
in pursuance Of the policy advocated by the
loading slave-holding Statesmen of the South.
The principle these men contehded fir was,
that the Northern States had nc right to in
terfere, either in one way or another, with
Slaves OF Slavery; that the Constitution, BY
virtue of its inherent and implied force, af-
forded the slayeholder full authority, and
provided him with ample means to protect
himself and his property; and that all they
asked of the North was-'hands offs -non
interference. This was all the North did by
its legislation. The STAKEHOLDER retained un-
imp ired every right guaranteed to him by
the Constitution. 1t could not be otherwise.
No legislation by the States thus assailed,
could have impaired any Constitutional
right.
Thus, although the legislation of the North
was merely responsive to the doctrines Of the
South, and although the South never had any
just ground Of complaint; still, Mr.. Pierce
imasines that in this subject, revamped to
his taste, he has discovered new and fruit
full source Of sectional agitation, and has de-
termined to use it. As a means best calcu-
lated to promote this vicious design, be adopts
as the vehicle Of disseminating the infamous
libel, his annual Message to Congress; hoping
that the title of the document may give some
force to that which, were it merely over his
signature, would prove entirely innoccuous.
But we have said more upon this sui ject
than we intended, and must leave il for the
third oct Of Northern aggression upon the South
1t is part of the history of the country that
at the time it was proposed to admit into the
Union the States of Maine and Missouri, a
very serious contest grew up out Of the prop
osition to admit the latter coupled with a
prohibition of slavery.
The question then, and ever since periodi-
cally agitated, was not that of the abolition
Of slavery, but of its extension beyond its ex-
sting limits. The struggle which ensued
was terrific, and serious apprehensions were
felt by strong men, whether the Union would
withstand the violence Of the shock. This
was not collision between Abolitionisnl
and Slavery; but the encounter of patriotism
and far-sighted craftsmanship, with sense
l.. r.
The Abolttionists Of the North ard tie
ultra States-rights men of the South, eli
welded to single idea, uaited to oppose the
conservative statesmen and patriots of the
country; and after the most stormy and vio-
lent period that the country has ever passed
through, either before or since, proposition
was made to compromise the question which
for time shook the Union to its very center
The proposition came from the South aud
was supported by the votes of all the good
men, North and South, then in Congress
The compromise proposed was to admit Mis-
souri, as Slave State; and as quid pro quo tc
the North, to adopt as line, beyond which
negro slavery should never penetrate, the
parallel of latitude Of sc degrees and 30 min
utes. The proposition became the law of the
land; and not simply the law of the land, bu
a compact becween the North and the Souti
of perpetual force and existence. Mr.. Pierce
very gravely asks, ''bst,oeen mhom seas the com
pod?" If he had studied the history of tn,
country or of the subject upon which be ha.
seen fit to write, be need not have asked tha
question. The compact was between the peo
pie of the North and South-a compact, tn,
concurrence in which in all probability, wa
the only possible means Of saving the Union
And yet be can ask 'between whom was tha
compact?" The history of that compac
will not soon be forgottcn-the date of it
ratification formed an era in the history o
the country; and every incident attached t,
or connected with it should be held in sacret
remembrance, because of the evil it prevent
ed-the national calamity which it avertcd
The adoption of the "Missouri Compromise
restored the country to peace and the ques
ton seemed apparently to be settled, and il
all probability would have remained so, bu
for the acquisition of additional Territory
Of this, however, in its proper order.
i Notwithstanding the adoption of the .com
promise" restored quiet toacountry agitate,
from one end to the other. VIC are NOR in