The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-05

ehangeSueh radical change IN the puDlc mind or
North win be with the peace and harmony
the country and compatible with the safety of southern in
sutons No higher object enlist the labors and
poy the talents of the patriotic statesmen Of the Nor
than engage in the work OF correcting public opinion
this regard But IL requires moral heroism Of stern
ea TO stem that tide Of popular feeling which bears upor
its bosom all the honors and emouments Of Office And il
this age of worldly ambition fear there will be found bu
few martyrs to the of ruh whose only reward is
quiet conscience in obscurty and whose only hope looks
for uiton beyond the grave Especially win this state
things continue when only all the chances of worldly
peferments but all the sanctions of the pulpit combine to
propagate the In this aspect must confess that
do not anticipate reaction sufficient to silence agitation
guard Institutions against inroads
rights and hazardous to safety But resource then
is ehe universal acquescence in tho doctrine OF State
rights that State shall interfere with the domes
tic of the other that however antagonstc the
views interests and institutions of each, there exists
entire separate responsibility that united only for
general and specified Objects that in all other respects
independent foreign nations and that in the latitude
OF the reserved powers perfectly free to consult
own interests and follow inclnations. Upon
this understanding and these terms live together
and dscardng oil thought of coercng opinions using
agent to exercise unconstitutional powers
by potent and persuasive example, promote our common
virtues whilst we shun each others vices.
of the fact that the bare mention OF STATE
rights reference to the constitution when the to be
invaded and the other perverted exctes laughter and often
rdiculeand that the master appears to be stranger in
the house of his servants - but this will not deter
from recurring to first principles and pointing to the only
of securing the continued union of these States.
At the adoption of the constitution in 1Ts7 slavery
listed in nearly all the States but its speedy e1tinguish
by sale the South in all north OF Mason and Dix
ons line, early contemplated; and am free to admit
that southern statesmen at that day did not regard the in
sttuon permanent But the constitution shows that
il itself instrument Of compromises this subject
and that in the beginning the idea Of North and South
sections of somewhat anagonstc interest
ertaned At this period, however, the main conflict be-
the States in reference to the waste lands Vr
gna owned by far the greatest part From earnest de-
sire a union of the States under government
deserving lasting remembrance ceded, for the
benefit Of her sister States that magnificent domain which
lies northwest of the river Ohio All this vast country
under the ordinance subsequently adopted by the conied
eratOn devoted to free soil But this muncent gift
instead of satisfying the voracious appetite of the North
only stimulated the passion for more extensive dominion.
hen the went into operation under the
constitution in 1885, the relative strength of the
tons nearly equal OF the old thirteen the North had
seven, the South six States Very shortly after this the
idea Of maintaining equilibrium between the sections
obtained and the theory of balancing the power between
North and South by admitting equal number Of States
from each supplanted in practice the and safe system
Of government contemplated by the constitution and
has occasoned those sectional shocks which have than
once threatened the integrity Of the Union.
The ten States admitted first after the adoption of the
constitution were admitted in pairs, although differing
slightly in point of time. Thus Vermont in in l79
and Kentucky in l792 Tennessee in 1896, and Ohio in
1902 Louisiana in 1872 and Indiana in 1916 Mississippi
in 1917 and Illinois in 1878; Alabama in 1919 and Maine
in 1870
At this period another southern State became ready with
the requisite population for admission before any
pondng sister Territory North ready Join her and
although the scale inclined North by State advan
tage which she maintained from 1889 to 1920 and the ad
mission Of this southern State then ready in
would have equazed the political power of the two
ons the North through her representatives resisted the
admission Of Missouri save STATE The terrible excite
ment which followed this first rude shock In system
caused the stouest hearts TO fear the nbes
trembe for the safety and Of the govern
ment Mr. jefferson, that great intellect which planned the
revolution and afterwards gave form to government
and established the true rule for the limitations Of m pow
ers spoke Of II startling than the fearful sounds of
hrebes at midnight Missouri admitted The scales
evenly balanced The collision established the theory
of maintaining the relative strength of the two sections in
reference TO the institution Of slavery and line con-
trsry 10 the wishes Of the South, although voted for
by her representatives TO restore peace first traced
by legislation upon the political map Of the country
in contempt of the constitution. Late in life Mr. JEFF
erson in reverting the subject which, at the time
Of Its occurrence made so deep an impression upon
his mind, said that the Missouri question by a geo
graphical line Of division is the most portentopH one
have contemplated" And well did Mr. Madison, in
his letter Mr. Walsh speaking of the subject ask
the question: Should state Of parties arise founded
geographical boundaries and other physical and rermA
nent distinctions ghat Is 10 control those great repusye
from awful shocks against each other The fixing
Of the line by Legislative enactment the necessary and
natural result Of the balanceopower theory which had
been previously practsed In the admission Of the
States North and South in pairs The acknowledgment
Of this radical antasonsm in so imposing manner, In
reference TO permanent Institution peculiar TO one section
emphatcally indicated far legislative expression Of
opinion could do that we were ttco distinct peoples, united
by the forms of government but divided in sentiment
Causes however potential always Immediately fol-
lowed by their legitimate effects and 1t required
raordnary sagacity that the continuance OF ths
marked line upon the stAutebooks would later
have led 70 dissolution of these States IL ia that
this line only through the then unoccuped territory
Of the Louisiana purchase but II the unfortunate
tnuauce Of the old Mason and Drons line and the
establishment Of principle In the Opposition and govern
ment OF Territories unwaanied BY the compact OF
Union and calculated by deprynQ the weaker section OF
plain and just rights to lead to the disastrous
quenoea
The South in the vain hope OF purchasing peace yield
ed TO these unconstitutional demands Of the North and
temporary quiet succeeded The opiae aeviated the pain
but did not arrest the depredaons Of the disease In
formty with the balancing theory clearly marked
out by geographical line the following States ad-
mitted In pairs like the ten already mentioned Missouri,
admitted above stated adjusted the scales and each
Arkansas in 1885, Iowa and Florida embraced In
the bill but owing 10 disputed boundary between
Iowa and Missouri, Iowa not admitted until 1886.
Florida In the year previous l845. Texas sd
mitted in 1876, and Wisconsin In ls4s. The desperate
struggle in the political canvass Of 1874 10 prevent the
annexation Of Texas the part Of large portion Of the
North because OF its slavery Institution and the part
OF small portion Of the South because the great
tona parties through the opinion OF Its candidate had
become involved in the opposition well remembered by
the country by ts acquisition the South was enabled TO
maintain her relative strength matter Of vital import
to The safety OF her rights under the circumstances
when large party struggling for supremacy In the
northern States for the purpose Of controlling the federal
government to crcumscribe and destroy southern nsu-
tions.
The addition Of the sir States last mentioned left the
two sections in ls4s with fifteen States EACH During this
period war was being carried with Mexico and the
celebrated Wilmot provso introduced into Congress
not only TO enbarrnss the In prosecuting the