Eastern times., 1856-01-03

as tne rights Stlputateu ny Lnc treaty "a Aouioi-
ana, but of the principle Of equality among the
states guaranteed by the constitution. It was
received by the northern states with angry
and resentful condemnation and complaint,
because It did not concede all which they had
exactlngly demanded. Having passed through
the forms Of legislation it took its place in the
statute book, standing open to repeal, like any
other act Of doubtful consttutionality, subject
TO be pronounced null and void by the courts
Of law, and possessing no possible efficacy TO
control the rights Of the states which might
thereafter be organized out of and part of the
original territory OF Louisiana.
In all this, if any aggression there were, any
innovation upon the pre-existing rights, to which
portion OF the Union arc they justly chargeabiel
Inns controversy passed away with the occasion.
nothing surviving it save the dormant letter Of
the statute, but long afterwards. when, by the
proposed accession OF the republic of Texas, the.
United States were To tnke their next step i'm
territorial grca.ness.a similar contingency occurred
and bcrame the occasion for systematic attrmpfs
to interfere in the domestic affairs Of one section
of the Union in d, fiancc Of their RIGHTS as
sates and Of the stpulations Of the constitution.
These attempts assumed practical direction in
the shape OF pcrscvcring cndcavors by some of
the representatives. in both honses OF Congress 10
deprive the southern states Of the supposed benefit
ization Of the state Of Missouri But the good
sense Of the people and the vital force Of the
constitution frumphed sectional prejudicO
and the political Of the day, and the state
of Texas returned to the Union as she was, with
social institutions which the people had chosen
for themselves, and with. express agreement BY
the annexing act that she shoald be susceptible
of subdivision into plurality Of states. What
ever advantage the interest of the southern states,
as such, gained by this, they far inferior in
results, as unfoded in the progress Of time 10
those which sprang from previous concessions
made by the south to every thoughtful friend Of
the Union, to the true lovers of their country to
all who long labored for the full success or this
great exper' r'ment-republican institutions-it was
of graduation that such an opportunity occurred
to illustrate our advancing power on this cont nent
and to furnish 10 the world additional assurance
OF the strength and stability of the Constitution.
Who would wish to see Florida still European
colony? Who would rejoice to hail Texas as a
one star instead of one in the galaxy Of states
Who docs not appreciate the incalcuable benefits
OF the acquisition of Louisiana, and yet narrow
views and sectional purposes would inevitably
have excluded them all from the Union Bot
another struggle on the same point ensued when
our victorious armies returned from Mexico. Ii
dcvolved on Congress to provide for the territories
acquired by the treaty Of Guadaloupe- Hidalgo.
The great relations Of the subject had now become
mind, which appreciated the evils Of sectional
controversy upon the question of the admission o
new state. In that crisis intense solicitude perva-
ded the nation; but the patriotic impulses Of the
popular heart, queted by the adnonitorv advice
of the Father Of his country rose superior to all
the difficulties OF an incorporation of new empire
into the Union In the councils Of Congress there
was manifested extreme aniagonism of opinion
and action between some representatives who
sought by the abusive and unconstitutional en-
ploymenI of the legislative powers Of the govern
ment TO interfere in the condition Of the inchoato
state, and 10 impose their social theories the
latter and other representatives who repelled the
imposition of the general governments in this
respect, and maintained the selfconstituted rights
oil the states in truth, the thing attempted was
IN form alone, action of the general government,
while in reality it the ertleaYor by the abuse
of Legislative power, force the ideas of internal
policy entertained in particular states upon allied
independent states. Once more the constitution
and the Union triRmphed signally. The new
territories were organized without restriction on
the disputed point, and were thns left to judge in
that particular for themselves, and tire sense of
constitutional faith proved vigorous enough in
Congress not merely TO accomplish its primary
object, but also its incidental and hardly less i'm
porianI one Of so amending the provisions Of the
statute for the eXtradon Of fugitiYes from service
as to Place that public duty under the safeguard
oi the general government, ana thus relieve 1t
from oostacies raised oy the legislation OF
! some OF me states. Valn defamation regarding
Ihe provisions oi inc law LOT Inc eNtraulton OF
lngniVes from service, WIN occasional episodes OF
frantic enort 10 oos'rnct Their execution by nos
anu mnrucr, eontlnneu ior orel ilme 10 agltate
certain ioeah,es' but the true principle ot leaving
eaen state ana territory 10 regulate IT'S own sense
OF risni ana eAPedlency, hSd acquired last hold
Oh tue puohe judgment, 10 suen degree that Oy
common consent, II was observed IN the organI-
zatioh OF lhe territory oil washington. "hen,
more recently became reqnisme to organize
the territories Of Nebraska ana Kansas, u was
the natural ana iegIilmate, II NOT inevitable con-
sequence OF previous events and legislation, thar
the same great and sound Prlncple which had
already been applied TO Utah and New Mexico,
should lie applied to them that they should stand
exempt from the restrictions proposed m the act
relative TO the state Of Missouri.
These restrictions, were in the estimation of
many thoughtful men, mil from the beginning,
unauthorized by the constitution contrary to the
treaty stipu'ations Tor the cession OF Louisiana,
and inconsistent with the equality OF the states.
lhey had been stripped OF all moral authority by
persistent efforts 10 procure their indirect repeat
through contradictory enactments They had
been practically abrogated by The legislation
amending the organization Of the States Of New
MeXice and Washington. II any vitality remain
cd in them, it would have been taken away in
effect by the new territorial acts in the fern OIL