The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-01-04

III TedIty IL was the en0eafOT, ny ABUSE
legislative power, to force the ideas of interna
policy entertained in particular States, upoT
allied independent States. Once more the
constitution and the Union triumphed signally
The new Territories were organized without
restrictions on the disputed point, and were
thus left to judge in that particular for them
selves; and the sense Of Constitutional faith
proved vigorous enough in Congress not only
to accomplish this primary object, but also the
incidental and hardly less important one, OF
so amending the provisions of the statute for
the extradition of fugitives from service, as to
place that public duty under the safeguard OF
the general government, and thus relieve it
from obstacles raised up by the legislation OF
some of the States.
Vain defamation regarding the provisions OF
law for the extraction OK fngitives from service,
with occasional episodes OF rantic effort 10 OBJ
sIruct their execution by riot and murder, con-
tinued for brief time, to agitate certain locali-
ties. But the true principle, of leaving each
State and Territory to regulate its own laws OLA
Dor according 10 its own sense of right and expe-
diency, chad acquired fast hold TO the publicju1g-
ment to such degree, that, by common consent,
it was obrerved in the organization of The Terri
tory Of Washington. gst 2afif~E
When more recently, il became requisite TO or
ganize The Territories OF Nebraska and Kansas,
it was the natural and legitimate, if not the in
evilabie consequence of pteAious events and leg
isiatiOn. lhet the great and sound principle,
which had already been applied 10 Utah and
New Mexico, should be applied 10 them-tbat
they should staad exempt from the restrictions
proposed by them relative 10 the State OF Mis-
souri,.
They had been stripped Of all moral authority,
by persistent eDrts TO procure their Indirect re-
peal through contradictory enactments. They had
been practically abrogated by the legislation al.
tending the org; nilation of Utah, New Mexico
and Washington. If any vitality remained IN
them, it would have been taken away, i'll effect,
by the new territorial act, in the form originally
proposed to the Senate al the first session OF the
last Congress. 1t was manly and ingenious as
well as patriotic and just to do this directly and
plainly, and thus relieve the statute-book oil an
act which might be of possible future injury,
but of no possible future benefit; and the meas
ure of its repeal was the final ccnsummation and
complete recognition OF the principle, that no
portion of the Uuited States shall undertake,
through assumption of The powers of the general
government, to dictate the social institutions OF
any o her portion. ss fEA 81
The scope and effect of the language ofrepeal
were not left in doubt. 1t was declared, in terms
10 be 'he true intent and meaning of this act not
to lcgislate slavery into any Territory or State,
nor to exclude 1t therefrom, but to leave the peo
pie thereof perfectly free TO form and regulate
their domestic institutions in. their own way,
Statesb <Eta =
The measure could not be wIthstood upon its
merits alone. 1t was attacked with violence on
the false or deusve pretext, that il constituted
breach of faith Neve, was objection more ut.
teTly destitute of substantial justification When
before was IL imagined by sensible men. that
regulative or declarative statute, whether enact
ed ten ar terty years ago, isirreparable-iha an
act of Congress is above the constitution? If
indeed there were in the facts any cause to i'm
pute bad faith, il would attach TO those only who
have never ceased, from the time OF the enact
ment OF the restrictive provision to the present
dav, 10 denounce and condemn it, who have con.
SANITY fused 10 complete il by supplementary
legislation; who have spared no exertion to de-
prive it OF neral force; who have themselves
again and again attempted its repeal bv The en-
actmcnt of Incompatible provisions; and who
by the inevitable reactiona effect of their own
violence on the subject. awakened the country, to
perception of the true constitutional principle,
of leaving he matter involved to the discretion
of the people of the respective existing or ncipi-
ent States. -zs. t-=aa -e7 p ...s.f : :
Ii is not pretended that this principe or sny
other precludes the possibility of evils in prac-
tce disturbed as political action is liable to be
by human passions. No form of government is
exempt from inconvenience; but in this case
they result of the abuse and not of the legiti
male exercise of the powers reserved or confer
red in the org anization nf Territory They are
not TO be charged 10 the great principle of poru-
lar sovereignty; on the contrary, they disappear
before the intelligence and patriotism of the peo-
pie, exe-ting through The balot-box their peace,
ful and silent but irresistible power 7s.-
II the friends of the constitution are to have
another struggle, its enemies could not present
more acceptable issue, than that of State, whose
constitution clearly embraces "a republican form
| of government" teing excluded from the Union
because its domestic institutions may not in all
10 =
and expedient, entertained in some other Stale -
Fresh from groundless impuiaions OF breach of
| faith against others men will commence the
| agitation of this new question with indubitable
violation of an express compact between the i'm
dependent sovereign powers of the United States
and of The republic of Texas, as we'll as of the
older and equally solemn compacts, which as
sure the equality o all the States. - 49,, rrr
| But deplorable as would be such viovation
of compact in itself and in all its direct conse-
nuences that is the very least of the evils involv-
ed. When sectional agiaors shall have sue
ceeded in forcing on this issue, can their preten-
sions fail to be met by counter pretensiuns2 VIII
not different States be compelled respectively to
meet extremes with EXTREMIST And, if either
extreme carry its point what is that so far forth
but dissolution of the Union? If a new State
| formed from the territory of the United States
! BE absolutely excluded from admission therein
that tact of iiselfconsiitutes the disruption o
union between it and other States. But the pro
4 cess ofvdissouiion could not step there Woule
I not a sectional decision producing such resul
nv majority of votes either northern or south
EN- OF necessity drive out the oppressed ant
aggrieved minority and place in presence 0
[ each other rwo ineconciieahly hostile confedera
tions1 .sss5s4 ,sd5 o II l1a ts ales ~ss -ss as,f
! 1t is necessary 10 speak thus plainly of pro
E iects the offspring of that sectional agitation nov
: prevailing in some of the States. which are a
: impraclicable as they are unconstitutional an
which, if Perseyered in' must and viii end ca
lamitonsly. It is either disunian and civil wa
: or it is mere angry, idle, aimless disturbance Q