The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-08

ern States, as such, gained by this were far infe-
ror in results, they unolded in the progress of
time, to those which sprang from previous cOnces-
sions made by the South
To every thoughtful friend of the Union-to the
true lovers Of their cOuntry-tO all who lOnged and
labOred for the full success this great experiment
ofrepublican institutOns-itw was cause of gratula-
ton that such an opportunity had occurred to IL
lustrate our advancing power on this continent,
and to furnish to the world additional assurance of
the strength and stability Ofthe constitution. Who
would wish to see Florida still European colony!
Who wonld rejoice to hail Texas as a lone star
instead Of one III the galaxy of acquisition Of Lou
isiana! And yet narrow views and sectional pur-
poses would inevitably have excluded them all
from the Union.
But another struggle on the same point ensued,
when our victorious armies returned from Mexico
and it devovcd on Congress to provide for the tar-
ritoris acquired by tho treaty OF Guadalupe Hida-
90. The great relations of the subject had now
!. come distinct and clear to the perception ofthc
public mind, which appreciated the evils Of sec
tional controversy upon the question of the admis-
sion of now States In that crisis intense solicitde
prTVad-d the nation. But the patriotic impulses
of the popular heart, guidedby the admontory adj
vice OF IN" Father Of his county, superior
all the difficulties OF the ncOrpOr. ton of
pire into the Union. In the cOunsels of Con-
TTcss there was manifested extreme antagOnism of
opinion and action between some representatives,
| who sought by the abuse and unconstitutional
employment of the Legislative powers of the gov
eminent to Interfere in the condition Of the in
choac States, and to impose their own social the
| Dries upon the latter; and other representatives
who repealed the intcTpOsit0u of the general gov
crumumt in thisLcspect, and maintained the self
constituting rights Of tho States. In truth, the
/ thing attempted was, IL form alone, action of the
general government, while. in reality It the
cndcavor, by abuse Of legislative power, TO force
the ideas of internal policy entertained in particu
lar States upon allied independent States. Once
| more the constitution ana the Union tTiumphcd
signallv. Thu how Territories were organized
without restrictions til" disputed point, and
were thus left To judge in thai particular for them
selves; and the s'nse Unconstitutional faith prov
| Cd vigorous enough in Congress not only to ac-
complish this primary object, but also the inciden-
/ al and hardly les, important one of amending
the provisions ot the statute for the cXtTadtiOn of
fugtivc5 from service, to place that public du-
~ under the SAFE guard Ofthc general government,
and thus relieve it from obstacles raised up by the
| legislation OF some Utthc States.
| Vain defamation regarding the provisions of
law for the cNtr;,dition OF tugtivcs from service
with occasional episodes OF frantic effort to OBJ
~tguct lL"ir execution by riot and murder, contn-
U.d, for brief time, to agitaic certain localities
But til. true principle, of cayiug each State and
Territory regulate It's laws of labor accord
| ing to its sense OF icht and cXP"dicncy, had
,Ilircd fast hold Of tho public Judgment, to such
Il degree that, by common Col'S' mt, II was oiScrN-
ed in the organization OF the Territory OF Wash
| iurfull.
! When, more recently, it became requisite to or
! waniZc the Territories OF Nebraska and Kansas it
the natural and legitimate, if not the inevi-
table, consequence of previous events and legiSa-
ton, that tie same great and sound principle,
which had already been applied to tab and New
Mexico, should be appliv,: 70 them that they
should stand exempt from the restrictions proposed
III the act relative To the State of Missouri.
IE restrictions wcr', in the estimation of
many thoughtful men, null from the beginning,
unauyhuE!Zod by the constitution, contrary to the
treaty >ir;atiuus for the ccSsion OF Louisiana,
and inconsistent with tn. equality ofth 81 States.
They had been stripped otaiI moral authority by
persistent ctfOltS procure their indirect repeal
/ through contradictory cHac,mcnt;. They mad
been practically abrn|atnd by tn legislation at
ndin@ the organization OF UtaI., New Mexico,
and Washington. II any vital Y remained III
tI,m, It would have ru tallona Nv, in effect by
the now territorial acts, in tn" 70 originally pro-
posed 10 the Senate at the first session of the last
! Congress. Il was manly and ingenious, IT'S we'll
patriotic and just, II do this directly, and plain
". and thus relieve the statUt,-bUuk OF an act,
which might be OfpOssiblr future injury, but OF no
possible future benefit; and the measure of its IT,
peal was the final contamination and complete
recognition o. the principle. tlr"t II" portion OF the
United States shall undertake., through aSsump-
ton of the powers Of Tie general government, to
dictate the social institutions ofany other portion.
The scope and effect of the language of repeal
were not left in doubt. ltwas dcvl;tred III terms,
10 he ''5hc true intent and meaning OF tllS act not
to cNciudy il thrrctrom, but to leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their do
mc>tic Institutions i'm their own way, subject only
to the constitution ofthe United States"
The measure could not be wIthstood upon its
merits alone. 1t attacked with violence on
the false or delusIve preteXt, that It constituted
breach OF faith. Never was objection more utterly
destitute OF substantial Justification When, before,
was It imagined by sensible men that regulatlve
declaTatIve statute, whether enacted ten forty
years ago, Is lrrepeaabIc that an act OF Congress
Is above the constitution Ii, indeed, there were
IN the facts any cause TO mPuC bad faith, II would
attach TO those only who have never ceased, from
the time OF the enactment OF the restrictive provl-
sion TO the present day, - GCnOunCe and condemn
II who have constantly refused TO complete 1t by
ncCdtul supplementary legislation who have spared
no cXeriIon to deprive OF moral force; who have
themselves again and attempted It's repeal by
the enactment OF incompatible provisions; and who,
by the inevitable rCaCtOUary effect OF their vio-
lCHce on the subject, awakened the county to per-
ceTuOn OF the true consuut Onal principle OF leav
ing the matter involved to the discretion OF the
people OF the respective existing or mCIplen States
1t IS not pretended that this principle or any 9TH
or, precluGcs The possibility of evils III practice, dis
turEcd Us political action IS liable 10 be by human
passions No form OF government is exempt from
IUCOnVeulenCCs; but In this case they the re-
suit of the abuse and not OF the legitimate exercise,
OF the powers reserved or conferred i'll the Organl
zatIOn Ci Territory. They are not to he charged
to the great principle Of popular sOgerCIgn'y on the
contrary they disappear before the intelligence and
patriotism OF the people, eXertn@ through the bal
1.-THE friends of the constitution to have an
other strUggic,Js enemies could not present more
acceptable Issue than that Of the State whose con-
s;!tu.ijn clearly embraces "a republican form OF
government" being excluded from the Union be-
cause It's domestic Institutions may not in all res
poets cOmpoIt with the ideas of what is wise and
CXpCdiCui entertained in some other State. Fresh
from groundlCss imputatious of brt ach of faith
Eains others, men will commence the agitation OF
this question with indubitabe violation of an
express compact between the independent sovereign
powers OF the United States and of the republic OF
Texas, as well as of the older and equally solemn
Compacts, which assure the equality of all the
States.
But, depIorable as would be such violation of
COmpaC; itself and in all its direct consequences,
that Is the very least of the evils involved. When
sectional agtators shall have succeeded in forcing
on this issue, their professions tail TO be met
by counter prctensions? VIII different States
be compelled respectively, to meet extremes with
extremes! And it either extreme carry its point,
X forth of tha Hin