The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-09


The Republican" party wss insugaraisd through Gov
Seward BY his delivering funeral suiogy upon party
which had oflen elevated him high positions The dsas
tiers 10 the wing party gave forewarning OF
ued minority. Having prohted largely by the temporary
excitement against Masonry, be seized upon the slavery
agitation for like purpose Ths free States holding
majority OF the electorslvotes and saats in Congress
party formed with the distinct purpose Of carrying the
free against the slave States and prosecuting sectional
war in disregard of the compromises OF the Constitution
sad against the solemn warning Of Washington Jackson
aud many eminent patriots The opened by re
vituperatve assaults Every ephe which inge-
nuiy could invent calculated 20 rtae and annoy APP
piled to those who, like Washington, Jefferson, Madison
Monroe, jackson, Polk, and Taylor slaves As was
clearly desired the retort came aud eliminating ap
peaves followed in rapid and fearful succession. Spec
uative constitutional theories and imaginative questions
raised and discussed and everything done increase
and continue, but nothing avoid heal difficulties
Useless positions were assumed and discussed ON both
sides upproducve Of good but fruitful Of evil tending to
fatal consequences
Mexico could indemnity for me expenses she had occa
stoned BY the war ory by cedng territory Paying her
an amount ready money would satisfy her officials and
highly advantageous treaty, The ratification OF
winch would require OF twohirds Of the Senate
portion Of President Folks real political enemies sought
to embarrass him in closing the war by such a
treaty. This gave birth to the Wmot proviso, which,
however, supported by small number In Congress
from other motives 1t required that the money appropria
ted should be applied in securing free territory whether
north south Of the Missouri line The agators well
knew such treaty could be confirmed in the Senate
The consequence would have BEEN either negotiations
without the hope of favorable result the resumption
Of the Although from obvious prudential reasons,
they the subject Of public discussion BY Mr. Folks
friends these considerations controlled HE course was
well understood by the agtato In the House With them,
few exceptions it settled purpose
divide and distract political parties, and to form
one on which the agators expected ride
power But after unexpected defeat with the people,
the sober second thought" restored harmony and the
democratic party resumed its former elevated position The
agaors did not it seems abandon their first real purposes
but continually nersed them in the leaders who
created the excitement Of lS41 among the
distinguished aposaes Of the times seeking the destruction
of their former political associates The compromise
Of 1850 followed and apparently acquesced in
by both parties in 1852 sincerely hoped that the
slavery agitation ended forever The party
assened to the and all good people congrau
themselves and the country upon the confident
taon that the slavery agitation had finally terminated
But all wer. doomed disappointment @ ..'
On attempting to organize Nebraska and Kansas Ter
ritores without reference ii the slave question was
sprung in the United Sntes Senate by whig The agts
ton thus suddenly and Unexpectedly renewed and the
excitement revived The question then presented was How
this irritating and improbable subject be forever ban
shed from the halls of Congress2 Persons known be
patriotic and believed be wise to the conclusion
that could be done only by introducing in the Terrific
res principle long in popular use and practice in all parts
Of the Uniono wit the principle Of selfgovernment 1t
deemed equally applicable to Territories to States
and suitable before after admission TIE people Of
State have the undoubted light to introduce exclude
slavery after admission and why might not Territory
the same2 II 10 the question: and the people
who equally competent act in both The adop
ton of this principle would the question from Con-
gress aud commit to the people who Are alone vitality
interested In it deesah This reasoning prevailed and
the Nsbrssxa and Kansas law passed Except in descrp
ton and location Of the government both in the
words comforting full power both legislatures to act up
on this subject afsrmatiteiy Or negatively.
Gopfress former occasion declared that north Of
certain line in the Louisiana purchase slavery should be
prohibited This decsatoy act had any substantial
validity because it confcted with treaty by which
acquired it. the third article Of which In these words
"The inhabitants OF the ceded territory shall be ncor
poraed in The Union Of the United States and admitted
possible according TO the principles OF the fed
constitution, TO the enjoyment Of all the rights ad
ventages and immunites Of citizens OF the United STATES
and in the time they shall be maintained and pro-
rced in the free enjoym Of their liberty property and
the religion which they profess"
Al the time Of this treaty and when the Missouri Com
promise passed. the whole Louisiana purchase
territory. Our government nhs NOT Deen reeased
from tho spulHous Of this treaty In the angry contest
upon the Wilmot proviso ii is4r those opposed pro-
posed to extend this line from the Louisana purchase
through our new acquisitions the Pacific This was
srenuousy and Successfully resisted by the agitstos
They utterly refused to extend il further west but mpera-
lively demanded that from all the territory ceded BY
Mexico whether south north Of the Missouri Compro
mise line slavery should be forever excluded by congress
sonal enactment The Journals show that when this
tension Of that line proposed, il expressly and
contemporary repudiated, and by the votes Of many
this unhappy subject from Congress this imaginary iue
was repealed aud the territorial legislature clothed with
full power act but with declaration that its reps al
should not have the effect to revive slavery therein This
repeal fully justified upon the ground that the ags
tors refused to extend this Compromise line to the Pa
chc as well as by the desire to commit the whole sub
ject to those directly interested In it.
In Kansas legislature authorized slavery, but Nebras
kadd not presenting the difference Of action ssound
In State legislatures The republican party object TO
the legislation in the former Teri'oryArs because
wrong itsef and secondly because the legislature
lawfully constuied snd third because many outrages
have since been committed there To these objections is
answered First The people Of Kansas quite comps
subject as their countrywcn residing thousands Of miles
distant who foot In the Territory We must
abandon system OF segovernment II people not inter
ested and who reside distance, determine what
laws may be maie. Second. controlling majority Of
about thirds of both branches OF the legislature
elected under regulations made by Gov. Reeder and