The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-11
WASHINGTON CITY.
"WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH II, 1857.
LOCAL sELF-GovERNMENT


Union aud the multiplication of local interests among It's
people is difficult to any want of attractive force in
the general government We were struck last week. not
only with the fact that immense throng of citizens had
come to Washington 10 witness the advent Of ad
minstraton, but that in this throng represented
every State and Territory of the republic Science in us
application to locomoton, has distance, and
thought travels upon electric wires Our most distant
possessions the centre as the emoter States
when the constitution adopted. With the
growth Of the country moreover ncreases the amount OF
its expenditures ara the national treasury attracts like
magnet Whoever will look through the acts of the last
Congress will readily how directly every part of the
republic is affected by them apart even from those gene
raj appropriation bills which Immediately involve
the support of government They provide for naval de-
pot in Georgia, asylum in Kentucky military roads in
Oregon wagon read from Nebraska to California land
grants in Alabama and Minnesots, public buildings in
New Jersey and similar facilities in other sections These
among the acts of public nature which less than
sixty in number These of pripa nature up to an
aggregate of hundred and forty, and embrace almost
every description of grant, to residents of almost every
State and Territory in the Union Without pausing now
make any reflections which to with reference
to this long list Of private acts simply point them out
readers illustrating of the csntrazing ten
denotes which constantly prevail under government
But happily these tendencies controlled by the pc
ouiar character Of our political system. Every State
in judgment instead of weakening, has strengthened
the Union This would be otherwise if the States and Il
people not left to regulate their local affairs ia their
own way. II the central power should undertake to
manage the of the States, and to direct the
pursuits of individual citizens it is easy to that
it would scarcely last tweyemonth. Separate in
eress must not be brought too closely together Every
distinct sovereignty must have its orbit to re-
vove in and the of the system is chiefly useful in
preserving these pathways rm obstruction Too little
government is not prevailing vice. The world is gov
ernei too much. The American constitution is peculiar
in trusting great deal to the local governments and
cding but little to the general government This wisdom
Of this popularity has been vndiclted by its results What
have the States and tbs people wrought by their
own unaided efforts Give place wherein TO stand
(said Archimedes) ard will move the world. Oar peo
Pile only desire to be secure in their standpoint and the
rest they will accomplshor themselves. Our worst diff
cuties resulted from want Of attention to this great
truth Whenever government has wandered beyond its
legitimate sphere either in reference TO States Terrific
ries disorder has been the inevitable consequence While
osly 1t surprising that the true remedy for the long
a3taons in Congress the subject of slavery has been
s, long delayed 1t is found now in leaving the whole
subject the States and the people, where it belongs,
and withdrawing it from the action of the general gov
ssnmeht which really has nothing earth to do with
| It, While it has been In Congress, it is difficult TO
estimate the mischief it has DONE in consuming val
liable time, in preventing attention 10 important public
business aud in exciting dscord and lfeeing among the
different portions of the coniederacy 1t still more diff
cult ascertain any good that has accomplished The
course Of It's agitation has been marked by memorials
of bcuefcence but only by ruin and deolatop. In the
name of right Its votares have both done wrong aud
provoked wrong to such extent that In the late pres
Dental contest, it to be almost question whether
they should destroy the Union the Union should defeat
them Fortunately for the best Interests of humanity the
Union survived the shock There conservatism enough
id the country it from destruction. Aud the
ample OF that conflict will be remembered warning TO
fanatcsm and encouragement to the patriotic through
out many years to Two three other similar cam
pagns might terminate the existence of government
But for this very reason not likely to have such
campaigns repeated The peoples North and SOUTH must
be tired Of the unnecessary agitation, and will hail with
satisfaction the conservative spirit this subject Of Pres
dent Buchanans Inaugural and the happy prospect that
under his auspices the domestic tranquility of the
try will be interrupted The great remedy for the
slavery agitation is generally admitted. Mr. B7eek
urd said of the democratic party that Meth
err pro-slavery party antisayery party but
situonal party. TIL, thing is true OF the federal
government 1t is not organization for section
another section but for the protection of the whole Let
occupy itself with its appropriate ues leaving to the
States the people the just Of their concerns
and we need apprehend serious difficulty to nstiu
tons either from the Territories the States. Where
slavery now exists it IL confessedy beyond the political
CONTROL as it should be beyond the meddlesome inter-
ference OF all communities and persons whose residence is
beyond its sphere And to Territories the Kansas
Nebraska bill proclaims principle true and so fair
to make the panes statement Of it's best defence Con-
gress says that memorable act s neither to legislate
slavery into any State Territory exclude it there
FROM leave the people thereof perfectly free TO form
and regulate their domestic institutions in their way
subject only to the constitution Of the United States
Surely then there is good for the hope expressed
by the President in his Inaugural that the long agitation
on this subject is approaching its end = and that in
forming with the true theory of orr government the
slavery question has been adjusted on permanent basis
THE NEW BRITISH MINISTER.
Wr learn that Lord Napier, the British Minister is
expected to reach this city in the nineococ train OF
from Baltimore lie has engaged apartments for hmself
Il ;ta at ard hOte