Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-04

COMPROMISES Republican governments are foun-
ded upon principles incapable OF perversion with
out destruction to the institutions which they sup
port (savs the Richmond Enquirer.) And so
thew incapable of compromise without serious detr
ment. This is especially true in such government
as this, where there thrtyone sovereign States
each within itself endowed with all the elements of
political independence, but all acknowledging alle-
glance to great common cause, expressed in Con-
stituton which embraces principles for the interests
and prosperity of the whole. That Constitution is
itself an embodiment ofthose plain, practical canons
OF liberty which unlimited and eterna! as the as
prations of men, and as Interchangeable in essence,
as the constituent elements of air water. They
admit of no compromise, because they are right or
wrong, true untrue, either essential nmica to
the interests of society. And it is disposition to
compromise principles for the sake of temporary
triumph momentary quiet, that has rendered our
national councils 80 famous for scenes of discord,
dsputation and antipodal positions On the part OF
men endowed with the ablest intellecs and profess
ing conformity to the same principles OF liberty
The attitude of the South the subject of slavery
has never been, in the most aggravated aspect, in
the slightest degree an encroachment upon the con-
stituonal limits between the States and the Federal
Government. All we have ever asked is that the
institution of slavery shall be left to the decision of
the people with whom it exists and among whom it
is proposed to be introduced The South has always
contended that it was domestic matter, over which
the General Government had neither influence nor
CONTROL except far to protect the States in the
exercise of their legitimate authority over it. And
yet plain is the principle involved, undeniabe as
is the right of the people of all parts and portions
of this Union, North or South, East or West, to
adopt slavery to reject it. the question of its ex-
tension has been a subject Of compromise almost
ever since its first serious agitation If slavery is an
institution belonging exclusively to the States with
in which it exists the General Government so far as
it is entitled to control it should act as if ignorant
of its existence 1t is recognized by the Constitu-
ton as domestic matter and is not included with
in the jurisdiction of those powers delegated by the
States for the furtherance of general rather than
local interests. And being beyond the pale of Fed
era authority within the States it is equally so in
the Territories. 1t is then soecsm in politics and
the cardinal principles of social organization, that
where there is authority for legislation either for
against there is nevertheless, right on the part
of the powerless party to compromise the question
with the party possessing exclusive control over it.
This is putting the question plainly, and truly too,
past and present troubles growing out OIL the
slavery question, attest.
The great republican principal of popular soverei-
gnty is also seriously impunged by the Intervention
of the Federal Government in affairs belonging
solely to the States and to the people And as each
State in this confederacy is separate and distinct
from every other in its internal political regua
tions the people composing that State to be free
for the formation of their constitution and laws, so
long they do not conflict with the provisions in
the compact between them all. 1t is, therefore, I'M
deniabe that no line of demarkation beyond which
slavery shall not 60, can be traced by the General
Government without violating popular sovereignty
and the rights of the States and that all con.pro
misses of principle in a republican country are sour
of future trouble if not of eventual destruction
to the country.
Charlotte Democrat.