The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-02-25

"Oo LID
lowly fortune for the immense revenue
of Mr.. So-and-So--for such a ones SPLEEN
did position or t-ranscendant abilities ?
Who would be the man who combines
all these ? built is true that we have
troubles in this country. En- gland has
wants and cares and anxieties, and even
scandals, enough. Strengthened territory,
huge cities, vested interests, conflicting
classes, venerable institutions, jealous
neighbors, a pr;odigious debt, and her
own restless ambition, oonspire to pro-
duce a very cheekered result. She has
SO many drawbacks to her happiness that
one hardly knows which to put first, and
sure are we that we have left out many.
But turn to the United States and the
mind rises at once, takes breath, and ex-
pands. Cheerful company, the music of
Rossini, sparkling campagne--nay, even
laughing gas, could hardly exhilerate
you more Than just a Whit of that frag-
rant prosperity which seems the very
atmosphere of the States. Perhaps a
Presidents message hardly does justice
to it, but through its labored argumen-
tation, its colossal figures, and even its
customary list of grievances and quarrels
with the less elevated forms of humanl-
ty, you may detect the aroma. Here
is the great republic of the world {; a
whole continent; tens of millions OF
acres sold as many more just measured;
more money than there is lawful use tori
population, carelessness of wealth a
commerce that whitens every sea with
it's sails a Constitution so simple u
clear that a struggle or two within the
lifetime of a man have already defined 1t
beyond cavil or violence independent
States enjoy various institutions, bound
together by mutual respect and a COM
mon love of orderl Then what cities,
| what rivers, what lakes, what enterprise!
It dazzles one to think of the future
Il costs no small effort for such a Com
monwealth to "attemper its power to
the less happy condition of other Amer
lean republics none to be calm and
dignifed in the presence of our own an
Gent monarchies. What more is there?
Nothing more is wanting. But what
is there that can possibly spoil such a
pieture2 What flaw in such perfection,
what weakness in such a fabric? a
population of three million slaves.
Certainly this is a serious fact
Mauy aud great as are our troubles, they
do not mount up to so huge an incubus
as this. Happily, it is no longer a do
| mestio institution IA State, a class, or an
interest with us. We have purged our
! Commonwealth of that disease. But
how does President Pierce deal with 1t?
| With admirable logic, and with profound
| constitutionallore, and triumphant sue
| cess. We take it, there can hardly be a
question on the subject, after his able
exposition of the law. It is the private
affair of each State that is, or is to be.
The State alone can alter its VI insti-
t~utions. Not all the States together
that now are can lay down the law for
any State that is to be, either on the
side of that line of latitude or on the 9th
er.
Organization to effect this purpose,
whether by immediate interference with
elections, or by turning the balance of
the population, or by procuring acts Of
Congress, or by influencing public opin-
ion, is equally unconstitutional, and has
equally been frustrated in all these de-
~veIopments. The federal Constitution
does not possess within itself the means
of altering the law ola State. The very
agitation or discussion, the attempt to
influence the mind and enlist the sym
pathies in favor of the emancipation of
the negro, is reasonable; much more
any alteration in the avs of one State
with a view to alter the laws of another,
or to impede the enforcement of that
law. The Missouri Compromise, and
agitation against the extradition of
fugitive slaves, are thus unauswerably
disposed of. In Kansss, unfortunately
made the battle field esthis disloyal ag-
i~tation, there mighe3gSf aught, the Pres
ident knew, be Irregularities in the cleo
ton there certainly were overt acts
with a view to sitter the federal law
So says Mr. Pierce. With the former
he had notbing to do. They were the
affair of the State itself. The latter it
was his duty to repress in behalf of the
Union, as he did. The result of the
election gave verdict of the whole pop
~ulation in favor of his policy and his
view of constitutional law. Hence
forth, then, all is plain sailing
There ought to be no dispute. Sing,
then, without fear the song of unboun-
ded prosperity, from sea to sea, from
earth to heaven, with an evergrowing,
ever-brightening future; embracing new
States, diffusing new laws of peace and
humanity, teaching ever the laggard
morality of the Old World, superseding
its camps and armies, its fleets and its
cruisers. Never was SO much canvas
spread, on SO bright a sea, with so fair
n wind In so d%eliohtfuI n haven Rnt