Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-09
THE SOUTH CLAIMS EQUALITY POWER


THE SOUTH CLAIMS EQUALITY OF POWER.
at the time OF the organization Of the present sys
tenn of confederation n every State but one, slave
ryswas legal ard actual institution. Now there are
sixteen free and only dteen slave States and In som.
OF these net elavery exist, rather a. legal fiction
than living reality.
This is certainly striking fact, and the remarks.
bic disparity of growth between the two sections oi
the Union, provokes inquiry into its causes. How
comes it that the sntisavery power has appropriated
to itself 80 disproporlionae share of the common
territory' And how is it that but few additional
slave States have been Incorporated in the Union7-
The fact would seem to imply some inherent weak.
ness in slavery, and some superior energy in the in
stitupns of the free States. But this s not cor.
rect explanation of the mystery for ree.soil has
o. been extended inch Of Its own vigor, and pre-
walls only where It is supported by arbitrary restrc.
tlons of legal enactment. Slavery, on the contrary
has not only held its own but has penetrated where
full scope has been left for Its expansion 1t has
even established itself in regions where climate and
soil ara unproptous TO its existence. And all this il
has accomplished in defiance Of the obstacles which
unconstitutional legislation has opposed to its pro
gre.s. Such is the inherent vitality and power OF
slavery as a social and political institution.
We have already suggested solution of the pro
blem Of the more rapid growth of Northern over
Southern institutions. The former have been props.
guled by acts Of Congress and the policy of govern.
meu the latter have encountered restrictions OF le-
gislation and the opposition Of Federal power in
their expansive tendencies. Frst the Ordinance Of
1887, and then tho Missouri restriction OF 1920, were
enacted for the avowed purpose Of limiting the area
Of slavery aud extending the empire Of free.so. By
their concurrent operation the South has been excu.
ded from an almost mu,easurabe extent Of the COM
mon territory; and the North has been enabled to at
tain its present ascendancy. Was that an equitable
policy In these acts did the government exhibit it,
self the impartial protector Of all the interests Of
common couuryl Have not we Of the South q
right to complain Of the burden which has been 60
uniusty imposed upon us Is it not cause OF lec-
tmate complaint that We have been forciby excluded
from 60 much Of our territory, and that too 10y
the unconstitutional action Of the very government
which is mainly supported by our patriotism and our
treasure!
In the progress Of events the matter came to be
regarded in this light; and in the ebraska
act It Was solemuly agreed that hereafter govern
ment would not exclude slavery from any territory,
but would leave it to the people Of every nascent
sovereignty determine their institutions for them
selves. This i. wise and wholesome principle, but
its recognition In the policy Of government comes too
late for the relief Of the South. We did not only
want ju.,ice for the future, but we we're entitled TO
indemnity for past spolis,iou. The North has been
enriched at our expense. Our growth has been
dwarfed to aggrandise lbe political power OF anti
slavery. The South has been held back in the race,
until it is almost hopeless to think OF again getting
abreast of the North. In reason and In conscience
we might claim compensation for our Losses, and DE-
mand to he pu, upon equality with the free States
But the North is deaf to the voice both of reason
and of Coincidence, and we need make such appeal
to its justice or its Inagnanlmty.
But, We may insist that hencoio.tb tho Norrh md
the South sha! progress p2ri pdssu i'll tho march Of
power; that the preponderance Of the one shal not
increase over the inferory of the other aud that the
slave Ststes shall retain in their own hands the means
Of repeliug sn assault upon their Institutions. In
the Senate the two sections stand upon equal ground
If this equality is perpetuaed the South may find
defence against aggression ic tie confederscy. II
the North |. allowed to attain an asoendaucy in the
Senate no constitutional check will restrain its en-.
croschments, and the South will b. driven to seek &C..
curty out Of the Union.
For many years It was the policy of government,
to balance the accession Of free State by ths simu
taneous admission of slave State into the Cnion.-
Why may not government revert to THE equitable
arrangement There is an abundance Ct territory
South of the dividing line to allow of an indefinite
multiplication of slave States. The only difficulty is
in the obstinate injustice Of abo!tionsmi but, the
South encounters ha; obstacle in all its movements.
Henceforh we repeat, let The free expansion Of its
institutions be the ul,natum Of the South.