The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-22
SECTIONAL EQUILIBRIUM-"THE ULTIMA
TUM OF THE SOUTH"

If but single article had appeared in the
Richmond Enquirer, Mr. Buchanans lead
ing Southern organ, insisting upon equality
of representation in the Senate, as the ulti-
matum of the South, it might have been re-
garded as a mere notion, thrown off under
the necessity of furnishing copy to the printer.
But the fact that the subject is discussed
in its columns from day to day, that the posi-
ton is urged with infexible pertinacity, and
every device is resorted to for the purpose
of uniting the shareholders in support of the
demand, evinces deliberate purpose to exact
submission from the Democratic Party in the
free States, and to make the Administration
of Mr.. Buchanan the instrument for carrying
the policy into effect.
The Richmond clique is hopeful it seems
to admit 40 doubt Of the success of its scheme.
In the attempt to solve the problem how to
maintain equality of power between the North
and South-in plain words, how to make the
slaveholding caste of $4,000 persons, equal
in political power TO the twenty five millions of
People Of the United States" some of the FORE
most minds" says the Enquirer, shave been
employed" Mr.. Calhoun's solution of the
problem was, "a dual Executive in the Fed
eral Government" "To say nothing of other
objections to this plan," says the Enquirer,
1T demands modification of the Constitu-
ton, it involves an appeal to the reason and
conscience of the North and it implies the
assent and concurrence of the Anti-Slavery
h. L..
impossibility."
:" But" it continues, there is nothing i'm
practicable in the idea of preserving an equi-
librium of strength between the sections in
the Senate, and so arming the South with a
power of veto on illegal and oppressive legis-
lation against its rights and institutions To
this end, nothing is necessary but to revert to
the original policy of the Government, and for
every new free State, to demand an equivalent
accession OF strength to the South. This policy
is SO perfectly fair and equal, that no reason
able man can oppose it, and it can hardly fail
to command the appreciation of conservative
people lii the North. In the event, however,
OF factious resistance, the South has the power
to compel the concession of its demands"
Keep in view the precise practical conclu-
sion to which this policy, so peremptoriIy in
sisted upon, points. First, the Senatorial equi.
hbrium must be restored, by the admission of
Kansas as slave State. Mr.. Buchanan and
his Northern friends must not only yield this,
but work to accomplish it, on pain of mourning
the open hostility of the Southern Party.
This accomplished, Minnesota, Oregon, Wash
ington, and Nebraska, must be kept out, until
an equal number of slave States can be got
ready. The Northern and Western Democra-
cy may grumble, but it has Senator'S in Wash
lngton who will submit to the aoominable de-
mand. The Enquirer evidently relies upon
them to sustain policy which it desgnates as
the original policy of the Government"
By the way, this assumption deserves few
remarks. The original policy of the Govern
ment was to limit Slavery to the States in
which it existed, and to facilitate its extinction
by those having constitutional authority. As
for extending Freedom and Slavery together,
maintaining an equilibrium between free and
slave States, and increasing them pari passu,
nobody dreamed of it. Why violate the truth
of history?
When the Constitution was formed, all the
States but one or two were slaveholding, and
the probabilities were that Delaware and Ma
ryland would become free States almost as soon
as New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
When, therefore, application was made by Yer
mont and Kentucky for admission, no regard
was paid to any "equitibrium" between free
and slave States, for none existed. Vermont,
kentucky, and Tennessee, were parts of orgi-
nal States; they were getting ready for admis-
sion before the Constitution was formed the
Constitution contemplated their admission, and
they came In successfully, without the slightest
reference to the question of Slavery. Congress
passed an act, February 4, 1891, for the organ
zation of Kentucky, and it was admitted j une
|, 1892; February Is, 1871, for the organiza-
ton of Vermont, and it was admitted March 4,
1871. Tennessee was admitted June /, 1896
fur years after the admission of Kentucky
Ohio came in November 30, 1902 Louisiana,
April 8, 1872; Indiana, December ii, 1916.
Here were six States admitted in the course of
twenty five years from the formation of the
Government, and no two came in at the same
time-indeed, with the exception of Kentucky
! and Vermont, the intervals between their times
Of admission range from four to ten years.
This pari paSsu policy, then, has no sanction
in the original usage of the Government New
States were admitted, whenever they were
ready, and desired it, without regard to the
Calhoun equilibrium policy.
The following table shows the dates of the
admission of the other new States:
Mississippi December 10, 1917.
Illinois December 3, 1918.
Alabama December IA, 1919.
Maine March Is, 1920.
Missouri August 10, 1921.
Arkansas June IL 1919