Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-03-12

duty of the Government of the u. St.tes
to secure to every resident inhabitant
the free and Independent expression of his
opinion by his vote. This sacred right of
each individual must be preserved. This
being accomplished, nothing can be fairer
than to leave the people OF the Territory
free from all foreign interference to decide
their own destiny for themselves, subject
only to the Constitution of the. U. States
The whole territorial question being
thus settled upon the principle of popular
sovercignty,-a principle as ancient as.
Free Government itself,-everything OF a
practical nature has been decided, and no
other question remains for adjustment, be-
cause all agree that under the Constitution
Slavery in the States is beyond the reach
of any human power, except that of the
respective States themselves wherein it ex
lists. May we not then hope that the long
agitation on this subject is approaching its
end, and that the geographical parties to
which it has given birth, so mach DREADED
by the Father of his country, viii speedily
become extinct. Most happy viii it be for
the country when the public mind shall
be diverted from this question to Others of
more pressing ami practical importance.
Throughout the whole progress of this
agitation, which has scarcely known any
intermission for more than twenty years,
whilst it has been productive of no positive
good to any human being, it has been the
prolific source of great evils to the master,
to the slave and to the whole colintry;-it
has alicnated and estranged the people OF
the sister States from each other, and has
even seriously endangered the very exist
-ence of the Union-nor has the danger yet
entirely ceased. Under our system there
is remedy for all mere political evils in
the sound sense and sober judgment of the
people Time is great corrective. The
political subjects which but few years ago
excited and exasperated the public mind
have passed away and are now entirely for
gotten--but this question of domestic
Slavery is of far greater importance than
any mere political question, because, should
the agitation continue, it may eventually
cndangcr the personal safety of q large por-
ton of our countrymen where the institu-
ton exists. In that event no form of Gov
eminent, however admissible In itself, how
ever productive Of material benefits, can
compensate for the loss of peace and do
nestle security around the family altar
Let every Union-loving man therefore, ex
ert his best influence to suppress this agi
tation, which, since the recent legislation
of Congress, is without Gny legitimate OBJ
iect~ 1t is an evil of the times that men
have undertaken to calculate the mere ma
terial value of the Union. Recent esti-
mates have been presented of the pecuniary
profits and local advantages which would
result to different States and Sections from
its dissolution, and of the comparative In
iuries which such an event would inaict On
other States and sections. Even descend
ing to this low AMI narrow view of the
mighty question. all such calculstions are
at fault. The bare reference to single.
consideration will be conclusive, on this
point. We at present enjoy free trade
throughout our extensive and expansive
country, such as the worlsl never witnessed.
This trade is CONDUCTED on railroads and
canals, on noble rivers and arms of the
sea, which bind together the North AMI the
OOIlu, liz Last dlil Tie w tsJ VI Oui
Confeaeracy. Annihilate this trade arrest
its free progress by the geographical lines
of Jealous and hostile States, and you de-
stroy the prosperity and outward march. of
the whole ami every part, and involve all
in one common ruin. But such conslcra-
tons, important as they are in themselves,
sink into insigniicance when we reflect on
~ Ii 4
disunion to every portion OF the Confele-
racy-.o the North not more than to the
South-to the East not more than to the
West. These | shall not attempt to por-
tray, because l feel an humble confidence
that the kind Providence which inspired our
fathers with wisdom to frame the most
perfect form of government and union
ever devised by man, will not suffer it TO
perish until it shall have been peacefully
instrumental by its example in-the extern
sion of civil and religious liberty through
out the world.
Next in Importance to the maintenance
of the Constitution and the Union is the
duty of preserving the Government free
from the faint or even the suspicion of cor
ruption. Public virtue is the vital spirit
of Republics. All history proves that when
this has decayei, AMI the love of money
has usurpel its place, although the forms
of fire, government. mar remain for sea-
son, the substance has departed forever
Our preseat financial condition is without
a parallel in history. No nation has ever
before been embarrassed from too large
surplus in its treasury This almost ne
cessarily gives birth to extravagant legisla-
ton. 1t produces wild schemes of expen-
ditures and bcgets race of spectators
and jobbers, whose ingenuity is exerted in
confYiving AMI promoting cxpeiients to
obtain the publ: money. The party
through its official agents, whether right
fully or wrongfully, is suspected, AMI the
character of the Government suffers in the
estimation of the people. This is in itself
very great evil. The national mode of
relief from this embarrassment is to appro-
pirate the surplus in the Treasury to great
national objects for which clear warrant
can be founi in the Constitution. Among
these / might mention the exsinguishmentl
of the public debt: a reasonable increase
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