Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-08-08

agitation by petition to Congress, clamorous
opposition TO the annexation Of Texas, and
to the prosecution Of the Mexican war and
the acquisition Of territory to which it led
it will be sufficient to notice somewhat tho
Wilm't Proviso which preceded, and the
Kansas dispute which accompanied. the
organization Of the Republican partyin its
present form r3'
The Wilmot Proyiso was offered in Con.
prcss in ls4G, as an amendment to war
bill, and was (breny described) PROPOSE.
ton to prohibit slavery in Mexican territory
to be acquired. 1t created contention
which continued some four years. The
national harmony was distributed and the
public business impeded by it, until it be-
came necessary for patriotic men, in Con.
gress and out Of it, to unto their utmost
efforts to restore peace and secure such
legislation as was absolutely necessary for
the territory in question. The Compromise
Measures were therefore passed in 1850,
and eventually received the general appro-
val of the people. In fact in 1852, both
the great parties Of the country endorsed
them in their platforms, and their wisdom
and propriety are not now subject of
general dispute. ,l..l.-......t.,,r
The Territory VIC acquired from Mexico
by the treaty of peace--the treaty of Gaudl
aloupe Hidalgo--was comprised of nearly
the whole now included in the State Of
| California and the Territories of Utah and
New Mexico; md the Proviso, if it had
been adopted, would therefore have had
application solely to them. But the Proyiso
aIayltaA n,rloI hxr
to either. California was admitted into
the Union as State with the Constitution
she formed for herself without any decision
i by Congress on the subject Of slavery within
her limits. That was adjusted by herself
in her Constitution, and by her own act
therefore she entered the Union as free
, State. In the acts for the organization of
Utah and New Mexico as Territories, there
were no provisions prohibiting or author
izing slavery, but it was expressly provided
that they should eventually come toto the
, Union with or without slavery, as the peo-
2 pie Of each should decide, in forming Con-
stitu,ions preparatory to admission Seven
, years have elapsed since these Territorial
acts were passed, and no complaint is heard
f against them, nor has slavery been estab-
lished in either Territory. It's, therefore,
provea that the Wilmot Proviso was wholly
unnecessary to the exclusion Of slavery,
and that the agitation from ls46 to 1850 to
secure its enactment was thing Of arrant
folly as well as of real evil, ,.
There stand the facts ! no longer to be
: prevented or denied, and they exhibit the
Proviso agitation in its true character
Not adopted, it is seen to have been un-
necessary. Productive Of great mischief
, to the country in the conten' zion and aliena-
ton it caused, it was mere abstraction, o
! thing neither practical nor useful.
A desperate attempt was made last year
to carry the Presidential election upon a
Kansas agitation, in which the same class
of actors appeared that did in the Missouri
agitation of lS20-men "ready to risk the
Union for any chance" of establishing
their party, Sand wriggling themselves to
8 the head of it," But, just judgment was
+ pronounced upon these people and their
d project, in the election of Mr.. Buchanan,
0 and they will soon be obliged to select
+ some other topic upon which to disturb the
q public tranquility, and struggle for the
?, attainment of power. Their spasmodic
u attempts 10 keep up excitement without
q any practical or useful object in view, but
y simply that they may thrive upon discord
}, and passion, are even not received by the
$ public with feeling bordering very nearly
: upon contempt. 1.. aIi .I r-H.. t.I
: lhe American people are practical and
c sagacious. They will require some prac-
t, tcal good to appear in any movement to
j. which they arc invited; and when due
d time has elapsed for reflection, they will
IS try parties and party measures by the
is standard of principle and not Of profes
sions.
$, The Wilmot proyiso was utterly ex.
't tinguishod by Webster on the 7th of NJ arch
SC 1850, in the demonstration of its inutility
y, and was thcnceforth, delivered over tc
i history as an imposture and approval Of
l. the Kansas -Nebra 'ka act Of lS5t, has beer
H growing more and moro general as it,
I conformity to sound principles has beer
III Examined and established. That unneces
ir sary things shall not be done, and that ,hC
al citizens of each political division. OF thl
Ne country shall determine their local iustitu
lg ii ms, are, in fact, propositions soreasonablt
~ and Just that it is surprising they should
)R ever have been questioned.
4 hree years ago the Democratic part.
as OF the State chose defeat before dishonor
1t stood up for liberation and equal rights
ie against the passions and prejudices of th'
OF time, because constitutional and just prin
It's ciples demanded it, and now, with new
'y aptpgpnist-the Republican party-it still
pc stands in the path Of duty, with its pas
Id course vindicated, and with the highcs
a claims to public confidence and favor -
rs While it is not insensible to ideas OF pro
b. gress aud Improvement, and will sces T.
- apply those that are practical and just it
its duty as great conservative organizion
Of topreserye the principles,p fthe goyernneni
cy and the institutions of the country from
lin degoneracy, will not be neglected. In
pie brief, if trusted il will be true, and from
ch its administration of nnblio affair. the