The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-08-14

MED, the organization Of the Republican party
in its present form.
The Wilmot proviso was offered in Congress
in 1916, as an amendment TO a war bill, and
was (brirdy describedl proposition 10 prohibit
slavery in Mexican territory 10 be acquired
II created contention which eoniinued some
four years. The national harmony was dis
turbed and the public business impeded by iii
to unite their utmost efforts to restore peace and
secure such legislation as was absolutely neces-
sary for the territory in question. The Com
promise measures were therefore passed in
1880, and eventually received the general ap-
Prosal Of the people. In fact, in 1852, both
the great parties Of the country endorsed them
in their platforms, and their wisdom and pro-
Priety are now a subject Of general dispute.
The Territory we acquired from Mexico by
the treaty Of ppace--the treaty of Guadalupe
Hldalgo-was comprised of nearly the whole
now included in the State Of California and
the Territories Of Utah and New Mexico
and the Progiso, if it had been adopted, would
therefore have had application solely to them.
Bot the Provso was never adopted or applied
by Congress TO either. California was admitted
into the Union as State with the Constitution
she formed for herself without anv decision bv
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 prohibit
ing or authorizing slavery, but it was expressly
provided that they should eventually come into
the Union with or without slavery, as the peo-
pie of each should decide, in forming Constitu-
tious preparatory 10 admission. Seven years
have elapsed since these territorial acts were
passed, and no complaint is heard against them,
nor has slavery been established in either Ter
riiory. Il is, therefore. proceed that the Will
mot Provso was wholly unnecessary 10 the
exclusion Of slavery, and that the agitation
from 1916 TO 1850 to secure its enactment
was athng of arrant folly as we'll as Of real evil!
There stand the facts no longer to BE- per-
verted Oh denied, and they exhibit the Proviso
agitation in its true character. Not adopted it
is seen to have been unnecessary. Productive
Of great mischief to the country in the conten-
ton and alienation it caused, it was mere alb
siFaci;an. thing neither practical nor useful.
4 desperate attempt was made last wear to
carry The Presidential election upon Kansas
agitation, n which the same class of actors ap-
Peared that did in the Missouri agitation of
l820-men ''ready to risk the Union for any
chance" OF establishing their party, sand wrig-
Cling themselves to the head Of it." But just
Judgment was pronounced upon these people
and their project; in the election of Mr. Buchan-
an, and they will soon be obliged to select some
other topic upon which to disturb The public
tranquility, and struggle for the attainment of
power. Their spasmodic attempts 10 keep up
excitement without any practical or useful OBJ
ject-in view, bot simply that they NAV thrive
upon discord and passion, are even now recev-
ed by the public with feeling bordering very
near upon contempt.
The American people are practical and sa-
gacous-They will require some practical good
TO appear IN any movement 10 which they are
invited and when due time has elapsed for re-
Hrctlon, they will try parties and party measures
by the standard OF principles, and not ofprofps-
sons. The Wilmot Proviso was utterly extin-
guished by Webster on the 7th of March, 1850,
IN the demonstration Of IFS inntility, and was
thenceforth delivered over as an imposture and
approval ofthe Kansas Nebraska act OF 1854. has
been growing more and more general as its con-
formlly to sound principles has been examined
and established. That unnecessary things shall
'It dllN tddt ClllEPuS OF edCn POLITICAL
division Of the country shall determine their To-
cal institutions, are, in fact, propositions so rea
sonabIe and just that it is so surprising they
should ever have been questioned.
Three years ago, the Democratic partv of this
State choose defeat before dishonor II stood M
for liberation and equal rights against the pas
slons and Prejudices of the time, because consti-
tutlonal and just principles demanded IT, And
now, with new antagonis,-the Republican
party-stiIl stands in the path of duty, with its
past course vindicated, aud with the highest
claims to public confidence and favor. While
It Is not lnsensble TO ideas of progress and i'm
provement and vii! seek to apply those that
are practicable and just, its duty as great con-
seryatlve organization TO preserve the principles
OF the government and the institutions of the
country from degeneracy, will not be neglected.
In briet, iitrusted it will be true, and from It's
administration of public affairs, the people will
receive, as heretofore, the '.peaceable fruits" of
government and honest rule
c. R. BUCKALEW, Chairman.
JNo. n. HUTCHINSON,
r. ]. HALDEMAN. Secretaries.