Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-07-25
The Question Settled.

lake, provided it be not inconsistent with
the fundamental law ofthe Union. These
are propositions which no man will attempt
to deny who is not blinded by prejudice, or
else utterly ignorant of those first principles
in the science of government which the
whole American people are presumed TO
understand.
The Washiogson Union says, self-evi.
dent as is the right of st,te TO make its
own constitution, the anti.slavery politicians
denied it to Missouri in 1890; and it was
only after 2 violent contest, which, in the
opinion of many wise and eminent men,
endangered the Union, that the people of
Missouri were permitted to live under
institutions formed according to their own
judgment.
But this clear and indubitable right was
not conceded to Missouri until it was coup.
led with "a declaration that other Territories
within certain limits should be subject to
the unconstitutional surveillance of Congress
on the subject of slavery. In other words,
Missouri was allowed TO exercise her con
stitutional rights on condition that Congress
might violate the constitution at some other
time in regard to some other Territory -
This was the far famed missouri CON-
promise," about which so much has been
said and sung. That it was wholly un-
constitutional, null, and void, is now ascor.
tanned and settled by Congress, by the
people, and by the Supreme Court.
The Kansas troubles are mere prolonga.
tion Of the Missouri controversy, in which
the abolilionists Of every hue in every part
of the northern States insist upon forcing
another new State to adopt constitution
which it does not prefer. With reference
to Kansas, they would 'rample on the
rights of her white people. under the pro-
visions of the federal constitution, and upon
the principles of natural justice, precisely
as they attempted to do in tho case of
Missouri thirty seven years ago.
But in 1850 these doctrines Of abolitiouism
were met with an opposition in Congress
which, if not ADLER, was at the least more
successful. The great truth was again
asserted by the democracy that the consti
tuition Of the United States gave no right to
any body out side of q new Territory to
interfere with the subject of slavery within
it. Congress then abandoned the claim,
which had been previously set up to die
tate to the reoplc Immediately interested
how they should decide the question. This
wss a new compromise- "thc compromise
OF 1850"
Agrecably to this last compromise, the
Kansas n ebraska bill of 1854 was passed,
expressly declaring that no such power to
control the people of the new Territories
on the subject of slavery was or could
rightiully BE- claimed-"is being" said
Congress, "the true intent and meaning OF
this act not to legislate slavery into any
Territory or State, nor to xclude it there.
from, but to leave the people thereof per.
fectly free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way
subject only to the constitution of the United
/ States"
This provision, SO plainly and palpably
just was met by the nortberh anti slavery
men with. fierce yell of opposition. The
utmost violence of denunciatiou and the
lowest acts of mendacity were rest,rted to
for the purpose of procuring such majority
against it in the Union as would make
Congress usurp the power, and take away
from the people of the State or Territory
the right which the Nebraska bill conceded
and which the constitution had guaranteed
The fight went ON, with varied success
until November, 1866, when the vote on
the presidency crowned the truth with q
glorious triumph.
The great man then chosen by the people
as Chief Magistrate of the republic was
solemnly committed to the principle Of
leaving slavery to the people. The con
vention which made him candidate had
declared that to be one of its cardinal
principles, and he had given the assent Of
his judgment to it. The people who cast
their votes for hin knew that such was
the rule by which his conduct in Office
would be governed.
He did not disappoint them Hi
inaugural announced his adherence to hi
pledges. His first act was to send mar
into Kansas as governor, with instruction
that the right Of the people to express
their opinion on the subject was not inter
fered with, by force or fraud. The ennis
saries sent out by a fraudulent "Ait
Society" and who had raised civil wa
to effect the election of on antislavery can
didate for the presidency, and who wcr