Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1857-05-14

slim has been divided have diminished bv the nm
bcr OF 275 within the year. The dividend to each
child has been increased from 81 80 to 81 40. A
gratifying feature Of the report is that the dimnu
+ 'on OF TINS dividend heretofore apprehended has
The reports Of the Adjutant and Quarter Master
ucnerals will inform you of the condition Of their
respective departments and of the Militia OF this
state These reports asrd gratifying evidence ina.
under the law of 1854 relating to this subject, the
condition of our Militia has been greatly improved,
and It is now efficient, probably, as that OF any
State in the Union.
"A resolution OF the last General Assembly, direct
ing the Comptroller to print the annual reports OF
the School Fund Commissioner, Comptroller, liank
and Rail Road Commissioners, and superintendent
If Common Schools, in anticipation of the session
.f the Legislature designed to expedite the ac-
ton of the two Houses, and it is confidently be-
heved that result SO desirable will be effected.
The people WILL therefore look earnestly for more
speedy termination of yonr deliberations than could
arrangement which necessitated the loss of much
valuable time. .s sra.-i ~ fssle.s,.-.E
i have been unable to procure copies of the Re-
ports of the Bank and Railroad Commissioners but
under the above resolution they will doubtless be
promptly laid upon your tables am aware how
ever that the opinions of some if not of all your
Rank Commissioners are in accordance with those of
many of our most efficient business men. viz: that
millions Of capital are drawn from the State annu-
ally for investment elsewhere, in consequence of
the higher rate of interest paid in neighbOring
States This subject has been under consideration
at former sessions of the General Assembly. de-
sire TO call your attention to it again, as one de-
handing serious consideration. .-t
From these topics of State legislation, turn to
others springing from our relations to the Federal
Government. The experience of more than half d,
century amply justifes the highest eueginms upon
our National CONSTITUTIONS Constitution which
e,sas wrought out with infinite and skill by the
combined wisdom and patience of men admitted by
each succeeding generation to have been among the
purest, most intelligent, and most patriotic ever
entrusted with the formation Of government.
Never have the people OF this Commonwealth
been more ardently attached to the instrument by
which our Union was established and was preserved
than at the present time. But in proportion to our
appreciation of the excellence of our Federal Con-
stution il desire that it be justly interpreted
and faithfully administered And it is from an ap
prehension that its true construction has been per
verted, that every patriot looks with profound re-
gret upon recent attempts to force upon it coRstruc
lions unknown to our fathers, and subversive alike
OF State authority and individual rights Every
one, familiar with our history, is aware that by slow
degrees the Federal Government has been made to
swcrve from an upright and impartial position. and
to become an ally to schemes for the extension of
human bondage OF this the free States have a
just right to complain. 1t il pervcrsion of pow
els given by the constitution to purposes never in
tended by its authors, and which never could have
had their sanction HIhey not only offend our sense
OF equity and right, but they put in jeopardy our
political interests. .'s..st
1t isan encouraging feature of the times that n
large portion of fellowcitizens are returning
consideration Of the ancient landmarks of govern
mental policy and seeking to apply to present cgis
lation the principles which actuated the Fathers Of
the Republic.
our political institutions having leen laid dee,
and strong, not only in the true principles of gov
eminent, but in the affections of the people. =,
Notwithstanding this hopeful view Of the subject
however, every intelligent citizen will be constrained
to admit that continuance of these perversions to
which have alluded, will cause still greater disrup.
tions among the people, and prevent that EASY
working of our system SO earnestly desired by it,
founders. The enquiry Is naturally suggested
Whence come these diffculties? $50
The history Of the various compromises made be-
tween tbs free and slave States is familiar to yo, all
and you know how faithfully they have been OBJ
served on our part. Under their operation, q Dor
ton of our territory forever consecrated to free
dom. Whatever might have been the private opn
ions of some of our countrymen, there was tinall,
general acquicscence in the wisdom of the Missour
Compromise and an unwllingness to have its pro
visions disturbed. What bitterness of sectional
feeling, and what angry strife was caused by its re-
peal IL yet fresh In our memories. Tho passage o
the Kansas Nebraska bill again awakened the atten
ton OF our citizens, and excited their most serious
arprehensons for the freedom of our Territories. :
These events produced by attempts to xteh.l tho
Institution of slavefy, In, e caused more agitation
than any other which have occurred in our history.
aad lead MS to the conclusion that either the fou-
dations OF our government were not we'll and wisely
iai or that true national p,liey does not include
the extension Of human bondage over any additional
portion of the public domain. N' au 'ts ~
In this connection, recent opinion of the IT, g
supreme Court presents itself to our considerations
Having no authenticated copy of that-opinOn there
may BE- doubts rs to the precise points mliudicatcd
yet Il Is generally understood that it atirms that
c0lored persons cannot be citizens under the Fcde
raj Constitution Congress cannot prohibit.
slavery ia the territories and consequently that all
fosmcr legislation on this subject LAS been unconsti
tutopai. 1t IL apparent that this decision not only
greatly limits the sphere Of Congressional action
but that u involves many questions of State author
ity 1t Is not too much to say that if the princpes
laid down rs the opinion of the majority of the
court be followed to their legitimate issues slavery
becomcs national institution. Not only is the
FEDERAL government made subservient to its inter
ests but all legal power is taken from the several
States 70 resist its encroachments. It is a duty
which we owe alike to ourselves and our children
to stand firmly by the constitution and maintain II
In Its purity believe, gentlemen, that we are all
Of mind in affirming that freedom is the law of
our land and servitude the exception. Wherever
slavery exists 1t must be by positive enactment .
national constitution does not carry it into onr
territories. 0"'
II every successful aspirant for place and nou,o,
il at liberty to pervert this sacred instrument to
the purposes of sections and parties, the time bas
surely arrived when men seeking the pcrnetnitv ~
Republican Institutions must determine ,vl.t,
they will stand by this time, houorsd charter nv Il
was expounded by its intelligent authors or whssha,
1t shall become the exponent Of every new doctrine
which may I've inar,urated for the advanren,.mt y,
= Individual or sectional interests. VI
wide departure from the principles and PRACTICES
Of the trainers of the constitution has olta;nnd !;
the action Of the judicial. executive and en;iat;sa
departments Of the Federal government and smrai,
no ap0lagy can be necessary for bringing to vonr mn
tice rs the Representatives of ono OF the soyerei,
States of this Union matter so vital to our
lily in business as we'll happiness in the socia
conditions of life -. Az - -
The national heart is still loyal to its ancient con
stitntion Of government, and beats in unison witt
the spirit OF liberty which pcrvaded all hearts in thu
day Of its adoption. 1913 i -
Free Labor is the corner stone Of our political fab
re, upon which has been reared that prosperit,