American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-14

rule--Inat theWiiiOI tne majority shail
govern--to the settlement of the ques-
ton of domestic slavery in the terrific
ries! Congress is neither ''to lcgislate
slavery into any Territory or State nor
to exclude it therefrom; but to leave
the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic insti-
tutions in their own way, subject only
to the constitution of the United States.
AS natural consequence, Congress
has also, prescribed that when the Ter
ritory of Kansas shall be admitted as
State, it "shall be received into the
Union, with or without slavery, as their
Constitution may prescribe at the time
of their admission" A different opin-
ion has arisen in regard to the point of
time when the people of Territory
shall decide this question for thcm-
| selves. t,ss
This is, happily, matter of but lit
tie practical Importance. Besides it is
judicial question which lcgitimately
belongs to the Supreme Court of the
United States, before whom it is now
pending, and will, it is understood, be
speedily and finally settled. To their
decision, in common with all good citi-
zens, shall cheerfully submit, whate-
yer this may be, though it has ever been
my individual opinion that, under the
Nebraska act, the appropriate period
will be when the number of actual resi-
dents in the Territory shall justify the
formation of constitution with view
to its admission as State into the u
Mon. But be this as it may, it is the
impressive and indispensable duty of
theagovernment of the United States
to secure to every resident inhabitant
the free and Independent expression
of his opinion by his vote. This sa-
cred right Of each individual must be
preserved. That being accomplished
nothing can be fairer than to leave the
people of a Territory, free from all
foreign interference, to decide their
own destiny for themselves, subject on,
ly to the Constitution of the United
States. a.
The whole Territorial question be-
ing thus settled upon the principle Of
popular sovereignty--a principle as
ancient as free government itself--cve-
ry thing of a practical nature has been
decided. No other question remains
for adjustment; because all agree that,
under the Constitution, slavery in the
States is beyond the reach of any hu.
man power, except. that of the respec.
tive States themselves wherein it exists
May we not, then, hope that the long
agitation on this subject is approaching
its end, and that the geographical par
ties to which it has given birth, so much
dreaded by the Father Of his Country,
will speedily become extinct! Most
happy will it be for the country when
the public mind shall be diverted from
this question to others of more press.
ing and practical Importance. Thro
out the whole progress of this agitation
which has scarcely known any inter
mission for more than twenty years,
whilst it has been productive Of no pos,
tive good to any human being, it has
been the prolific source of great evils
to the master, to the slave, and to the
whole country. 1t has alienated and
estranged the people of the sister States
from each other, and has even serious
ly endangered the very existence ofthe
Union. Nor has the danger yet en-
tirely ceased.
Under our system, there is a reme'
dy for all mere political evils in the
sound sense and sober judgment of the
people. Time is great corrective =
Political subjects, which but a few
| years ago, excited and exaspcrated the
public mind, have passed away and are
now nearly forgotten. But this qucs-
ton of domestic slavery is of far grca-
ter Importance than any mere political
question, because should the agitation
continue it may eventually endanger
the personal safety of large portion
of our countrymen where the institu-
ton exists. In that event, no form of
government, however admirable in it.
self, and however productive of matori-
al benefits, can compensate for the loss
Of peace and domestic security around
the family altar. Let every Union To-
wing man, therefore, exert his best in
Auence to suppress this agitation, which
since the recent Legislation of Con-
gress is without any legitimate object.
tits an evil omen of the times that
men have undertaken to calculate the
mere material value Of the Union
Reasoned estimates have been presen-
ted of the pecuniary profits and local
advantages which would resultto differ
cnt States and sections from its disso.
luton, and of the comparative injuries
which such an event would inhict on
othor States and sections. Even dcs-
cendiDg to this low and narrow view