The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-01-21
Origin Orthc Neutrality Luws-Thcir
ECnchI.

the people of the several colonies found the orma-
ton OF o government suited TO their present and
future wants and capacities very difficult and
dangerous tOsh. To get the various interests
and views Of the different sections 70 harmonizs
and unite, was task which required the cxer.
cisc Of the purest patriotism aud the ripcst
Judgment. II is not necessary, for our present
purpose, to give even synopsis Of these diff
culucs, which commenced prior to the election
Of Washington to the Presidency aud were only
entirely overcome at The close Of the admins
trOtion Of John Quincy Adams.
While tiie governmental machinery was yet in
. slale.of great impericction, with the minds OF
he people sorcly dsjointed by struggle for the
,ccndcncy Of widely differing opinions relative
} The most proper system FOR the establishment
{ a Republican government rendered moro bit.
Z because those who had fought the battles of
le Revolution too often refused to reason and
lied upon their right to demand obedience to
leir vews--a most dangerous frebrand was
irown into the contending elements which
lreatcned the overthrow Of all the good that
Od been hoped for by the successful termination
the long years Of war with the mother coun.
~.
The American Revolution had inspired,
throughout Europe desire to rcnovate the in
uiutons of government The flame Of Liberty,
indlod on the shores OF the western continent,
as reflected back upon the Old World En-
outraged by the success which had crowned the
.Iorts of the colonies, the French people, long
rushed beneath grinding despotism. resolved
burst their shackIes and strike for Freedom
he patriots of France had strong claim upon
ie new Republic for sympathy and succor--
one could have been presented, at that time,
hich would have So touched the sympathy and
,triotism OF the people-and Citizen Genet
@ French Minister to the United States, added
uch to the contest by his nnammatory appeals
the people to aid those who had Afforded them
mely Succor in their hour Of greatest peril
pparently onc-hat OF the people were clam
GUS for interference in behalf of lha struggling,
wn trodden people ol France, bu. Washing
II, Adams, Jefferson. aud all the wisest men of
u times saw that such a course would entangle
government in an intermnable war with
allied powers of the Old World
Al this period, when all was excitement and
iccrtainty, series of articles appeared in
lblic pint over the signature of Publicola,"
rtten, as it was afterwards ascertnincd, by
hn Quincy Adams then but just out of his
ems, in which he discussed, with great ability,
q issues which Ogitated the country. These ar
aIi hp al nt nj tha
oplo OF both continents, and plead with great
jwcr and effect for neutral position. They
ct with particular favor at the hands Of Pres
cnt Washington and his cabinet, and doubt
SIS did much to induce the issuing, on the 25,h
April, 1893, by Washington, of proclama.
on announcing the neutrality of the Unitcd
taieS between the bclii scrent nations of
,urope.
Hare then, we have the origin of the Neutral
J Laws, SO Called, and their effect upon the
ountry has been all that could have been wish.
l--preserving US alike from internal strifes and
reign wars. Unti recently, no one has
oabted the wisdom OF this policy, which was
laugurutad by the Fathers Of our country.
But now, to crafty the ever grasping desire
I the Slave Power the Democratic Party, its
'ost obadlent servant is concerllng measures
" the overthrow of the Neutrality Laws that
entml America may be seized by hlllibustcrs,
lrscd with human slavery, aud added TO our
vcrnmrnt for the continued suhjugation of the
elings and interests OF the Northern Free
lates. Such a proposition is now being dis
used by Congress, and the same power which
'peued the Missouri Compounds demands the
verJhiow of tia Neutrality laws; and we shall
lot be surprised to learn that the same tool has
pegn used in both cases, Douglas seems ready
to take tho lead in tho latter he did in the
former measure. The one hus shaken our gov
crnncnt to It's very ceuter aud may yet embroil
us III civil war. TIE other possesses all the
dangers oI the first with certain guarantee that
we shall have at least foreign war. And all
this TO make property out Of human souls
CongreSs and the administration are in the
hands OF the democratic party, aud the close alll
ance which exists betwern that party ami the
slave power, kaveS litIlc ground for hope that
the wishes and Imperative demands OF the latter
Will not be obsycd by the former Having
failed to make their promise good by adding Kan
sas to tie dommions OF slavery. the pro-
slavery party is doubly bound 20 aiI in the re-
peal of those laws which now alf1rd an obSta-
Gle 10 the AIricuni1tt ttiuu ofCentral America.
We have placed tbs foregoing facts before ouI
readers that they may fully ualerstanl the pres
cnt design OF the Southern fre-ea,crs aud THEN
Northern dough allies, Ii our government
becomes PiraIical in its charactetnnd loses sigh
of the lond-mlrks established by its founders
let the responsibility rest where it belongs.
G5~ \ delegation, composed Of the high con
tracing powers OF ,ha Know Nothing and La
coloco branches Of the clique, are nnw in Co
,umhus 10 see that the aillirs OF State mov,
along smoothly, They have probably gone rher
to instruct our Senator how 10 vote on the sein
question! IL may BE- ppssiblr, however, tia
tI,.,ir tf, "a, o.,