The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1858-01-30
No. 8.

admission into the Union as an equal of the other
states is to lie hoped that the Congress othe United
States, aided by the voices of the patriotic citizens Of
every state, will make conjoint effort with our expc
renced Chief Magistrate to remove this disturbing
question from the halls of Congress, by the speedy
admission of Kansas, under her present Constitution
TO the benefits and privileges of our cherished Con-
1edcfacy. Know OF no other mode by which to give
ti's matter quiet and satisfactory 1stment agree
able alke TO the South and the conservative sentiment
OF the North The theory OF nonnte rvcnton by Con-
sess Or other Federal authority with the question or
slavery IN the Territories IS coming to practical sol
uton while the great principle ofopuar sovereignty
! Is working out its legitimate results.
Under its operation three States are prepared to
take their places in the Conederacy their people by
direct vote Through their representatives d,y
institutions satisfactorily to themselves; and, IT, on
examination their fundamental laws proves be repub
llsah IN Io!m a,d not in conflict with tie Institution
OF the United States, it only remains rhnrrcss to
erol Their names npon the list Of States as coequals
thereof in every respect. This is what the Southern
states viii require their agents in Congress- whether
the States to be admitted have established slavery
Or not this is the extent Of the demands of the South
upon their Northern brethren. We ask nothing but
the practical application of the doctrine of
seht.on . We could not consistently with our obliga
t'ons to the Union, ask more; less cannot take,
ard preserve our honor and Constitutional rights.
statesman is in the Presidents chair chosen, in
the main, by the people of the South. In his
mendatons to Congress- he has gone far to do us JUS
tice in matter most concerning our future growth.
The abrogations of the Clayton Bawer Treaty is an
object much to be desired by the South Itwould open
the way to the successful application of the celebrated
Monroe doctrine to the affairs of American governments
and to the exclusion in the future Of the interference
OF european dcspots in matters exclusively affecting
the interests of the people and governments so inter
tercd with 1t is clearly manifested that the Southern
States of this Union must look Southwark for that ex-
pension OF the slavery area, necessary for the
tennce of the equilibrium of the United States Senate
and tor the future progress of their agricultural pros
pcrity.
It is just and right thatthe Federal Government and
the Northern States bow to the mmutable DEGREES of
natural law and not resist the South in the spread
OF her Institutions to regions palpably pointed to-
by the finger of destiny for her occupation.
The doctrine of State rights the cornerstone of our
system Of government the great bulwaIk against GEN.
traiZatlon in purely representative republic appears
to be making steady progress
The remnant OF political organization which once
devoted itself wholly to the national idea and which
lately enlarged so much on the value of the Union
any cost seems now to be striving to 0utstrp the De-
mocrcy in its devotion to the rights of the individual
States.
The cardinal principle of our system is, that we are
not one nation, with a snprime government at Wash
,ngton but an aggregation of thrtyone sovereign ma
tons with central agency there entrusted for con-
venlence, with certain specified powers. And it isa
matter for congratuation that this the true intent Of
the trainers OF the constitutions, is becoming and
more familiar with the people ofall classes and of every
political hue.
As the South is necessarily unit upon all the great
Subjects OF national politics. it behoves the Legislature
to turn IT'S attention TO those great objects Of State
policy which have been SO long neglected. is after
alt the State Legislature which concerns the ill.,
dlvidual citizen and there is great need of thorough
of the various departments of the gov
The time is propitious for ecctng such changes as
you III your WISDOM may find necessary and proper,
md my hearty cooperation will be given to every effort
which will tend to increase the effective power of the
State, and reduce the burdens of the people
ROBERT G. WICKLIFFE.