The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-27
POLITICAL LATITUDEs THE DEsPoTIsM OF
PREJUDICES

its of industry and art and acquiring great mechani
cal skill they have remained all this time under the
impression that they celestial race, and that
all others are unworthy of association with them.
The light Of modern civilization and Christianity has
never been able to penetrate the thick darkness of
their peculiar prejudices Spain once enjoyed great
distinction amongst tho nations. With fourteen rich
provinces, forty millions Of population, command
ing commerce, and lmitless colonial dependencies,
she the first in rank, wealth. and power. She has
lost however, nearly all these, with three-quar-
tiers Of her numbers, and is now struggling to
maintain position in the family of States. The
perience Of the people of Spain in practical life would
seem to be the very best instructor to say nothing
of the success Of others who have grown up under
the influence of principles and habits which the
Spanish race continue to reprobate and condemn.
But they have steadily refused to modify their po-
litical or social system, to adopt the improve
mcnts and discoveries which science and intellect
have contributed to others. They are welded to
their own ways, confined within the prison limits of
their restricted notions Of policy and industry
They yainly insist upon it that they are world to
themselves, with attitudes and longitudes all their
own. They are impressed with the idea that they
are the very centre Of the globe that they may
benevolently impart knowledge, but cannot wisely
receive it, When we reflect that these have been
the practical theories which for centuries have gov
erned the Spanish race original and colonial and
that they have been strictly followed in the midst of
the great progress which has been made by Amer-
ca England, and all the central and northern States
Of Europe, it will be seen how powerful national
or sectional preudices to mislead and demoralizo "a
people.
1t matters very little what may be the character Of
an which people shall adopt If it is religious
bgotry and intolerance, political fanatcism and
clusiveness, overweening pride and arrogance, or
any of the minor evils that act society the cost is
uniformly the same--the disturbance Of the public
peace contention and quarrcls restricted industry
poverty, and ultimate anarchy and death. These
are the penalties imposed upon those who are want
ing in magnanimity, lberality, charity and fidelity
to the cause Of TRUTH which is sure to be sacrificed
by those who thus deficient in the high qualities
of manly virtue.
We have made these suggestions with distinct
reference to the position Of political parties in this
country. The anti-slavery men, calling themselves
to the free States They have their lattudes-their
local habtatons. They not only live in the North,
but they seek by every meaus to build up distinct
i've political North. They are trying to make
Northern government--to create ruling Northern
opinion. They claim that this opinion is national;
but they do not propose that it shall pervade the
whole country. They seek to fix it in the free States
alone to direct it against the slaves to act upon
them, to deny the South fair participation in the
federal government.
The constitution was, ON the other hand, created
by all the Sates-t is the bond of thor union, the
covenant defining the powers Of the confederation,
extending over the common jurisdiction. The
federal government is limited to the States of
the Union what remains is called the Territories of
the Union--a Public Common to be entered by the
people inhabitng the States, who may claim admis-
sion into the confederation when they shall have
specific or reasonable number of Inhabitants within
given limits. AS Public Common, we insist it
shall be governed during its condition Of depend
once--that its local Legislature is prohibited from
putting in force any law impairing the rights Of
property recognised by the Proprietors of the Com
mon That is fair and just to all II is in harmony
with our federal system because it maintains that
System in all its yigor, over the States, and re-
stricts the people Of the Territories from doing yio
lence to the rights and judgment of the common
proprietors It is temporary in its nature, as the
claim which the Union has upon the Territories is
limited in time and authority.
We start with the proposition that the general
government was intended to represent only the
States Of the Union. 1t always complete, but adj
mits at the same time, of expansion, strictly how
ever upon the original basis This process of ex
pansion involves the question Of territorial depend
encc or independence and 81 under our system the
former proposition is adopted as the true relation
between the general government and its Territories,
Il fellows. Of course, that territorial governments
represent the States proprietors, and that they
are restricted from enforcing laws in opposition to
the rights Of the people Of the States who may en-
Ter such Territories during their minority if we may
90 speak. There is no hardship in this, no wrong
10 ANYBODY The North have more right to
claim exemption from slavery than the South
have to insist upon the distinct endorsement
Of that institution by the territorial law. The
territorial government is prohibited from Gre
.,;,.g il and from aboishing it. 1t may or may
IL. asst at the option Of anybody who holds
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