Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-21

abandoned it. Sill there remained some In
terest in the question OF slavery 10 the terri
tories, for CO siderable tract Of country be-
low the line of compromise renamed 10 DC
erected, at some future time, into StateS.--
Bu5, with the destruction of that line, all 10
,erest ceased, and il resulted from that mea-
sure, that, So far as our present limits are
concerned, the institution CT slavery was,
thcDcetOr.h, confined 10 the jurisdictions with
in which il now exists. So far, therefore, as
the Southern States were interested In the
extension of slavery, aud the addition OF
other slaVe-h0lding States to the coniederacy,
that interest was sacrificed
The plea that the repeal Of the Missouri
CJmuTumise opened the territories OF Nan
sas and Nebraska 70 slavery was sham
No one really thought that slavery could be
successfully introduced there. Tbs has been
lately confessed by distinguished Southern
gentlemen, who participated in the repeal;
while every one saw that it opened all OF the
territory south of the line 10 the occupancy
cf settlers from the Free-States. 1t furnishes
10 valid objection to this view, that the tree
soil party opposed toe repeal. Ii was intro
duced by its authors for party ends; and the
ircc-sOIer; and abolitiOnists, discerning 10 1t
opportunity Tor agitation, seized upon 1t, and,
hy false clamor, made capital for their party
among the masses in tho Free-States.
/ Bu., to test the truth, inquire whether
MeY would consent to restore the line. In
/ this way, we may ascertain, to whose beueht
! the repeal enured. Inquire Of Messrs. Sew
ard and Hale: inquire Of Mr.. Eli Thayer;
they ni.l laugh at the innocent who would
PROFOUND the question. While 1t did not ell
/ feet an equal division of the then existing
territory, the line Of compromise yet effected
q partition between the opposing Interests,
( aud was q copcs sion of the principle. II
stood recorded { precedent, ADD, as such,
was open to be appealed t., as furnishing the
rule Of disposition in future cases. But the
precedent was abandoned, the principle sur
| rendered, aud with them, as have said, per-
I i3hcl all If our sectional interest in the leg
isialiYo ruic OF the territories.
lac Kansas and Nebraska act rs cifectu.
ally shuts cut slavery from the territories, as
aaG positive prohibition Of law. II displaced
tue authority ci Congress, 10 which slave.
holders ere represented, end lnaugurated
"Squltter Sovereignty"
| IL what useful end, afterwards, was the
contest abou. Kansas! VIVA; did it matter,
/ whether the Topeka or the Lecompton con-
ven;i1n usaercd into existence Constitu-
ton for t5e "Sq IatIers," or whether General
Lane OF Mr.. c. !hcun ctieiated at its BIRTH
( And vet those of u al the South who repro
/ Gatcd the ac., and raised our voices IN OPPOSE
! t!cn to il, were dencuoc2d by its authors as
/ Untrue u Southern rights, and everywhere
| politicians and presses gave currency to the
charge. The time was when the Missouri
/ Compromise was held il better estm alton.
/ Not many years siIca, our Legislature de-.
/ ciarei that tue rereai OF this same compro-
! mi.e by Coagress would furnish 30 the State q
| cdgUs jeiii against the Federal Union; for 1t
was syi,Innly resolved that its repeal should
/ be resisted at every "hazd,d AMI 10 the last
. errcmiy" Then it was treason TO the
! sun 20 as.ail the Compromise; but, in the
day of the "K .usas.N Nebraska Act"--prestV !.
1T Yves treason to support II!
! Tsr ,aYseli thlnk there is such thing as
pr.acplr, cVaa in politics, aDd that there lie
! virtue ia consistency to it. Had there.
( fore, been in Congress ut The time, / should
/ have opposed the repeal OF the Missouri Com.
promise, resisted foHS riJiJuS the Inaugural
! ton cf the new sovereignty, and, when de-
.
| peka and i.compt0n questions as altogether
unworthy the dIs0ity 0. party issues.
! ltrlQuires 30 one to adm0nlsh me that, IN
such course, would have gone counter to
! the opinions If me majority in this District.
! i. is prot able | should have been in opposi-
! ion t. some Of you who now address me; but
il serves to show bow little, with my habits OF
I .ADngat, an fitted, in times like these, tor
/ toe position OF 4 representative. III l were
/ IN search II further reasons TO support dis
/ inclination Tor pgiLica! lie, should find
( very sufficient one in the present condition ot
! paries Tie Wig party, OF which | was
I 0uc IA extinct; and u that, when 10 existence,
| bad many objections. With neither Of
those th.. nov divide public opinion could L
act. by position would he that OF an armed
| uCutral, AMI therefore poweTless If good; for
| the syranny OF party ia complete. Regard
IOg ;EC parties vt tbe present day AZ manly
| absorbed in contests for the SPOTS OF Cthce,
ADD believing thar the country has neither
much 10 hgpG nor far from tho success OF
I e.tagr. ! an COntent5d 20 remain spectator
u their G ri'G's. Il Federal politics, | hold
~ pafty worthy OF support whOse aims are
MT path. l!r, whose principles are not Ma.
in i4.;icn. hold that all tie great utter.
est, Of the country are entitlcd TO Federal
protection, and that to promote these was
among ths Leading purposes for which the
Government was Instituted. Agriculture,
commerce and manufactures comprise the
| leading JGrsuits Of our people; and, within
the lust iHit5 ot constitutional authority,
aold it b be the duty { the Government, aud
Of each department OF It, by every means, TO
advance these pursuits, whether by domestic
! legislation or by treaties with Foreign pow
crs. The slaves OF the South constitute n
/ leading interest in fourteen States, and are
iusepaTa Iy connected with their agriculture;
AID bold !. TO lie within the conditions Ct
a patriotic, national and jus, constitution OF
party, t. extend to this interest, within the
| .rni;- prescribed, whatever Of protection tie
eXjseuces may require. Constituted upon
such principles, = party would well tie enti-
It'd 70 tao Appreciation VI National, and would
comucpi i,-eli to the support OF tAe patriotic
( in every section. Under It's rule, tho mis-.
ch!cgCu, rlc tbat has for so many years
/ ~ t.t-d tbe country, wJrid forever cease
Ia tie presence If common willingness TO
/ promote tie peculiar interests OF every part,
/ al. ~ Use i,r sectional JEALOUSY would dis
/ appear and ,h.se would become brothers IA
| .ja2 whom q common government has made
/ J.OheF- IN iGc | 90 not yet despair Of the
4 ~