Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-07-12
From the Blue Ridge Republican.
The lnterTeRllon Question.

Fn6 lultIEVutlVu s4u6bUOHs
We have avoided. until now, the intro
dnction ofthis question into our columns.
Not that we were NOT prepared to take our
position, but because we were disposed to
resist awhile FROM the labors Of pro-
tracted and excited local canvass, and
were Of the opinion, at the same time,
that it was full soon for the opening of
the Presidential campaign, with which
this question Of intervention is insepara-
bly, connected. But the Democratic press
of the State have been called out, and,
one BY one, they are showing their colors,
and clearing deck for action. we take
our position in line, and throw our flag
toitlle breeze.
Without intending to bore our readers
with an essayo tle subject. we ask. by
way Of preliminary--what is government?
Tits an organization for the protection Of
life and property. This, at least, is. its
primary object. All other considerations
are secondary, and would never, of them
selves. have Ted 10 the formation Of Gov
eminent. liza government come short Of
This primary object, it is 4 useless fabric
and should receive neither respect nor
obedience. Our system Of Government
consists Of two organizations, State and
Federal--the latter the creature. or agent,
oftheformer, resting upon delegated pow
ers alone. Neither organization is per-
feet yet. as much so,perhaps, as human
ingenuity could devise. \. Under the State
Governments protection to life and prop
erty is full and absolute. The powers
delegated totheF Federal Government are
MS full and absolute as they were in the
hands1of the States previous to the trans
fer Among these delegated trusts was
1.-The power to regulate and control the Ter
ritories, the common property of the
States. They did this rather than be
compelled to undertake. each State for il.
Etseif, the protection Of those Of its citizens
lwho might choose to entigrate to the Ter
Iritories. If it had been supposed, for a
moment, that these citizens, by this act Of
emigration. would lose the right Of pro.
IItection to their property, the control over
THE Territories would never. have been
transferred to Congress. In the hands
of the States the power to protect. even in
the Territories, was full and complete. -
lin delegating the coltrol to Congress,
lthey intended the power to protect life
and property to go with the transfer, and
be 3as full and plenary, on that theatre, as
Hit had been in their own hands. In truth,
1.-The action of the FredeFal Government, in
Esuch case, Isl but the joint action of the
several States, and carries with il. the
same unrestricted right. # It were other
wise the unaccountable anomaly would
present itself Of the inability of "a soyer-
I eign power to delegate authority to a Sc
llect agent, Itwould present the absurd,
lily ofa government recognising, and claim.
ling power to tax. as property, that which
Hi has no power to protect from injury OF
lyiolence. i
II i'll our premises be correct, ii follows,
I'VE think, that Congress not only has the
ipower TO protect slavery in Territories,
but that it is its duty to DO so. Wemean
Eof course, slavery as properly. The
Equestion, whether slaves are property, OF
| mot. is not one for il to decide. II has nc
Jurisdiction. expressed Or implied, in the
matter. 1t is . question for the decision
Iiofsovereign power alone, Massachusetts
says they are not property Virginia says
Ithey are. The Territories belong, jointly
and equally. to Massachusetts and Virgin.
liza, and the other States ofIthe Union. Mas
sachnsetts claims. and very Justly, thai
Iher citizens, and their machinery. and
hother property, have d right to go and
settle upon this loint domain. Virginia
claims the same right, and with the equal
Justice, for her citizens, with their slaves,
and other property. Congress, as the
agent of The States. has not only no right
| 10 discriminate for or, against any of this
property, but is bound. By the very nature
tef its trust. to extend equal protection to
lall. just as an OVERSEE, on a farm, has
no right 10 say whether his superior shall
employ horses or mules, or white or slave
labor, but is bound BY the very nature q
Ibis agency, 70 take things as he finds
them. and to guard and protect all with
becoming diligence, in justice 10 his EN-,
\ ployer, Is. it possible to conceive of d
more absurd idea than that a citizen ID
| Virginia, having right to his property
fand right to its protection, here, by re-
moving with it to a Territory iilawl,ich
| Virginia has joint and equal claim with
| the other States, loses his rights. and la:
mo right to his claim. forIprotection, upon
| Cpnoress. inbder whose care and contro
| this common domain has been placed. by
| the States, as agent ? We repeat the in.
terrogatory. Can citizen Of State lose
/ his rights simply BY settling upon the
tlcommen property Of the Union |? Ifas-
sailed, and his properly be hken from him,
10 what source must he look for projections
He cannot look to the State from which
He emigrated. because il has parted with
the power. To whom then? TO Con-
lgress, and TO Congress alone, because "a
Congress the power has been transferred.
If be fails there, be Is without refned ~.
Is any man prepared 70 contend for such
an absurdity-that free citizen. in = gov
eminent ofequaI laws. equal rights and
equalpriyileges, can, for single moment,
under any circumstances, on the soil 81
|tiat government, be without adequate pro-
lection 10 life or property
Let as suppose that some one OF our
contemporaries. who advocate this mon
strous heresY Of !" Nom Intervention, Z
should remove his press 70 new Terri
j - = Al L.