Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-01-14

burg. the Pennsylvania Training School Tor
idiotic and feeble minded children, the Asy-
lums for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb, at
Philadelphia, the Northern Home for Friend
less Children, at Philadelphia recommend
to your fostering aid and care. The annual
reports exhibiting detail of the operations of
these noble and excellent charities, during the
past year, will be laid before you. | cannot
recommend appropriations to charitable Assu-
ciatons of a purely local character, however
praise worthy tho objects and motives of their
founders and supporters, or however useful they
may be to their particular localities.
The present condition of the revenues of the
General Government demonstrates the urgent
necessity of increased duties upon foreign lu-
portations. The people of Pennsylvania have
ever taken lively interest in the proper ad-
justment of tariff; aud they have with sngu-
lar unanimity, at all times, favored such an as
sossment of duties, as would not only produce
revenue; but furnish the largest Incidental pro-
lection to the great mineral, manufacturing and
industrial interests Of the country. Had their
voice hitherto been more potential IN tho coun-
ellis of the nation, i: is no longer problematfesl
that much of the pecuniary distress lately ex-
perlelced by all classes and conditions OF busi-
ness men might have been 20 great extent
ayerted. The necessities of the government
and the people, now alike demand change
an increase of duties-and | take great plea
sure in endorsing the views of the President of
the U. States as expressed in his last annual
message, relative to the change proposed Ills
advocacy of specific duties OH all "c0mmodl-
ties which are generally sold by weight, OF by
measure, and which from their nature are OF
equal or of nearly equal value,-such as iron,
OF different classes, raw sugar, and foreign wines
aud spirits," has met with hearty response
from the great body of the people of this State.
1t is to be hoped that his views on this question
will be favoFably regarded by Congress, and
that the action Of the federal government may
correspond with the suggestions of the Presi-
dent.
When | Was called upon to assume the Gu
bernatorlal chair, nearly one year ago, In de-
ference to public opinion and my own feelings,
after a rapid review of events In Kansas,
stated, that ''to the people Of Pennsylvania the
admission of new State into the Uuion--into
that Coufederaey of which she is "a member-
must be at all times subject of high interest.
And believe ! express their sentiments, Us
we'll as my own, in declaring that all the quail
fed electors of Territory should have a full
and fair opportunity to participate in selecting
delegates to form constitution preparatory 10
admission as State, and, if desired by them,
they should also be allowed an unqualified
right 10 vote upon such constitution after it is
framed"
Subsequent events have confirmed me in these
sentiments. The deplorable disputes in the first
session OF the present Congress,-the popular
excitement resulting from those disputes. .togeth-
er with other proceedings in their nature novel
and alarming, would all have been averted, had
the people been secured in "the unqualified
right to vote upon their domestic institutions.
regret to be compelled to say, that, under va
rious Pretences, this sacred franchise has been
ysgAy y Sssebbt E!ebtff ffb5 for Eeeo%pton Constitution
made for them ky delegates representing the
sinority, they we're explicitly denied the priv
llege of making their own constitution, unless
upon condition not previously exacted. If
they accepted the Lecompton Constitution, they
entered the sisterhood uf States at once, with
population less than one-half of the existing
ratio of Congressional representation; but, IT
they refused that Constitution, they could not
be admitted into the Union, with the Constitu
ton of their choice, until they were ready to
show, by formal census, that they had attain
ed population equal to that ratio. The re-
suits have become historical.
The last expressive vote of the people of
Kansas against the act OF Congress, commonly
known the English Bill, has for time ar
rested Congressional Intervention. Peace has
resulted alone from the votes Of the people, not
from the suggestions of outside influences
But, during the angry feelings which this con-
troversy has aroused, the theory has been start
ed, and insisted upon, that it will heuceforward
be the duty Of Congress to protect slavery in
the territories, if the people of the territories
shall fail 10 do 50. The warrant for this cx-
traordinary assumption is alleged to exist in
the decision of the Supreme Court of the U.
States, in the case of Dred Scott Entertain
ing, as | do, profound reverence for the dicis-
ions of that august tribunal, and standing ready
to obey them, whenever they are enunciated, |
have yet to be convinced that any such conslruc-
ton can be fairly given to their action il the
referred to. Such doctrine, no matter
how sanctioned, or supported, will shake the
very pillars OF our constitutional fabric. 1t
would compel every territory to elevate proper
ty in slaves above every other description of
property,-and to establish slave code in It's
early municipal regulations; or else it would
convert the Congress into theatre of crlmina-
ton and confusion, and fll the whole country
with strife. And all this, without securing a
single advantage to the North, or protecting
single right Of the South.
Regarding myself as fully committed to the
doctrine of popular sovereignty iu its broadcast
sense, / can never subscribe to the theory of
Congressional Intervention, as understood and
supported by the opponents of this doctrine
KU lar a
the rights of tie States--no assault upon the
institutions of the South-no appeal to section
al pIejudices. On the contrary, regard the
doctrine as the embodiment of the popular will
in States and Territories, as the conservator of
IL ILL 4 IL. j