Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-10-30
Tits obviously inpracticablc (sail le) in tn,

on situation and circumstances as on the object
to be obtained 1t is at all times difficult 10
draw with precision the line between those
rights which must be surrendered and those
which may be reserved; and on the present oc-
casion this difficulty was increased by differ
encc among the several States as to their situa-
ton, extent, habits and particular interests.
'In all our deliberations on this subject We
kept steadily in our view that which appears
to us the greatest interest Of every true Amerl'
can-the consolidation Of our Union-in which
is involved our prosperity, felicity safety, per-
haps our national existence This important
consideration, seriously and deeply impressed
on our minds, led each State in the Convention
to be less rigid on points of inferior magnitude
than might have been otherwise expected; and
thus the Constitution which we now present is
the result Of spirit OF amity, and Of that mu-
tual Difference and concession which the pccu-
liarty Of our political situation rendered indis'
pensable.
THAT it will meet the full and entire appro-
baton of every State, is not, perhaps, to be ex-
pectcd, but each will doubtless consider that
had her interest been alone consulted, the con-
sequences might have been particularly disa-
greeabe or injurious to others; that it is liable
to as few exceptions as could reasonably have
been expected we hope and believe; that it may
promote the lasting welfare of that country so
dear to US all, and secure her freedom and hap
piness, is our most ardent wish"
Now there was not more binding covenant
arranged or entered into, in the spirit of 'mu-
tual Difference and concession" mentioned by
the "Pater patria," than that no ''persops held
to service or labor in one State, under the laws
thereof escaping into another, shall, in conse'
quence of any law or regulation therein, be
discharged from such service or labor; but shall
be delivered up on claim Of the party by whom
such service or labor may be due" This was
one of the most positive guarantees Of the Con-
sttuton-the most imperative of the commit
ments Of the non.slaveholding States TO the
slayeholding States-without which that ir-
strument would have been Indignantly rejected
by the latter, and the sanction Of Washington
contelnptuously withheld from it. The stipu-
lation was not contained in the Articles Of con
/ federation, for the reason that slavery existed
in all the States during the time those Articles
were in force.
The stipulation is not only L constitutional
recognition of the institution of negro slavery,
but constitutional endorsement OF It; and the
political rights of that institution and its obi.
cations TO the Union are elsewhere carefully
defined. In Art. l, section ,, it is provided tha:
"Representatires and direct tares shall Ge dl.
psrtioncd among The sereral .States aohich may
be included IN thi, Union according to thc''
respective numbers, which shall be detcrlnin-
cd by adding to the whole number OF free per.
sons, including those bound to service for
term of years, and excluding Indians not tax
I'd, rnREE.rlrrns Of all other pr'sonS The
MreeNttM cr'aU other persons, it is needless
to mention, had exclusive reference to negro
slaves, and the provision also anticipated the
extension of slave territory, rs necessity i'm
posed By the certain NATURAL iScIEAsE oi
slaves, and arranged for it accordingly; Tor It
provides, in the most distinct terms, that RE
representatives. and direct taxes shall he appor-
toned among the several States which NAY BE
included in this Union," &c And Art. ! pro.
vides that "New Suites may be admitted into
the Union
The first State which came into the Union alter
the adoption Of the Constitution was Vermont.
She entered as o non-savcholding State on the
18th of March, 1921. The second State which
came into the Union after the adoption OF the
Constitution was Kentucky. She entered as
slaveholding State on the lst OF June, lI?2.
The third State which came into the Union
after the adoption Of the Constitution was
Tennessee. She entered as a slavcholding
State on the lst Of June, 179C. There was no
Black Republicanism in the then freshly free
and cordially united States Of America, to
array itself against the admission of one or
tie other
The acquisition of Louisiana is universally
admitted TO have been one OF the most judcl-
GUS acts ever accomplished by lar.seeing states
manship. 1t was so considered at the time by
all the nations of Christendom. Great Britain,
with dismay, beheld in that measure an occur
renee which was to eventuate in rendering her
secondary power. Her eminent men beheld,
more yiyidly than ever, an America looming
up, when that territory entered our Federal fold,
of such gigantic proportions as to disturb the
hopes which they had previously INDUCED, that
the ''wooden walls of England were to perpetu-
ally rule the SEAS" 1t is related Of Napoleon
that when the treaty Of ccssion was ready for
his signature he affected to misremember the
amount he was to receive I;' his possession
As soon as the sum was mrrlisncd by his min
lister he remarked that it " ;:s a mere 6agdteue
compared with the value g! the prize which it
secured After pausing moment he continued;
1t is we'll however, since the transfer will create
maritime power that will one day or another
contest the supremacy Of the seas with the
British.
For the admission Of the territory Of LoulSl-
ana into the Union New York bestowed her
vote, in the United Stats Senate. Among the
recorded ayes, on that question, are to be found
the names Of De Witt Clinton and Bailey, her
| then Senators. And it never should escape the
memory of any one, who is disposed to think
and act fairly in politics, that Louisiana was
purchased and brought into the Union as
SLAVE TERRITORY. Among the most de-
sirous States for the acquisition was Kentucky.
Her ilustrious Senator, John Breckenridge,
afterwards the Attorney General Of Mr.. JEFF
ferson) grandfather Of the present Vice Prcsi'
dent and Democratic candidate for the Presi'
dency, exerted, untiringly, his great abilities in
its support, until it was triumphanuy effected
He, and his colleague John Brown, found Gin
ton and Bailey, standing resolutcy by their
sides in supporting the treaty, just as it is 10 DC
hoped that the Empire State" and "o'd hen-
tuck" will be found, in the hour which is mas
tening, standing side by side in behalf OF the
glory, the welfare and the perPetuity of the