The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-03-22
TERMS, -sl.25 PER AMNUm,

qairea T.ouisianian Territory, had then
already been admitted into the Union.
There 1vet remained, however, a vast re-
gioa Which incuded Arkansas and Mis-
souri, together with the then unoccupied.
aud even unnamed Kansas aud Nebraska.
Arkansas, aslavehoiding community, was
nearly ready to apply and Missouri, an
other such territory, was actually apply
ing for admission into the Federal Union.
The existing Capital States seconded
these applications, and claimed that tiae
whole Louisianian Territory was right.
fully open te Slavery, ,.aud to the organ
ization of future Slave States The la
bor States maintained that Congress had
supreme legislative power within the do
main, and could anu ought to exclude
slavery there.
The question thus oponed was one
which related not at all to Slavery in the
existing Capital States 1t was purely
and simply national question whether
the common interest of the whole Repub-
lie required that Arkansas, Missouri.
Kansas, and Nebraska, should becons
Capital States, with all the evils and
dangers of Slavery, or be labor States,
with all the security, benefits and bless
ings Of freedom. On the decision waa
suspended the question, as was thought.
whether ultimately the interior of this
new continent should be an asylum. for,
the oppressed and the exile, coming year
after year and age after age, voluntarily
from every other civilized land. as woil Al
for the children Of misfortune in our own,
or whether, through the renewal of the
African slave trade, those magnificent and
Iuxuriant regions should be surrendered
to the control of capital, wrlnglGg out the
fruit Of the earth through the impover-.
lshing toll of negro slaves. THAI ques.
ton of 1920 vas identically the question
Of 1880, SO far as principle, and even the
field Of its application was concerned.
Every element Of the controversy nov,
present entered it then the rightfulnsss
OF the wrongiulness OF Slavery; its effects,
present and future the Constitutional
authority of Congress the claims of the
States, and Of their citizeus; the uaturs
Of the Federal Union, whether it is cou,-
pact between the States, or an indeperd-
ent Governments. 5. the springs Of it's pow
ers, and the ligatnros upon their exercise.
All these were discussed with zeal and
ability which have never been surpassed
History tells us, | know not how truly,
that the Union reeled under the vche-
mence Of the debate Patriotism took
counsel from prudence, and enforced
settlement which has proved to be. not
final one and which, as is now seen,
practically left open the great political
issues which were involved ( Missouri
and Arkansas were adfniited as capita.
States. while labor obtained, as q reservn-
tion, the abridged but yet comprehensive.
field Of Kansas and Nebraska. Now,
when the present conditions Of the vari.
Gus parts Of the Lpuisianian Territory srs
observed, and we see that capital retains
undiaputed possession of what it then OBJ
tanned, while labor is convulsing the coun-
try with SO hard and 50 prolonged astrug.
gle to regain the lost equivalent which
was then guaranteed to it under circum.
stances Of so great solenlnity, we may
we'll desire not to be undeceived if tbs
Missouri Compromise was indeed unpec-
essauly accepted by the Free States in
Auenced by exaggcrations of the dangers
of Disuuion The Missouri debate dis.
closed truths Of great moment for ultericr
use: 7@
Fsrst: That it is easy to combine tho
capital States IN defense Of even external!
interests, while it is hard to unite tho Ia.
Dor StateA in G common policy
Second: That the labor States have
natural loyalty to the Union, while the
capital States have a natural facility for
alarming that loyalty by threatening Dis
union.
Third: That the capital States do not
distinguish between the legit.
innate aud constitutional resistance to the
extension of Slavery in the common Ter
ritories Of the Union. and unconstitution-
al aggression against Slavery established
by local laws in the capital States.
The early political parties we're organ-
lsed without reference to Slavery. But
since 1920 European questions have loft
Us practically unconcerned There has
been great increase of invention. min.
ng, manufacture, and CIVILIZATIONS Steam
9n land and on water has quiokened com.
nerce. The press and thetetegraph have
attained prodigious activity, and the 80.
;lal intercourse between the States and
heir citizens have beena ma1easurably
increased and conseqdsntly sheir mutual
Citations affecting Slavery have besnr for
many years, subjectssof earliest ambition
excited discussion. ltis inulvway only
O show how such disn,,fes have Undated