Daily national Democrat., 1860-11-21


Union, like this, and a petulant jealousy Of
its workings, has been constantly manifested
in the movements of what may be properly
termed "the ultra Southern party" That
party has industriously sought to create the
impression in the Southern mind that the
North was deliberately bent upon system
of aggression against the South. Every
thing that could be said to inflame Southern
feeling has been said, and facts of history
persistently misrepresented in order to effect
that object. At the same time, everything
which could be done to irritate the North
into unfriendly action has been tried. 1t
was not until after the attack of Calhoun
upon the North, in regard to the tariff, and
his bold proclamation of notification doc
trines, that the slave sojournment act of 1880
was repealed, and the unfriendly action of
the free States began in the passage of State
laws to obstruct the enforcement of the fugi-
tive slave act, which had been in full force
and effect from the year 1898. When the
North had been irrtated into this sort of ac.
ton, it was Immediately heralded to the
whole South as a proclamation of war as ainst
Southern institutions, and as just cause for
the dissolution of the Union. 1t was no just
cause for the legislative power which un.
dertook these acts was derived from the Con-
stituton of the United States. We condemn
the exercise of that power, because it mill
tated against the fair comfy which should
always subsist between the States. But, so
long as Sovereign State, in the exercise of
its legislative authority, confines itself with
| in the bounds of the Federal Constitution,
no other State has right to complain, ex.
cept in the matter of comfy, which signifies
about the same thing as mere courtesy be-
tween individuals. Certainly, such acts are
no cause for dissolution of the Union, for
the simple reason that they are constitutional,
and admitted to be So both North and
| South. For instance, the Federal authority,
notwithstanding the act of 1898, had no right
to incarcerate fugitive slaves in those prisons
and jails which were set apart by the local
authorities of States for the Imprisonment of
persons convicted of offenses under the local
laws. When certain of the States refused to
allow the use of these prisons and jails to the
Federal authorities, it was an act of discour-
tesy to the Southern States, but it was the
constitutional right Of the free States to do
as they did. No man who is q friend of the
Union will talk Of dissolution, on account Of
an universally acknowledged constitutional
act, however odous it may be to his views Of
right or justice or amity. There is no higher
law than the Constitution of our common
country.
When the Wilmot Proyiso was urged by
several of the leading men fthe North, it was
universally regarded in the South, and by
many leading statesmen of the North, as an
unconstitutional measure. Yet it is abuud
antly proven by history, that John c. CAL
houn and his party, while opposing it in
speeches and writings deeply insulting to the
North, were yet secretly in hope that it
,couId pass And why2 In order that a
good occasion might be offered for some vic,
lent action on the part of the South.
Falling short of this anticipation by the
rejection of the Wilmot Proviso, this party
| have since tried new methods for bringing
about their objects Passing over intermedi
ate efforts, we come down to the period
when they deliberately seeded from til,
Democratic National Convention, knowing
or at any rate, most firmly believing that il
would result in such a distraction of the
forces of the Democracy as to ensure the
election of a Black Republican President
and, intending TO make the very event
which they produced, in case it should come
about, an excuse for raising the flag of dis.
union.
| Sorry are we indeed to see the country re
duced to such pass as this one of the elec
ton of Sectionalist to the Presidential
Chair. But, we are not disposed to help out
the schemes Of Disunionists by seizing upor
the occasion which they themselves have Ia
bored for years to bring about, in order tc
dissolve the Confederacy. Whenever there
is an intolerable act of oppression upon the
South by Republican Administration, and
no prospect of remedy at the ballot-box
then we concede the right of revolution, but
nothing more. Then, we concede that til,
Confederacy is failure, and that the fonC
anticipations of mankind in regard to FIRE,
Government must go out in darkness.
But, that time has not yet arrived, nor i,
1T likely to arrive. The only point of con,
tention between the North and South, at thi
time, is the question of slavery in the Terri
tories, and that has been determined by tn,
absolute refusal of Congress in two notabl,
cases to interfere with the legislative actor
of the people respecting it. Very well
then, what possible fear can the South have
Their peculiar institution is safe at all points
Slave property was never more secure thar
it now is, for it commands large prices, anc
that is certain evidence of its security, fol
nobody will invest in risky property at an,
such rates as negro slaves now command. A
long as slaves sell in the South for twely,
and fifteen hundred and two thousand dollar
a piece, the Southern people eau have n,
very serious uneasiness about any inroad
from the North.
Los ANeELEs.-The following is the COM
plete vote in Los Angeles county for Assem-
blymeu; stearns, Dougas) 74O Morrison
(Douglas) 69e; Gift, (Breekinridge) GAS