The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-16

IL.
as they said, with near or remote aboli.
tion Of Slavery. What could be done?
Congress could hardly be expected to in.
tervene directly for their safety so soon
after the Compromise Of 1850. The labor
hive OF the Free States was distant, the
way new, unknown, and not without per-
| lis. Missouri was near and watchiul,
and held the keys Of the gates Of Kansas.
She might seize the new and smiling Ter
ritory by surprise, if only Congress
would remove the barrier established in
1890. The conjuncture was favorable.
Clay and Webster, the distinguished
citizens whose unquestionable devotion to
the Union was manifested by their acqui
esence in the compromise Of 1850, had
gone down already into their honored
graves. The labor States had dismissed
many OF their representatives here for Toe
great fidelity 10 freedom, and too grea
distrust OF the efficacy Of that new bond
OF peace, and had replaced them with
partzans who were only timid. but not
unwilling. The Democratic Presideu,
and Congress hesitated, but not long
They revised the last great compromise,
and found. with delighted surprise, tha,
it was so far from confirming the law oil
freedom Of l820 that, on The other hand,
it exactly provided for the abrogation Of
that venerable statute, nay, that the com
promise itself actually killed the spirit OF
the Missouri law, and devolved on Con-
gress the duty Of removing the lifeless
letter from tho national code. The deed
was done. The new enactment not only
repealed the Missouri prohibition OF
slavery, but it pronounced the people Of
Kansas and Nebraska perfectly free to es.
tabIish freedom or slavery, and pledged
Congress 10 admit them in due time as
States. either Of capital or of labor, into
the Union. The Wing representatives oI
the capital States, in an hour Of strange
bewilderment, concurred; and the Wing
party instantly wet down, never TO rise
again. Democrats seeded, and stood
sloof; the country was confounded; and
amid the perplexities Of the hour, a Re
publican party was seen gathering itsel
together with much earnestness, but with
little show OF organization, 10 rescue, il il
we're not now too late, the cause Of Free
dom and Labor, SO Unexpectedly and
grievousS imperied 10 the Territories of
the United States. l will not linger over
the sequel. The popular sovereignty ol
Kansas proved to be the State sovereignty
OF Missouri, not only in the persons OF the
rules, but even in the letter Of an arbitra-
ry and cruel code. The perfect freedom
proved to be hateful and intolerable
bondage. From 1855 TO 1860, Kansas,
sustained and encouraged only by the
Republican party, has been engaged in
successive and ever.varying struggles,
which have taxed all her virtue, wisdom
moderation, energies and resources, and
often even her physica! strength and mar.
tial courage, to save herself from being
betrayed into the Union as Slave State
Nebraska, though choosing freedom. is,
through the direct exercise of the Execu
tive power, overriding her own will, held
!, as Slave Territory; and New. Mexico has
: relapsed voluntarily into the practice o.
Slavery. from which she had redeemed
herself while she yet remained part o.
the Mexican Republic. Meantime, the
Democratic party, advancing from the
ground Of Popular Sovereignty as far as
that ground is from the Ordinance oil
1897, now stands on the position that
both Territorial Governments and Con.
gress are incompetent to legsate against
Slavery in the Territories, while they are
not only competent. but are obliged, when
it is necessary. 10 leglslate for its pro,ec-
tiou there. In this new and extreme DO.
silion the Democratic party now mask:
itself behind the battery of the Supreme
Court. as lfit were possibly true con
struclion of the Constitution, that the
power OF deciding practically forever be
tween Freedom and Slavery in portion
Of the continent far exceeding all that is
yet organized, should be renounced by
Congress. which alone possesses any leg.
islative authority, and should be assumed
and exercised by court which can only
take cognzance Of the great question col.
iaterally, in private action between in
dividuals. and which action the Constitu-
tion will not suffer the court 10 entertain,
if it involves twenty dollars OF money,
without the overruling Intervention of a
jury oftwelve good and lawful men OF the
neighborhood where the litigation arises.
The independent, ever.renewed, and ever
recurring representative Parliament,
Diet, Congress or Legislature, is the one
chief, paramount, essential, institution in
a Republic. Even liberty, guaranteed by
organic law, yet il it be held by other
tenure than the guardiaL care of such a
representative popular assembly, is but
precariously maintained, while Slavery.
enforced by an irresponsible judicial tri.
bunal, is the completest possible develop
ment Of despolism. Mr.. President, did
ever the annals of any Government show
a more rapid or more complete departure
from the wisdom and virtues of its found.
ers ? Did ever the Government Of a
great empire. founded on the rights OF
human labor. slide away so far, and moor
itself so ienaciously on the basis OF capi-
tai, and that capital invested in laboring
mon? Did ever free representative legis-
laturo, invested with powers so groat, and
with the guardianship OF rights SO important,
OF trusts so sacred, Of interests so precious,
and of hopes at once go nob!o and so COM
prehensive, surrender and renouncc thom
all so unnecessarily, so unwisely, so fatally
and SO ingIoriously; lfit DO true, as every
Procept Of political experience teaches Us
that,
"Ill fares tho land, to Fastening III a prey,