The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-03-15

"a
and blessings of freedom. On the de
cision was suspended the question, a,
was thought, whether ultimately tht
interior of this new continent shoul6
be an asylum for the oppressed and tn,
exile, coming year after year and age
after age, voluntarily from every othe1
civilized land, as well as for the child
rem of misfortune i'm our own, or wheth
er, through the renewal of the African
slave-trade, those magnificent and lux
uriant regions should be surrendered
to the control of capital, wringing on
the fruit of the earth through the i'm
poyerishing toll of negro slaves.
That question of 1929 was identical
ly the question of 1860, so far as prin
ciple, and even the field of its applica
ton was concerned. Every element o
the controversy now present entered
into them; the righttulness or thu
wrongfulness of Slavery; its effects
present and future the Constitutions
authority of Congress; the claims o
the State and their citizens; the nature
of the Federal Union, whether it is
compact between the State, or an in
dependent Government; the spring,
of its powers, and the ligatures upoI
their exercise. All these were discuss
ed with zeal and ability which hav,
never been surpassed. History tell
us, / know not how truly, that th'
Union reeled under the vehemence o
that great debate. Patriotism tool
counsel from prudence, and enforced +;
settlement which has proved not to b,
a final one; and which, as is now seen
practically left open all the great politi
cal issues which were involved. Mis-
souri, and Arkansas were admitted a.
capital States, while labor obtained
as reservation, the abridged bnt We
comprehensive field of Kansas ant
Nebraska. fHl r..
Now, when the present conditions o
the various parts of the Louisiana Ter
ritory are observed, and we see tha
capital retains undisputed possession
of what it then obtained, while labo
is convulsing the country with so har,
and so prolonged a struggle to regai'
the lost equivalent which was thel
guaranteed, to it under circumstance
of so great solemnity, we may wei
desire not to be undeceived if the Mis-
souri, Compromise was indeed unnec
esarily accepted by the Free State, in
iuenced by exaggregations of the dan
gers of Disunion. The Missouri de
bate disclosed truths of great momen
for ulterior use:
First That it is easy TO combin
the capital States in defense of ever
external interests, while it is hard t
unite the labor States in common
policy.
Second That the labor States hav,
natural loyalty to the Union, Will
the capital States have a natural facili
ty for alarming that loyalty by threat
ening Disunion.
Third: That the capital States d
not practically distinguish between
legitimate and constitutional resistanc
to the extension Of Slavery in the com
mon Territories of the Union, and un
constitutional aggression against Slave
ry established by local laws in the CAP
ital States. .s-
The early political parties were ol
ganized without reference TO Slavery
But since 1920, European question
have lett us practically unconcerned
There has been great increase of ir
vention, mining, manufacture, and Gu
tivation. Steam on land and on waite
has quickened commerce. The pres
and the telegraph have attained prod
gious activity, and the social inter
course between the States and thei
citizens has been immeasurably il
creased and, consequently, their MI
tual relations affecting Slavery hav
been, for many years, subjects of ea
nest and often excited discussion.
is in my way only to show how sue
disputes have operated on the cours
of political events-not tore-open thel
for argument here. There was a slav
insurrection in Virginia. Virginia an
Kentucky debated, and, to the gres
sorrow of the Free States, rejected til
system of voluntary labor. The Co
onization Society was established wit
much favor in the capital State
Emancipation Societies arose in til
Free States. South Carolina institute
proceedings to nullify obnoxious Fec
eral revenue laws. The capital State
complained Of Courts and Legislature
in the labor States for interpreting TIL
constitutional provision for the surrel
der of fugitives. from service so as
treat them as persons, and not prope
ty, and they Disseminated again.
colored persons of the labor State
when they came to the capital State
They denied, in Congress, the right
petition, and embarrassed or denie
freedom of debate on the subject
Slavery. Presses which undertook til
defense of the labor system in the cal
ital States, were suppressed by VII
lence, and even in the labor States pul
lie assemblies, convened to consid,
Slavery questions, were dispersed /
mobs sympathizing with the capit
States.
The Whig party, being generally a
opposition party, practiced some 70
bearance toward the interest of labo
The Democratic party, not without d
monstrations of dissent, was general
found sustaining the policy of capits
; A disposition toward the removal
Slavery from the presence of the n
tional capital appeared in the Distri
of Columbia. Mr. Van Buren, a Der
ocratic President, launched prospe