The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1860-12-12

W. sstivOos eHo my PfSycb 70 Oou - tnat ~
would preserve the Constitution and the
Union throughout oil generations. But lei
Us take warning in time, and remove the
cause Of danger. II cannot be denied shs,
for Eve and twenty years, the agitation st the
North sgainst slavery in the south, has bee o
iDcessant In 1885 pictorial hand. bills.
and innammstory sppesIs were circulated
Extensively throughout the south. Of a char
scter to excite the passions OF the slave
and in the language Of Gen. jackson. TO
stimulate them to insurrection. and produce
all the horrors Of ssrvile war. This agi
tation has ever since been continued by the
public press, BY the proceedings Of ststs end
County Conventions, and BY abolition ser.
mons and lectures. The time OF Congress
has been occupied in violent speeches on the
never.ending subject and sppsals in psmph-
let. and other forms, endorsed BY dis,in-
guished names. have been sent forth from
this central point. and spresd broadcast over
the Union. How easy would il be for the
American people TO settle the slavery ques-
tion forever, and to restore peace and har-
mony to this distracted country. They
alone can do il. All that 10 necessary 10 ac-
compIish this object. and oil which the slave
states have ever contended for, 10 70 be lei
alone, and permitted to manage their domes-
tic institutions In their own way, % sove-
reign states. They, and they alone. are re-
sponsble before God and the world for slave
ry existing among them. For this the peo-
pie OF the North are not more responsible, ,
and have no more right to interfere, than
with similar Institutions in Russia or Brazil.
Upon their good sense and patriotic forbear-
snce / confess still greatly rely. With
out their aid il is beyond the power Of any
President, no matter what msy be bis own
political proclivilies. 10 restore peace and
harmony among ,he.states. Wisely limited
and restrained az is his power under our Con.
lst,ufion and laws, he alone can accomplish
but little good or evil, on such q momen-
tous question:; and this brings me 10 observe .
that the election OF any one Of our fellow
citizens to the office OF President, does not
Of itself afford just cause for dissolving the
Union. This is more especially true II his
election has been effected by mere plurali.
ty, and not majority Of the people, and has
resulted from transient and temporary
causes, which may probably never again
occur. In order 10 Justify a resort 10 rsvo.
lutionary resistance the Federal Government
must be guilty Of deliberate, palpabIe, and
dangerous exercise of powers not granted
By the Constitution. The late Presidential
election, however, has been held In strict
conformiiy with its express provisions. -
How then can the result Justify revolution
TO destroy shs very Constitution! Reason,
Justice and regard for the Constitution all
lreouire that we shall wait for some overt
and dangerous act on the part Of the Presi-
dent elect before resorting 10 such remedy.
Il After all he 10 no more than the Chief Exc.
cutive officer Of the Government. His pro-
! vince 10 not TO make but execute its laws
and i,s a remsrksbls fact In our history that,
notwithstanding the reported efforts Of the
spti.slavery party, no single act has ever
passed Congress, unless we may possibly
!, except the Missouri Compromise, impairing
lin the slightest degree the rights Of the south
70 their property 10 slaves. And Il may al.
90 BE- observed, judging from present indica.
tions. that no probability exists Of : passage
|, Of such an act by majority Of both Houses
I either 10 the present OF the next Congress.
Surely under these circumstances We ought
to BE- restrained from present action BY the
precept OF Him who spake as never msn
spoke, that Sufficient unto the day 10 the
) evil thereof The day Of evil may never
| come unless we shall rsshly bring y upon
ourselves, II 10 alleged a. one cause for
immediate secession thst the southern
4 l6tstes are denied equal rights with tho 9th.
or states in common tsrritories But BY
what authority are these denied! Not By
|, Cougress, which has never passed and BE-
!, live never will pass, any sct 70 exclude
slavery from these territories; and certainly
/, not By the Supreme Court which hes col.
emnly decided that slaves ere property, and
like I'll other property, their owners have
right 20 take them into the common territo.