, 1860-12-14

From the adoption Of the Constitution ia
| the election Of Martin Van Buteu-trou1 l "a
IN 1b:;s-a l'eriod Of torty-eight years, q South.
ern man occupied the hon0rel post Of chief
executive Of the nation, with the exception OF
| ts'e single term Of each Of the two Aia1ases,
| from Massachusetts,.
During this roriod, that Of nearly two Ecn-
cratlons, two-thrds Of the foreign missions
and the most important Of domestic Offices
were enjoyed by Southern men.
From 1sfl to 1SG0, there were but two Presi.
| t:ents-Harrison and Filimose-who were not
rmphaflcaliy the choice Of the South, and
really nominated aud elected By the South,
Of the six Presidents since lStl, three we're
Southern men.
It was the boast Of Southern statesman. "A
late rs ten years ago, that tho South had dc
tated the domestic policy Of the nation. The
purchase Of Louisiana territory was at the H.
riisation Of the South.
The annexation Of Texas was conct;rcd hr
Southern minds and achieved by Southern
votes. The war OF 1872, from which the conn
Try emerged with so much glory. Yas voted tor
AID sustained By the South :.
The war With Mexico, which addcsl IN en-
l'tre IN extent to the territory Of the Republic
= due to the policy Of the men Of the South !:
thus extending our southern boundaries ftvm
the western limits of Texas to the Pacific
"ccan. " all this has the South reason 10
complaint ~
but our position is scarcely less improved.
n these scries Of years, in regard to tile uuc.-
tion Of slayery. IT. under the operation ot the
,a~s OF climate and production, slavery has
.ienominated New England, in New York.
PENNSYLVANIA, and New Jersey, the rurchasc Of
tae territory Of Louisiana has given Us Louis;-
;.;la, Arkansas, and Missouri as slave Sta,ee-a
region Of country much larger than that iron,
which State sovereignty had eradicated human
londage.
Tie ..nne1ntion Of Texas in 18,5 derotc,, IN
slavery territory equal to all New England.
Scw York and New Jersey, and the atuuisi-
lion Of New Mexico by conquest, in which
slavery LAS been established by Territorial
LAW. carries the institution two degrees above
the line of the Missouri Compromise Can
complain that the territorial limits Of slavery
have been circumscsibed, or 70 luck to this
history ofits extension to strengthen the cata
L'.ut Of our grievances:
but it is said tho perpetual agitation Of the
Gar>'l"n IL aud out Of Congress has driven the
s''uti' to unjust concessions, every one of
Wh'cA shou1d have been made the cause Of r.
flsta'ice to the Federal Government; and that
zach, as it followed the other in the order Of
succession. Increased the intolerance and ag-
stesslon Of the free North.
IAt Missouri Compromise was the first in
order. If It was wrong, the South has on1y to
blame itself; for 1t came from representative
u y cAts CkAkSP %Au4 WIS supported D5 IuC Ill
Elost unanimous voice Of Sonihera delegations
in both houses Of Congress. It was fatlded
again by the popular vote Of the slave States,
until it came to be regarded to have almost
as binding character u the Constitution H.
self.
The great struggle On the question Of sla
very resulted in tie compromise bill Of 1850,
Here again the South gave birth TO the act, and
1t WIS sustained not only by the Southern
sote In Congress, but was ratified by the teQ-
rle themselves. Georgia and Mississippi ind
south Carolina made the Issue Of resistance
against 1t, and the people, with majozitiea m
rFecedented in any political contest, sustained
day.
The South Is then precluded by its own &C.
and making them living questions at this time
Right Or wrong, they belong to the dead past.
4 golden era Of peace and general accord fol-
lowed, until the elements If sectional strife
were again let loose from the sealed cavern by
the repeal OF the Missouri Compromise aud
the Kansas and Nebraska biil--Ht,o O13fans
ifcnyun<.