Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-18
The Terrilories,

Shall tbe influence Of the federal goyernment
be brought TO bear against the admission Of any new
slave States into the Unioni All minor differences
are overshadowed by the vast importance that this
proposition assumes, when It is taken into serious
consideration, and its bearings upon the destiny OF
our country calmly surveyed One fact IS apparent
in looking over the ground occupied by all OF the
parties since the formation of the Government
that is that the current of popular opinion IN the
Northern States has set constantly in favor Of IN
creased and increasing powers being granted to the
federal government circumstances, it is true have
favored this general bent of the public mind, the
necessities of party, the necessities of government
and new and untried fields of political action. |
An other fact in opposition to this is as palpabe
that the Southern States have opposed foot by foot
all advances in this direction whenever danger
threatened to the Constitution In looking over the
debates in the early periods of the government, dur
ing the ten years of the Confederated Congress, and
while the Constitution was being formed and estab-
lished-the same facts are prominent-the North ia
vors strong government, with almost unlimited
powers, the South esteems such government as
essentially dangerous to the liberties of the people,
as represented and guaranteed in the sovereignty
of the States.
The North did not, the South did fear too pow
erful federal government. The North has been ag-
gressive ever since the South on the defensive Up
on questions of slight monsht but involving prnci-
pie the South has had to take her stand to stay for
the moment the tide of federal usurpation.
The disintegration of the Wing party and the dis
ruption of the Democratic party, are the natural
consequences of the war Of the North upon the
South and if the Northern party should be success
full over the ruins of both the old parties, it would
hardly be disposed to change the issue, made with
very doubtful prospects of success; it would
scarcely be disposed to offer the olive branch of
peace after the first victory.
Keeping our attention steadily this fixed policy
of the North lei US what light is to be had from
the past and what hope there is in DOUGLAS policy
that consists in an cndeayor dodge inevitable
issue.
When Virginia, in 1854, ceded her western terri
tory to the Congress of the confederation the idea
prominent in the minds of her statesmen was, that
the Congress would by its protection facilitate the
settlement of it, which up to this time had attracted
little attention-the tide of emigration at that time
being wholly directed to the country southwest of the
Ohio river. The influence of her leading men was
given to the proposition from the first to exclude
slavery, as 1t was thought by this means that the
emigration from the North would be encouraged
such, however, was not the immediate effect. The
southwest continued the favored land until the emil
grafton from Europe into the Eastern States forced
the inhabitants to seek home in the west as labor
became improbable in any vocation of life
Virginia having ceded all her right to the Terrific
ry it became one of the hSk contracting parties to
the Compact of 1884 admitting it into the contedera-
tion-and the representatives of Ohio took their
seats in the Congress under the Constitution without
any formal act of admission, the ordinance of HsI,
having been ratified in the second Congress-
We see then Virginia ceding her territory uncon-
dItionay to Northern settlements, cediug her right
to the continuance of her laws over slave property
and denying to her citizens the boon granted to
other citizens as a sacrifice the altar of the COM
mn good. But Virginia. nor the Congress of the
cfederation that received the Territory, nor that
vsaich passed the ordinance had any doubts as to
ts binding nature Of the acts of the confederacy,
tIon she Territory Wherein the Stree inhabitants,
sA named as constituting the only class as subjects
4 ofthe comfy established.
At this period the slave states were in minority,
sad continued so until the admission of Tennessee,
which made the number even, but the scales
most strenuous efforts were put in force to keep the
the balance or if. possible restore the majority
to the North. Ssnce then the aggressions on
the political balane, and the equality of the States
hashever ceased. The South in yielding up her
rights in 1884, and again in 1920 has only VRetted
thSeppetite of aggrandizement, but she did not
then and does not now, wish to keep any territory
set apart for her peculiar institutions and thereby
stop the march of FREEDOM" The same spirit that
impelled her to part with Louisisiana above GER
tain latitude, would prompt her to the same to-day
for the sake OF Justice and harmony, but she sees no
course open and safe TO her now but that of meet
ing the insane claim of the Northern party by a
Southern spirit-conident that her demands for her
naked rights, supported by all the action of the
government recognized until lately by every State
and every Territory, will alone command the re-
spect of the North and keep her own people salts
tied with the Union On the other hand she sees no
safety in yielding the demand that she shall De
shut up within her present bounds, when the ciyi-
cation of the world is dependent on her productonsi
when blow aimed at her, though it be IN the name
of liberty is aimed at human progress, and that the
force of the blow falling upon the most deheate'
vet the most important part Of the Constitution,
will render its guarantees impotent tor good !;
| reduce State rights to meaningless name cen
traIize the government in the hands of a section
al majority destroy all the balances of power,
and with them all constitutional freedom.
4 CORRESPONDENT of the Patriot, speaking Of those
who attended the Opposition meeting at Hampshire,
Maury county, Saturday last, says: "Those who are
for DOUGLAS are for BELL in preference to BREcKN-
RIDGE We have no doubt that those who will vote
for DoUGIAs will prefer BELL to BRECKNRIDGE, or they
would not throw away their votes on DoUGLAs,
when it dirsstjy benefits BELL. Weyesterday heard
an " enthused member of the Opposition beSeech-
inc friendsff he could not go for BELL, to 90 for
DoUGLAs " as the next best man for the South"
In this connection let the Democracy remember that
prominent member of the Opposition in this cttyPro-
poseF 10 qiue FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS to start DOUGLAS
ORGAN here.
Let it be remembered that JoHN Forsyth, of
Ala, a DOUGLAS leader, in his philadelphia speech
said G.
TBe,, is q Union party zee can compromise loih,
and that is the Bell and Everett party
Let il be remembered that Judge HENDERSON, of
Mo- a DoUGIAs leader. and candidate for Congress,
the other day said
come not before you for the purpose of deceiV-
ing dsrupting or breaking up the American or any
other organization say, stand TO your cOOrs, and
if YOU WON'T ELECT DOUGLAS, THEN FIGHT
FOR BELL AND EVERETT. They are good men.
have not forgotten the time when the cry rang
through this district that Bel wasRn Abolitonist
Freesoiler. because of his vote on the Lecomptoh
> Constitutes. ! went through the district and de-
Tended Ben and Crittenden, and Douglas sgainsi
this charge. All know it.
Let it be remembered that Mr.. Cuttings, aleadins
DouGLAs delegate from Maryland, in a speech MAIDS
5 at Harrisburg, Penn. a few days since, said:
He bitterly opposed the idea of a union betwee5
the Breckenridge and Douglas wings, and espresso
The desire to see Lincoln any other Repu6tlcd'S9
elected President rather than Hon. John C. Breedin-
ridge ohch sentiment elected enthusiastic applause.
Let it be remembered that the DOUGIAs organ st
Aberdeen said
: We almost know that Mr.. Douglas will receive
the vote of the Northern States, and will certainly
receive large vete in the South, if not majority
BUT IF WE SEE rHAT We ARE MISTAKEN IN OUR OPINION
DURING THE CANVASS AND THAT BELL AND EVERETT WILL
RECEIVE THE full VOTE OF rue OLD WHIG PARTY, THES
| We SHALL GIVR THEN sUPP0RS, AND URGE THE
| FRIEYBS OF DOUGLAS To FOLLOW SUIT.
- - Ratification i'm DeKaIb.