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

great increase of invention, mining, manu-
iacturo aud cultivation. Steam on land
aud on water has quickoned commerce.
Tho press and telegraph have attained pro.
digious activity, and tho social intercourse
between the States and their citizens has
been inmeasurably increased and conso.
quontly their mutual relations affecting sIa.
very have been, for many years. subjects of
earnest and often excited discussion. 1t is
In my way only to show how such disputes
have operated on the course of political
events, not to reopen them for argument
hero. There was slave insurrcction in
Virginia. Virginia and Kentucky debated
and, to tho great sorro v of tho free States
rejected tho system o! voluntary labor, Th,
Colonization Society was established with
much favor in tho capital States. Emanci
patton societies arose in tho free States
South Carolina instituted proceedings tc
nullify obnoxious Federal revonuo laws
The capital States complained OF courts anc
Legislatures in the labor States for inter
preting tho constitutional provision for tht
surrender OF fugitivus from service so as tc
treat them as persons, and not property
and they Disseminated against colored per
sons of the labor States, when they camo &c
tho capital States. Thoy denied in Congress,
the right Of petition. and embarrassed or de-
MED freedom Of debate on tho subject O,
slavery. Presses. which undertook tho de-
feuco Of the labor system in the capita
States, were suppressed by violence, snd
even in the labor States, public assemblies
convened to consider slavery questions
were dispersed BY mobs sympatbi1iug with
the capital States.
Tho Wing party, being generally on op-
position party, practised some forbearance
toward the interest of labor. Tho Demo.
cratic party, not without demonstrations OF
dissent, was generally found sustaining the
policy of capital. A disposition towards
tho removal of slavery from the presence ot
tho national Capitol appeared in tho Dis
irict of Columbia. Mr.. Van Buren, q Dem
ocratic President, launched q prospective
veto sgaint tho anticipated measure. A
Democratic Congress brought Texas into
tho union, stipulating practically for it's fu
turo reorganization in four slave States
Mexico was incensed. War ensued. The
labor States asked that tho Mexican law oil
liberty, which covered the territories brought
in BY the treaty of peace, might remain and
Le confirmed. Tho Democratic party re.
fused. The Missouri debate of 1920 recur
red now, under circumstances of heat and
excitement. in relation 10 these conuuests
The defenders of labor took alarm lest the
number Of now capital Statos might become
SO great as to ensblo that class Of States TO
dictate the whole policy of tho Government,
and in case Of constitutional resistance, then
to form a new sIaveholding confederacy
around the Gulf Of Mexico. BY this time,
the capital States seemed to have Secome
fixed in determination that tho Federal
Government, and even tho labor States
should recognize their slaves, though out.
side of the slave States. and within ,ho terri
tories Of the United States, rs property OF
which the master could not be in any way
or by any authority divested and tho labol
States, having become now more essential ,
Democratic than ever before, by the groal
development of free labor, more firmly thar
ever insisted on the constitutional dootrin,
that slaves voluntarily carried by their mas
ters into the common territories or into Labor
States, are persons-men.
Under tho nuspicious influence of Whil
success, California and New Mexico appear
ed before Congress as labor States. Tn,
capital States refused to consent to the
admission into the Union and again threat
of disunion carried terror and CONSERVATION
throughout the land. Another compromis,
was made. Specific enactments admitted
California as labor State, and remandeC
Now Mexico and Utah to remain Terrific
ries, with the right to choose freedom OF
slavery when ripened into States, while the,
gave new remedies for tho reception of fu.
gtives from service, and abolished tho open
slave market in tho District Of Columbia
Those new onactments. collated W it'll the
existing statutes, namely, the ordinance o.
1887, the Missouri prohbitory law of 1920
and tho articles of Texas annexation, dis
posed by law of the subject of alavery in al
the Territories of tho United States. Anc
so tho compromise of 1850 was pronounced
y full. final absolute, and comprehensiv,
settlemen: of all existing and all possible
disputes concerning slavery under the Fed
eral authority. The two great parties fear
full for the Union, struck hands in making
and in presenting this as an adjustment
never afterward to be opened, disturbed, ol
even questioned. and the people accepted il
by msjorities unknown before. The nov
President, chosen over an illustrious rival
unequvocslly on tho ground of greater
ability. even it not more reliable purpose to
maintain tho new treaty inviolate, made
haste to justify this expectation when Con
gress assembled. Ho said
"When the grave shall have closed over all
who arc now endeavoring to meet the OBJ
legations of duty, tho year 1850 will DO re
Cured to as period filled with anxiety and
apprehension. A succossful war has Just
terminated; ; peace brought with it a great
augmentation of territory. Disturbing ques.
tions arose bearing upon tho domestic in.
stitutions of a portion of the Confederacy
and involving the constitutional rights OF
tho States. But, Notwithstanding differ.
ences Of opinion and sentiment, in relation
to details and specific provisions, the acqui-
escenco of distinguished citizens, whose do.
votion to tho Union can never be doubted
has given renewed vigor to our institutions.
and restored sense of security and repose
to the public mind throughout the Confed
eracy. That this repose is 10 suffer no
shock during my official term, if have the
power to avert il, those who placed me here
may be assured"
Hardly. however, had these inspiring
sounds died away. throughout re -assur-
ed and delighted land. before the national
repose was shocked again-shocked, in
deed. as it had never before been, and
smitten this time by blow from the very
hand that had just released the chords Of
the national harp from their utterance Of
that exalted symphony OF peace. Kansas
and Nebraska, the long devoted reserva-
tion Of labor and freedom, saved in the
agony OF rational fear in 1920, and saved
again in the panic Of 1850, were now to