Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-03
Address of the Wing Convention.
To THE PEOPLE or VIRGINIA..
CONCLUDED

When Mr.. Pierce entered upon the duties
Of his Office, there had been no time since
the first introduction of this mischieyous elc-
ment into party politics, at which the agi-
tators In both sections were more powerless;
their strength was paraIyzed, and parties
were rallying to bring again 10 issue, the
great questions from which they had 50 long
been led astray 1t was at this uncture,
that the act or 1920, known as the Missouri
Compromise, was repealed, and through the
food-gates of Congress, the slavery discus
sion poured It's torrents over the iand. Of
its disastrous effects, the whole country IS
witness. That it disrupted the wing party;
that it drove from the administration hosts
Of democrats; that il gave rise % the modern
republican organization; that il brought the
two divisions Of the country into angry op-
position, upon a sectional issue; that il caus-
ed civil, and threatened serti.c war; that il
relieved the agitaturS irem their paralysis,
and inyigoratei their strength that lJ swell
led the ranks Of HE disahected, and imperiled
the Union, are facts IF present existing his
tory, the evils and dangers Of which, are yet
t. have their solution.
Had the repeal been demanded by some
great public eZigency IN the affairs ~ the
country, the evils encountered ia it, accom-
plShment, might be compensated by the
| OBJECT Y was SucceSSioi ~ obtaining. DuC
no e%,SeMey pressed - "elh&''d' ~ o'''te
Legislature ana n' l'e'''De' y a,J VIZ Pr
mary assembly Y! t"r PcoPIe; ''''' - ~ IT.
y known, ~ indlFlduai ~ VIZ inaSSeS' sun
up either Prutloh "r request. me sc"e'"o
was cOncOctcd ~ the closet " the politician,
and y serve the ends ~ political adventur-
ers, sprung suddenly from the Senate cham
Der Ga the public. Had \ been designed rs
practical benefit T. the institution y slavery,
- enable the fHTSter 70 settle tne new terri
torres with us slaves Justification ~ excuse
might be tound ior the act ~ tne spirit n
justice on winch u proceeded but VI We're
told by the projectors and advocates " Inc
repeal that The slave owners could not take
possession ~ the lands, because both ma
ture and climate dedicated tt 70 freedom.
But y = sand that the act repealed was
unconstitutional, and has been 81 declared
70 be by the Supreme Court Then the re-
peal was unnecessary, a the att it7eii was
nuIlity but tie case ~ "hlch the judge
ment was rendered was pending before the
Court when the repeating act was introduced,
and - the question n conS1tuuOua''tJ vas
appropriately JudicIaI question ll'eie "aS Y
fitness II leaving i - that arOltrament u
cannot be doubted that had the Goestio" oern
lciJ ~ progress quietly through thc JudicIaI
forum. the judgment would have been re-
cclyed a = ilnal settlement, but dragged IN
timely into party politics, the ycXauon en-
dures t. work rs mischief.
Ihe ntrnaucuoH ~ Africa" slavery INTO
party poAtlcs y the prOllAc cause oi aH our
troubles. II mas proved To- tins country
what the wrath 81 Achilles was - NFeece'
"tnr dlrtul spring II woes nnuumbered.
We trace thIs history Ior the doubt" puT-
pose u exposing the guilty authors, ana eA-
hDitng TIC eyIl itSeI!.
The pubic mind has become, III meas
ure disordered, ana We must nave the oour-
age t. look the disoaseln the face and submit
u tie remedy necessary ior i curc
Tie remedy j. q restore the question "
slavery To the condition IN winch orr fathers
lett il, to be discussed when occasion arise
appropriate to the discussion, and 70 exp"
il forever from tie creed q party. ~ deal
with II properly, demands the pest e%cFVo"s
oi enlightened patriotism ithuia"u ol
the very form u the constitution from tac
common power u AL, ~ was expressly Is
served 70 the States, separately, unucr tne
authority % whose laws u y permitted Y
exist. Constituting large AMI important
interest II these States, y 4 entitled - the
consideration q every State AMI, WITHIN the
just limits u constitutional power, the pr
lection " the common agent. itS religious
i, social, is industrial tendencies belong not
~ others " determine, anu are UNIT ana
improbable i.r others r. discuss. IS are
moi now considering the formation II Els
r'HIedcrary; our nln" = r,tan'.."ca, nee
states are associated WIN SIa' ehoIaiS states
ana what concerns vs. II ho" tod'SrhHfSe 1he
duties that Els compact n assocla'loh 4'-
poses.
Slavery u not now what Y WAS II ,he
commencement u our government H ia
grown INTO proportions iar eSSeeGtnE 'h5
aht'elPaL'onS y our 'at"erS' i"'Y l'IAT"
'o'"ar" " ~ NY VIZ" II 'o"''' o' 1'',Il','
II WIN S'''c'S "u' ~ 'l''''S ~, 05'''',-s
SINCE tlleFe were oo1 II" "un"'e" ''''".
Sa"I slaves !" l'ie country wv" compare,
uVeiy Sna!l prices, rs number "a 'We''ea
y ioor millions constituting lAe lao'r n
one na'i the na'ioh.
y has ~ importance reaching " l'"l''"a'
proportions, ~ produces toH'.ilo"l'''' I"av