Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-09

nj Nlatee unquetiiOnnhly have e...,
Thcy wore acquired Wy meah, o
mon expenditure Of blood asa
nv The Federal Constitution no..
en- 10 Congress ITO diepcse AZ ,'i
all needful rules aud rcgulalioo'
ing tho territory aud other proa'
longing 10 the United SlatesDFv
under this or any other povc, !,
NV ihe Constitution, Compress !.
hibit or protect slavery In tho ,s's
has bocn seriously questioned ~
the power to legislate upon nj,
and important subject was clea,,,
in Congress, in my judgment II ~
to be exercised. To declare thai
shall not existin the Territories
lated TO exclude from their a.
the citizens Of the southern or ~
ing States while, to make it als
tuition in all the territories OF In,
States, by Congressional encctms
to provide for its continuann
their entire territorial existence N
equally injurious to the people Of
States. The principle adopted
| Compromise measures Of 1850. for
ing Of the question of slavery |,
Mexico and Utah, and reiterated
Kansas and Nebraska bills of 1854
| intervention by Congress with slu
the States and in the Territoris
true rule. 1t is tho duty of Co,
when o sufficient number of hrd
adventurous pioneers find their Nj
our distant Territories, to furnish d
shield of protection and form Of
ment; but to tho people themsel1]
long the right to regulate Their u
mestic institutions in their own wr
ject only to the Constitution Of thsr
States.
While these views have long bs
tertained by me. and while | am sit
of the opinion that their general adj
and fairhful enforcement would
preserved and may yet restore, peas
harmony to all sections Of the cout
aln nevertheless not so welded 10
not 10 reject. unceremoniouSly, all
propositions for the settlement \
vexed questions which now threat
sunder the bonds which for three
ters of century have made us one 4
Forty years ago our fathers set.1
angry controversy growing out ofi
lar question, by dividing the TemiI
purchased from France, and prOvI
that slavery or involuntary srit
should not exist north of n certain (
and the whole country acquiesceAm IN
compromise. In 1854, that restr
upon slavery was removed, and the h
Of all the Territories were left free b
eide the question for themselves
the sectional issue is again presen!el
the dominant party in the north. clai
that slavery cannot legally go int
Territories even if sanctioned BY
gress or the Territorial Legislatures
that it is the right and the duty Of
gress to prohibit its existence. wa
doctrine which obtains with maj1
the people in most of the southern
is that under the Constitution, the
tories are all open to slavery; ih'
ther Congress nor the Territorial L
ture can lawfully prohibit its exi,
and that it is the duty Of Congress
vide for it all needful protection, m
not wisely follow the example Of o
theirs, by re-enacting the old comp
line Of 1920, and extending it to the
Diary of California ? Not by the nj
legislation of doubtful constitute
but by an amenmentd to the ,cons
itself, and thus permanently fix th'
dition Of the Territories, so that tho
desire to occupy them, may find q
at their discretion, either where 5
is tolerated, or where it is prohibit;
the adoption of such an amen
would peacefully settle the diff
which now surround US, | am satish'
it would be sanctioned by the pc
Pennsylvania. At all events, they
have an opportunity to accept or n
If made as a peace Offering.
therefore, recommend the Generd
bly, to instruct and request our 81
and Representatives in Congress u
port proposition for such an amer
Of the Constitution, TO be submit
ratification or rejection, to .conrer
delegates, elected directly by the
of the State.
In the event of the failure Of c.
speedily TO propose this or a
amendment, 10 the Constitute
citizens Of Pennsylvania should h
opportunity, by the application
Ipeacerble remedr, to prevent the d
berment of this Union. This ca
be done by calling convention
gotes, to be elected by the people,
view solely to the consideration (
measures should be taken to m
present fearful exigencies. If c
should propose no remedy, let it &
from the source ofall authority, the
themselves.
Every attempt, upon the part
viduals, or of organized societies,
the people away from their a!egi
the government, to induce them
late any of the provisions of the c
tisn. or to incite instructions in
the States of this Union, ougl
prohibited by law, as crimes Of h
bic natute. 1t is of the first imp
to the perpetuity Of this great Uni
the hearts of the people, and the
Of their constituted authorities, sh
in unison, in giving a faithful sup
the Constitution OF the United 5
The people of Pennsylvania are
to the Union. They will follow il
and its stripes through every peri
before assuming the high respons
now dimly foreshadowed, it is tn,
emn duty to remove every just c