The Van Buren press., 1861-06-05

FIT one section of the country at the ex-
pense of the other, and the danger of dis |
ruption arising from this cause was enhan.
eed by the fact that the Northern population
was increasing faster by immigration and
other causes than the population Of the
South.
By degrees, as the Northern States gain
cd preponderance in the National Congress.
self. interest taught their people to yield
ready assent to any plausible advocacy of
their right as a majority to govern the mi
nority. Without control. they learned to
listen with iupatience to the suggestion Of
any Constitutional imPediment to the exer-
else OF their will and SO utterly have the
principles of the Constitution been corrup-
ted in the Northern mind. that in the inau
gural address delivered BY President Lin
coin in March last, he asscrts--as max
Inn whidh he rsaihA dos. = e be undsniakle
that the theory Of the Constitution re-
Quires, in all cases. that the majority shall
govern. And in another memorable in.
stance the same chief magistrate did not
hesitate to liken the relations between States
and the United States to those which exist
between the county and the State in which
it is situated, and by which it was created
This is the lamentable and fundamental
error in which rests the policy that has cul-
minated in his declaration of war against
these Confederate States. In addition to
the long-continued and deep-rooted resent
mel.t felt by the Southern States at the per-
sistent abuse of the powers they had dele.
gated to the Congress, for the purpose of
enriching the manufacturing classes of the
North, at the expense of the South.
There has exist ed for nearly half q CEN
tury another subject of discord, involving
interests of such transcendent magnitude as
at all timss to create the apprehension in
the minds of many devoted lovers of the
Union. that its permanence was impossible.
When the several States delegated GER
tain powers to the United States Congress,
a large portion Of the laboring population
was imported into the colonies by the moth
er country. In twelve out of the fifteen
States. negro slavery existed, and the right
of property existing in slaves, was protect.
ed by law. This property was recognised
in the Constitution. and provision was
made against its loss by the escape Of tn,
slave.
The increase in the number of slaves by
foreign importation from Africa was alst
secured by clause forbidding Congress tc
prohibit the slave trade, anterior to a certain
date /; and in no clause can there be fount
any delegation of power to the Congress t.
authorise it in any manner to legislate t.
the prejudice, detriment or discouragemen
of the owners of that species of property
or excluding it from the protection Of tn,
government.
The climate and soil of the Northern
States soon proved unpropitious to the con
tinuance of slave labor. while the revers
being the case at the South, made unrestrict
, cd free intercourse between the two sections
unfriendly.
The Northern States consulted their ow,
interests by selling their slaves to the Soutl
and prohibiting slavery within their limits
The South were willing purchasers of prop
erty suitable to their wants, and paid tn
price of the acquisition without harboring
suspicion that their quiet possession was t.
be disturbed by those who were not only j,
want of Constitutional authority, but b,
good faith, as venders, from disputing
title emanating from themselves.
AS soon, however, as the Northern State
that prohibited African slavery within thei
limits had reached q number sufficient t.
give them a C ntrolling vote in Congress,
persistent and organised system of hostil
measures against the rights of the owner
of slaves in the Southern States was inau
gurated, and gradually extended. A serie
of measures were devised and prose
cuted, for the purpose of rendering insecur
the tenure of property in slaves.
Fanaticai organizations, supplied will
money by voluntary subscriptions, were as
siduously engaged in exciting amongst tn,
slaves spirit Of discomfort and revolt
Means were furnished for their escape from
their owners, and agents secretly employed
to entice them to abscond.
The constitutional provision for thei
rendition to their owners WAS first evaded
then openly denounced as q violation O
conscientious obligation and religious duty
Men were taught that it was merit to elud
disobey. and violently oppose the execution
of the laws enacted to secure the perform
ance of the promise contained in the con
stitutional compact. Often owners Of slave
were mytbed and even murdered in opel
day, solely for applying to a magistrate fol
the arrest of fugitive slaves.
The dogmas of the voluntary organiza
cations soon obtained control of the lsgis
latu-es of many of the Northern States an
laws were passed for the punishment by III
inous fines and long continued imprison
ment in jails and penitsntiaries of citizen
of the Southern States, who should dar
ask aid of the officers of the law for the re
covery of their property. Emboldened b.
success, the theatre of aggression agains
the clearly expressed constitutional right
of the Congress, Senators and Representa-
tives were sent to the common councils o
the nation, whose chief title to this distinc
ton consisted in the display of spirit Q
ultra fanaticism, and whose business was
not to promote the general welfare, or en-
sure domestic tranquility, but to awaken tn
bi::erest hatred against the citizens of sis
ter States by violent denunciation Of thci
institutions.
The transaction of public affairs was i'm
pcded by repeated efforts to usurp power
not delegated by the constitution. for tn
purpose of impairing the security of proper
ty in slaves, and reducing those States whic
held slaves to q condition of inferiority.
| Finally, great party was organized 70
the purpose OF obtaining the administration
of the government, with the avowed objec
of using its power for the total exclusion
of the slave States from all participation il
| the benefits of the Dublic domain acouire