Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1861-05-21
70 the agent appointed. b

subordinate to the agent appointed. b.
themselves.
The people Of the Southern States,
whose almost exclusive occupation was
agriculture early perceived d tendency To-
the Northern States 70 render the com
mon government subseryient to their own
purposes, by imposing burthens on COM
Smerce as 8 protection to their mapufac-
turing and shipping interests. Long and
angry controversy grew out Of these at
tempts. often successful, to benefit one
section Of the country at the expense Of
The other. And the danger Of disruption
arising from this cause was enhanced BY
The fact that the Northern population
was increasing By immigration and other
causes In q greater ratio than the popu-
lation of the South. BY degrees as the
Northern States gained preponderspce ia
the National Congress-, self-interest
taught their people 70 yield ready assent
10 any plausible advocacy of their right
as majority to govern the minority
without control they learned to listen
with impotence to the suggestion Of auy
constitutional impediment to the exercise
Iof their will; and SO utterly have the
principles of the Constitution been cor.
rupted IN the Northern mind. that n lie
inaugural address delivered by president
Lincoln in March last, he asserts 81 An
axiom, which he plainly deems to Be m n
deniable, that The theory Of the Constitu.
tion requires that in all cases the MAORI
y shall govern; and in another memoir.
able instance, the same Chief Magistrate
did not hesitate TO liken the relation be-
tween q State and the United States to
those which exist between i county and
the State in which il is situated and by
which it was created. This is the la
mentable and fundamental error on
which rests the policy that has culmina-
ted in his declaration OF war against these
Confederate States.
In addition to the long. continued and
deep:seated resentment felt by the South
ern States at the persistent abuse of the
powers they had delegated to- the Cen
gress, for the purpose Of ,enriching the
manufacturing and shipping classes OF
the North at the expense Of the South,
there has existed for nearly half centu-
~ another subject Of discord, involving
interests Of such transcendant magnitude,
as at all times 70 create the apprehension
10 the 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 Con-
gress, large portion Of the laboring
population consisted Of African slaves,
imported into the colonies by the mother
country. I'M twelve out Of the thirteen
States negro slavery existed. and the
right 81 property 10 slaves was protected
BY law. This property was recognized
Hfa the Constitution, and provision was
made against its loss BY the escape Of the
slave. The increase in numbersof slaves
BY further importation from Africa was
also secured by clause forbidGing Con-
gresss to prohibit the slave trade anterior
70 certain date; and in no clause can
there be found any delegation Of power
70 Congress authorizing it in any man
ner TO legislate 10 the prejudice. detri-
Ement, or discouragement Of the owners Of
that species of property, or.excluding ii
from the protection Of the Government.
The climate and soil of the Northern
States soon proved unpropitious TO the
continuance sof slave labor, whilst the
converse was the case at the South. I'M
der the unrestricted free Intercourse be-
tween the two sections. the Northern
States consulted their own interests by
selling their slaves to the South and pro-
hibiting slavery within their limits. The
South were willing purchasers Of prop.
erty suitable 10 their wants, and paid the
price Of the acquisition without harbor-
ing q suspicion that their quiet possession
was to be disturbed BY those who were
Inhibited, not only by want Of constitu-
tional authority. but BY good faith as ven
ders, from disqnieting a tile emanating
from themselves.
As soon, however, as the Northern
States that prohibited African slavery
within theirIlimits had reached number
suficiMt TO give their representation 4
controlling VOICE in. the Congresse i per-
sistent and ofganized system OF hostile
measures against the rights of the owners
Of slaves ii lie Southern States were IN
augurated, aud gradually extended. Al
continuous series Of measures was devised
and prosecuted for the purpose of render.
ing insecure the tenure Of property 10
slaves fanatieal organizations, supplied
with money BY voluntary subscriptions,
were assiduously engaged in exciting
amonst the slaves aspirit Of discomfort
and revolt means were furnished fol
their escape from their owner. and agents
secretly employed to entice them 70 ab.
scond; the constitutional precision fol
their rendition to their owners was FIRST
eyaded. then openly denounced is vio--
lation Of conscientious obligation and re-.
llgious duty; men were taught that ii
was q merit to elude, disobey, and VIC.
|slently oppose the execution Of the laws
enacted to secure the. performance
[of the promise contained ID the con,
stitutional compact; j, owners Of slaves
were mobbed and even murdered il
open day, solely for applying 10 4
magistrate for the arrest Of fugitive
slave /; the dogmas Of these voluntary or
ganizatiops soon obtained control Of the