The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-05-17

agent appointed by themselves
The people of the Southern States, whose al.
most exclusive occupation was agriculture, ear.
| ly perceived tendency in the Northern States
10 render the common government subservient
to Their own purposes, by imposing burthens on
commerce as protection TO the manufacturing
and shipping interests. Long and angry CON
troveTsy grew out of these attempts, often sue
cessiul, to benefit one section OF the country al
the expense OF the other. And the danger oi
disruption arising from this cause was enhanced
by the fact that the NortherE population was
increasing by immigration aud other causes in
a greater ratio than The population OF the South.
BY degrees as the Northern States gained pre-
ponderance in the National Congress, selfinter-
est taught their people 10 yield ready assent to
any plausible advocacy of their right as ma
lorIiy to govern the minority without control ;
they learned to listen with Impotence to the
suggestions of any constitutional impediment 20
the exercise OF their will and so utterly have
;he principles of the Constitution been corrupt
ed in the Northern mind, that in the inaugural
address delivered by President Lincoln in March
last, he asserts as an axiom which he plainly
deems to be undeniabie, that the theory Of the
Constitution requires that IN all cases the ma
Jorlty shall govern and in another memorable
instance the same Chief Magistrate Did not hes
itae TO liken the relations between a Safe aud
the United States to those which exist between
a 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 culminatAd in his declara-
ton oi war against these Confederate States
In addition to the long continued and deep
seated resentment felt by the Southern States
at the persistent abuse of the powers they had
delegated TO the Congress, Tor the purpose OF en-
rlching the manufacturing and shipping classes
at the North at the expense OF the South, there
has existed for nearly half century another
su0J1ct of discord, involving interests of such
transcendent magnitude as at all times to Gre
ate the apprehension in the minds of many de-
voted lovers ofthe Union, that lis permanence
was impossible.
When the several States delegated certain
powers TO the United States Congress, a large
portion of the laboTing population consisted OF
African slaves imported into the colonies by the
mother country. In twelve, out OF the thir-
teen States, negro slavery existed, and the right
OF property in slaves was protected by law
This property was recognized in the Constilu-
tion, and provision was made against its loss by
tue escape OF the siuNv4z- - -
number OF slaves by further Importation from
Africa was also secured by clause iorb,ddlng
Congress TO prohibit the slave trade anterior to
a certain date and in no clause eau there be
found auy delegation Of power TO the Congress
authorizing it in any manner 10 legtslate to the
prejudice, detrIment or Encouragement 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 unpropitous TO the continuance Of
slave labor, whilst the converse was the case at
the South Under the unrestricted free inter-
course between the two sections, the Northera
States consulted their own interests By selling
their slaves to the South, and prohibiting sa-
very within their limits. The South were will
ling purchasers Of property suitable 10 their
wants, ard paid the price OF the acquisition
without hartorng suspicion that their quiet
possession was TO be disturbed by those who
were inhibited, not only by want of constitu-
iona authority, but By good faith as vendors,
from disquieting title emanaung from them
selves
AS soor, however, as the Northern States that
prohibited African Slavery within their limits
had reached number sufficient to give atheir
controlling voice in the Con-
gress, persistent and organized system Of hos
tile measures against the rights OF the owners of
slaves in the Soulhern States was inauguyaled
and gradually extended. A continuous series
Of measures was CevlSeo and prosecuted for the
purpose Of rendering insecure the tenure of
in slaves; ianatical organizations, sup
piled with money by voluntary subscriptions,
were assiduously engaged in exciting amongst
the slaves spirit of discomfort aud revolt
means wsre furnished for their escape from
their owners, and agents secretly employed to
autice them to abscond, the constitutional pro-
,ision for their rendition to their owners was
irsl avaded, then openly denounced as a viola
ion of conscientious obligation and religious
Iuty men were taught t2at 1t was merit to
Jude. disobey, and violently oppose The exc
,ution Of the laws enacted to secure l2e Perior-
nance of The promise contained 10 the consl!tu'
ronaI compac: owners Of slaves were mobbed
md egen murdered in open dav, solely for ap- |
1lyiag to ) magistrate for the arrest Of tugi
i've slave the dogmas OF these voluntary or
soon obtained control Of the legisa-
lures of many Of the Northern States, and laws
we're passed providing for the punishment by
-uinons fines and long continued Imprisonment
n iais and penitentlarirs, of citizens Of the
Southern States who should dare 10 ask aid Of
he officers of the law for the recovery of their
property. Emboldened by success, the theatre
If agitation and aggression against the clearly
expressed constitutional rights OF the Southern
States was transferred TO the Congress Sena-
ors and representatives we're sent to The COM
mon councils of the nation, whose chief title to
his distinction consisted IN the display Of a spir-
Il If Mira fana.iciSm and whose business was,
not 'Eto promote the general welfare or ensure
domestic tranquility" but to awaken the bit
terpst hatred against the citizens OF sister States