Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1861-01-25

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tfiotism. harmony was restored and public
prosperity advanced with lis usual rapid
steps.
The next event which brought the subject
{ OF slavery into public Consideration, was the
annexation Of lexas. The Presidential elec-
tion of 1S44 was made to turn almost entire
Is upoa this single question The great ma
jority ot the people ot the Tree States were
much dissatisfied with The result but with
their views OF duty as cit zens ot a free Re-
public, they submitted, with regret, but with
no disposition to make Improper opposition to
the will OF the people, Expressed IN accord
ance with all the tOrnis Of law Between
this period and that OF Az 1, the puollc mind
was not agitated, nor tha puplic peace ut all
endangered by discussiot OF By Federal Leg
islation, touching the sui ject OF slavery.
The late war Wiitl1 ri, eo resulted IN the
sscssess sIacn OF ferrittirS From tine Mioment
of This ACQUISITION. the question of the occu-
nation 81. the IerrItory ceded by the treaty. Of
peace with slave or free labor, again called
into action all the conflicting opinions and
ideas which have been. and perhaps always
will be, held ON the subject of slavery, until
all men shall be,agTeed as to the moral and
economical principles on which it rests. This
struggle was Intended with all the angry dis
cussions which had so sisnally marked the
two previous contests. Then, as now, disu-
Mon was Threatened; public bodies resolved.
ON secession, and for two Years scarcely any
other question OF interest wis known or dis
cussed in Congress- At length in September,
1851, Congress acted finally on the subject,
and peaceful, though in some quarters, sui
len acuuiescence followed.
The leaders, however, Of all parties at that
time vowed fidelity to that compromise, and
the : u ,ifc mind had reason to h,pe that our
doni.lI;Un having reached the Pacifit ocean.
future ACQUISITION of territory would not be
desired, anu by consequence this disturbing
question could not again arise In 1854,
however, by the repeal of the as of 1921,
known us the Missouri Compromise, and the
attempt to extend slavery into te ritory, where
by that venerable law it had been prohibited;
this disturbing question was again opened
Out of the grave in which it had been buried
in 1850, this fearful spirit of discord arose.
The present deplorable condition of the coun-
try bears witness to the mischief it has
wrought. We see strong and powerful par
ties maintaining opposite opinions on this
very question.
These hostile opinions are strongly adhered
to on each side, leaving little or no hope of
agreement without a surrender of fconvictions
honestly entertained. An adjustment tound-
ed upon legal principles in which all will
agree seams quite impossible. The expedi-
ency of Withdrawing the subject matter OF.
controversy from the conflict ofcPinion, and
by anothermode of settlement giving to the
South and the North all that each under ex
listing circumstances could expect or should
desire to obtain, seemed to the Committee che
best, ifnot the only mode Of peaceful adjust
ment left to us.
The Committee were Impressed with the
belief growing out of admonitions furnished
by our past history, that in a Republic con-
structed as ours is, in all cases when parties
are obstinately divided in opinion upon sub
iects which touch the interests or wake up
the passions of disaffected sections, it is the
clear dictate of wisdom to withdraw the subs
iect in every case possible from the strife of
parties, and TO keep the Federal Government
us far removed from any connection with it
as duty,to the Constitution will permit. The
Committee deem the present controversy in@
volving the righ to carry slavery into terri
tory not vet formed into State governments.
one peculiarly fitted for the application d. the
principle lust announced.
II ia contended nm the one hand thnt IN all
the terr;tor,, now ,,ossess;5,, 81 tla Tinted
Sta,es NOT en,hraced MI, hin tl,a li,,;fs of any
Stote and lv;no, sonth of The ,,,r,,lleI of 8f;o
ety nortb Iat;tn5s sIsvery slalI he rtsc,,yrfized
and nroteoted by law. 4The territory tbus
defined comnrabsnls fl,a no,r f,roanized fer.
r;;tory Sof Nav Mcxico ;nclndin9 4 Ar;;zona.
which last bv law of I'm res h,s been ats
tached 70 and made naT, of New Mexico. u
This territory was oreanized in 1856. BY