The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-30

But on a direct iSs le, with all who chnIi IN the
Union on one side. and all who desire lis dis
solution by force on the other, the verd C
woul b. prompt AMI almost unanimous. de
site thus to simplify the is iue, and for that
purpose to saperate from il all collater al queS-
tions, and relieve it Of all partisan passions
and prejudices ~....
/ Iconsider the idea of the withdrawal Of
the GufStates, and their permanent reor-
canization with or without others in a
distinct Conf'deracy as a means of advan-
tags to themselves, so certainly unwiSe
and so obviously impossible oL execution,
when the purpose is under TODD,
that dismiss it with the discussion
have already incidently bestowed upon it,
! The cas-, is different however. in regard
to the other SUI jccts which | lave
brought in this connection before the Sen
ate. .. -a...
| Beyond doubt, Union is vially impor-
tant to the Republican citizens of the United
States; but ii j. Just as important to the
whole people. RepublicaniSm AID Uni n
are, therefore, not convertible terms Re.
pub'icanism i subordinat to Union, 80 eve
rything else is AMI ought TO be l. 'pu' lican-
ism. Democracy, every other political name
and thing; all a.e subordinate and they
ought to disappear in the pre- cnce of the
great question Of Union So far as | am
concerned, it shall be so: it should be so if
the qIeStion were sure to be tried as it ought
only to be determined, BY the peaceful or
deal Of the ballot. 1t shall he so all the
more since there is on one side preparedness
to ref to the arbitrament Of civil war -
I have such faith in this republican system
of ours, that there is no political good which
| desire that / am not content tD seek
through its peaceful forms of administration
without invoking revolutionary action. Ii
others shall invoke that form Of action to op-
pose and overthrow Government, they
shall not, so far as it depends on me, have
the excuse that obstinately left myself to
be misunderstood. In such a case | can af-
ford to IN let prejudice with conciliaton, ex-
action with concession which surrcnders no
principle and violence with the right hand of
peace Therefore, sir, so far aS the abstract
question whether, by the Constitution of the
United States. the bondsman, who is made
such by the laws of State, is still man or
onlyproperty. ANSWER that within hat Stale
its laws on that subject are supreme; that
when he has escaped from that State into an
other. the Constitution regards him as a
bondsman who may not, by any law or reg.
ulation Of that State, be discharged from his
service, but shall be delivered up, on claim,
to the party to whoel his service is due
While prudence and Justice would combine
in persuading you to modify the acts Of Con-
gress on that subject, so as not to oblige phi
vate persons to assist in their execution, and
to protect frermen from being, by abuse Of
the laws, carried into slavery, | agree that
all laws of the States, whether free States or
slave States, which relate TO this class OF per
sons, or any others recently coming from or
resident in other States, and which laws
contravene the Constitution Of the United
States, or any law ofCongress passed in con-
foraaity thereto. ou.ht-ts-b--rrr-r.crff:-
4 Secondly Experience in public affairs
has confirmed my opinion, that domestic sla-
verv, existing in any State, is wisely left by
the Constitution of the United States exclu-
sively to the care management, and DISPOSE
| ton of that State; and if it were in nv pow
| er, would not alter the Constitution in
that respect. If fmisapprehenSion Of my po-
Ii sition needs so strong remedy. am willing
/ to vote for an amendment of the Constitu-
/ tion declaring that it shall not, by any fu
ture amendment be so altered as to cenftr
on Congress power to abolish or interfere
| with slavery in any State.
Thrdly--Mhile | tllink-ehat Congress
has exclusive and sovereign authority to leg.
islate on all subjects whatever. in the com
mon Territories of the United States; and
while certainly shall never, directly or in
directly, give my vote to establish or sane
ton slavery in such Territories, or any
where else in the world, yet the question
what constitution al laws shall at any time
be passed in regard to the Territories, is.
like every other question. to be determined
on practical grounds. Ivoted for enabling
acts in he cases of Oreron, Minnesota, and
Kansas. without being able to sec Ire in them
such provisions as would have preferred
and yet voted wisely. So now, am well
satisfied t'iat, under existing circumstances
a happy and satisfactory solution Of the diff
ficuties in the remaining Territories would
be obtained by similar laws providing for
their organization, if such organ zation were
otherwise practicable. If, therefore, Kansas
were admitted as State, under the Wyan.
7 dotte constitution, as think she ought to
be, and if the organic laws Of all the other
Territories could be repealed could vote tc
authorize the organization and admission o
two new States. which should include them
reserving the right to effect subdivisions OF
them when ever necessary into several con.
venient States; but do not find that such
reservations could be constitutionally made
Without them, the ulterior embarrassments
which would result from the hasty incorpo.
ration of States OF such vast extent and vari.
Gus interests and character would outweigh
all the immediate advantages of such meas
urc. But if the measure were practi
cable, should prefer different course
namely: when the eccentric movements o.
secession and disunion shall have ended, in
whatever form that end may come. and the
angry excitement of the hour shall have sub
sided, and calmness once more shall have re
sumed its accustomed sway oyer the public
mind, then. and not until then-one. two, o,
three years henee--I should chcerfully
. advise a convention of the people. t. be as
sembled in pursuance Of the Constitution. tc
consider and decide whether any and wha
amendments Of the organic national law
, ought to be made. A Republican new-as
have heretofore been a member of Other
parties existing in my day-I nevertheless:
hold and cherish, as | have always done
the principle that this Government exists il
its present form only by the consent of tn
governed, and that it is as necessary as it i
wise, to resort to the people for revisions o
the organic law when the trouble and DANCE
, OF the State certainly transcend the power
delegated by it to the public authorities. No
ought the suggestion to excite surprise. Gov
, ernment in any form is machine; this is th
, most complex one that the mind of man ha.
ever invented, or the hand of man has eve
framed Perfect as it is, it ought to be ey
I IA