The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-04-02

have the Constitutional right 10 legie-
late upon, or TO interfere with slavery in
any of the elaveholding States in the Uni
on" The resolution passed the House of
Congress without a dissenting vote, and
was everywhere heralded TO the world as
the expressed opinion of the Republican,
party on the tight of States TO control their
domestic institutions. How many Repub-
lican members Of Congress who voted for
that resolution, are willing 10 acknowledge
it as binding on themselves and parry ?
very small minority.
President Lincoln in his inaugural ad-
dress on the 4lh of March, 1861, said 81
have no purpose, directly OF indirectly, 10
interfere with the institution OF slavery in
the States where il exists. ! believe have
no lawful right 10 do so, and ! have no in-
cIinaton to DO so.p AS if determined that
his position on this subject should not be
misunderstood by either friend or foe, he
further said. s:There is much controversy
about The delivering up OF fugtives from
service or labor. The clause | now read is
as plainly written in the Constitution as
any other of its provisions. "No psrson
held TO service or labor io one State under
the laws thereof escaping into another, shall
in consequences of any law or regulation
therein be discharged from such service or
labor. but shall be delivered up on claim of
the party TO whom such service or labor
may DUE" II is scarcely questionable that
this provision was intended by those who
made it for The reclaimng of what we call
fugitive slaves and The intention of the
laweiver is the law. All members of Con-
gress swear their support to the whole Con-
stitution, this provision as much as any
other To The proposition, then, that
! slaves whose cases come within the terms
OF this clause, shall be delivered up, their
! oa,hs are unanimous" Again in his Mes
| sage TO the extra Session of Congress, July
4,h, 1861, he says "Lest there be some IN
BUSINESS in The minds of candid men as 10
what is TO be the course of The Government
/ towards Southern States after the rebellion
shall have been suppressed, the Executive
deems it proper TO say it will be his pur-
pose then, as ever, to be guided by the
! Constitution and the laws and that he will
probably have no different understanding
I of the powers and duties of the Federal
Government relatively to the rights OF The
States and the people under the Constiiu.
ton than that expressed in The inaugural
address"
On the 10th of April, 1861, Mr.. Seward
wrote to Mr.. Adams, our minister TO Eng
| land lyon will indulge in no expressions
of harshness or disrespeci, or even iinpa-
iience, concerning the seeded States,
their agents, or their people; but you will
on the contrary, all the while remember
that those states are now, as they always
heretofore have been, and, notwithstand
irg their temporary self>delusion, they must
always continue 10 be, equal and honored
members OF this Federal Union, and that
their citizens, throughout all political mis-
understandings and alterations, still are and
always most be our kindred and country
men, Again, in his letter TO Mr. Dayton
our Minister to the Court of France, bear
ing date April 22d. 1861, he says, "The ter.
ritories will remain in all respects the same
whether the revolution shall succeed oil
shall fail. The condition OF Slavery in the
several States will remain just the same
whether il succeed or fail. There is moi
even a preiexi for the complaint that the
disaffecied States are TO be conquered by
the United States If the revolution shall isi
for the rights of the States aud the condition
9 of every human being in them vii! remain
subject to exactly the came laws and forms
| OF administration whether the revolution
shall succeed or fail On the commence
ment of hosiliies Secretary Cameron, said,
"Tbis is war for the Union, for the preser'
walton of all constitutional rights of States,
aud the citizens of all the States OF the Uni
cnD Oa the 22nd of July, 1861, the follow.
ing resolution was introduced into the House
! of Congress and passed -" "Resotred, Thai
this war is not waged on their part in any
spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose of
conquest or subjugation, nor for the purpose
of oyerthrowiDg or interfering with the rights
or established institutions of those States
but to defend and maintain the supremacy
of the constitution and 10 preserve the Uni
OIL with. all the dignity, equality, and rights
of the several States unimp paired and thai
as soon as these objects are accomplished
:he war onght TO cease"
Here then we have the solemn assurance
of the President and his Secretaries, iha
the object OF The war was TO restore :he Uni
on, and for that purpose alone. We have
also the pledges OF his political frienes in
both branches of Congress that the war wa'
waged in no spirit of subingalion, or will
any desire in their part TO intefere with the
institutions of The several States. The las
of these pledges was given on the 22nd o
July, 1861, when our routed forces were
entering the capitol of the nation, and the
boastful advocates of abolilionism were
trembling for their own safety. Now
where are thevs As soon as the gallan