The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-04-23


gained under its operation majority
of the States, and then turn upon them
and exercise power which they had re-
Trained from exercising over Us.
This doctrine of non-intervention by the
Federal Government with the slavery ques-
ton, leaving the people to settle it for them
selves, was established in 1887 when the
Constitution was adopted by the slavehold
ing STATES. They had the power over us
then, if they pleased to exercise it. Being
thus established, it was allowed 10 work out
its own results for thirty years; during which
time slavery was abolished in six OF the
twelve original slavehoIding States: Penn
sylvania, New Jersey, New York. Connec-
ticut, Rhode Island, and New hampshire
These States all abolished slavery after the
adoption of the Constitution. Under what
principle did slavery disappear from these
States, not by the interference OF the Fed
eral Government. nor according to modern
Republican principles. but by the free AMI
voluntary action OF the people themselves
under the operation of that great principle
of popular sovereignty, which asserrs that
the people OF each State and Territory may
have slavery as long as they choose, aud
abolish il at their pleasure.
presume that no person doubts that
these States were slaveholding States at the
period Of which speak II there are any
doubts on the subject, would invite alten-
ton to Mr. Stewards late speech at Chicago,
ia which he tells the people that he was
born STAKEHOLDER. ! wish he had inform
ed US of what disposition he made OF his
slaves whether or not he sold them, and
pu; the money into his pocket. 1t is true
that when a young man, he went 10 Ga,
and lived there some time but never
! heard that he took his slaves with him.
am inclined 10 think that he lost them by
| the action of the Legislature of New York,
which abolished slavery OF in other words,
that popular sovereignty took Them away
! from him. But FAR be il for me 10 intimate
| that that fact accounts, in the slightest de
! gree, for his undying hostility TO the doc
triue. Be that as it may, slavery was abol-
i>hed in the State of New York by the free
action OF the people. Emancipation went
on, under the principle OF non-inlervention
| by the Federal Government, up 10 the yeaI
| 1920. Will any Republican tell me what
/ State has abolished slavery since that time
In 1920 Congress for the first time attempt
ed 10 interfere with this queslion-to decide
it themselves instead of allowing the peo'
/ pie 10 do it-and from that day 10 this, nc
| State ror Territory has abolished slavery Oh
/ the America an continent. True, from the
moment that the Federal Government took
charge of the question emancipation ceased
I | ask any one 10 reflect on these facts and
+ tell me what good has resulted from this
sectional strife. GpS7cer no good! The frs
time that Congress touched the question il
stirred up discenson between the north and
the soulh, which was almost carried TO The
point OF dissolution OF the Union. You al
recolIect the fearful Missouri controversy,
which arose from the attempt on the par
of Congress to prohibit Slavery where the
people wanted it, and it was adjusted or
the theory Of running a geographical line
across the continent. as far as our territory
went, prohibiting slavery forever on :he
north side-of he line and recognizing the
right 10 have it on the south side. The peo
pie OF This country, Wings and Democrats,
acauesced in the Missouri Compromise NJ
to 1s4S
In ls45 when Congress passed joint res
olution for the annexation OF Texas, The
question arose as to wha, should be done
in relation TO the subject of slavery, mas
much as Texas laid on both sides OF the
line The records will show, that at Ste
phen A. Douglas suggestion, the Missouri
Compromise was extended through Texas
i in the same sense, and with the same un
derstanding, with which it was originally
adopted The reason Douglas assigned a
thai, while he could not recommend II upor
principle yet inasmuch as the people o
this country had acquesced In II so.long
without murmur, he said his love for the
Union and his desire 10 have peace in the
country induced him to yield acquiescence
/ This Compromise was affirmed and exten
i ded TO the western borders of Texas in 1S45
In l84s, after we acquired California anc
New Mexico, the question arose as TO wha
kind of Government should be given Il
:hese territories The record shows that, OF
Douglas motion, bill was passed through
the Senate extending the Missouri Compro
mise line TO the Pacific Ocean, in The same
sense, and with the same understanding
with which !, was frst adonied sbut II wa,
defeated in the House by Northern mer
with free soil proclivities. II the Missouri
Compromise had been carried out in gooC
faith, by extending the line 10 the Pacific
i Ocean, there would have been an end o
this slavery controversy forever. After
was defeated by the free .soilers of the norti
there arose another excitement as feariu
and poreutous to the safely of the Re
npblic as The one of 1920. The free-soiler