The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-03-06

Slavery amongst them, would not consent
to enter the Union, unless the Copstltu-
ton contained some guaranty that the
General government would not Interfere
with the institution The achievement
of our independence had indeed been
great consummation, but the infinite va
riety of conflicting interests which had to
he disposed Of and provided for, rendered
it an exceedingly difficult and delicate
task 10 form government which could
preserve WHIST had been so dearly won.
Nothing but compromise" could effect
tho great object The old Confederation
had proved Iameatabiy defective, and its
place had to be supplied by stronger
and better system. The States being
original sovereign, and independent IN
everything, were exceedingly jealous and
tenacious Of their rights and Tor time
1t was feared by the great patriots OF that
day, that a compromise could not be made
which would settle the diverse interests
of the States, and at the same time pro-
mote the welfare Of the General govern
ment sought to be established. But
while the enemies Of Liberty everywhere
were anxiousiy hoping for failure, the
Federal Constitution was finally adopted,
ard the Union formed.
In this great work, it became necessa-
ry to define precisely the powers OF the
General Government, so as to avoid Sny
interference with, or encroachment upon,
tho rights Of the individual States
These powers were, therefore, distinctly
enumerated in the Constitution, whilst
the following provision-tbc Tenth Artl-
Gle of the Amendmepts-was inserted for
the purpose Of determining State rights
-"The powers not delegated TO the l III
ted States by the Constitution, nor pro-
hibited by it to the States, are reseTred to
the States respectively, or to the people" "
From this it follows, that the several
States were left entirely sovereign and IN
dependent in relation to the institution
of Slavery within their respective limits,
the power to control it not being delega-
:ed by the Constitution to the General
Government, but re$eryed to the States
themselves Aud this, Of course, applies
to the States afterwards admitted under
the Constitution, as well as to the origi-
nal States of the Union.
4I,,,- 60 o7,y. opoactorc loft
the question OF Slavery, and, as a c0Gse-
quence, we must see who are the parties
responsible for It's continuance in our
| country. The free States, it must be ad-
mitted, were in measure responsible for
It's or;gln, but they have long since made
| ample atonement by abolishing it within
their respective limits. But in the exer-
else of political power, they could not
rightfully go further than this. Without
violating the Constitution, how would it
| be possible for them to interfere with Sla-
very in the Slave States Neither the
Gen eral Government, nor the people Of
the Free States, ever had that matter Civ
en- them in charge, but on the contrary
expressly stipulated not to assume it,
They are in 10 wise responsible for It's
existence, and in political sense, have
no more right to interfere with it in the
Slave States, than they would have to
dictate TO the Emperor of Russia, the ab-
olition Of Scrfdom in his dominions
Such have ever been our views in re-
gard to Slavery il the States. While we
have always been opposed to the institu-
tion, and have never ceased to condemn
it before the world while we have al
ways hailed with delight the employment
of moral means, and everything in the
way of precept and example which could
possibly lead to OF in any way influence
its ultimate extinction; yet we have new
er done, or said, or written anything in
regard to il, inconsistent with our duty
and position toward it as a citizen of the
United States-we have never Joined in
8 political crusade against It where we
had no right to do so under the Constitu-
ton. For we have been born and reared
/ under that Constitution we have always
conscientiously respected it, and, as leg
acy of unspcakable importance, we may
say that We have looked upon it with a
sort of rciiuious awe More than ,b;o