The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-10-15

prevented that hereafter such disregard
shall be drawn into. . precedent. If tbe1
prevalence of sentiment, or the existence
f an adverse interest may be pleaded N
excuse Of disobedience to the Consultations
who hereafter shall insure it that observ-
,uce without which, SO far from being the
security for domestic peace, twill be but
the pretext Of perpetual discords. II now
for the sake of negroes the Constitution is
to be set aside, what is to persuade or com
pei the citizens of New York, Ohio and IL
linois to consent further to the unequal dis
tribution of power that gives twelve Sena-
tors to six New England States, whose ag.
gregate population is hardly larger than
that which in them is now represented by
two? Whence shall come the power
10 oblige the West to submit to the
MORRILL, Tariff, when they find it, as
they may allege, operating as tax
upon their productions, in the same manner
as it was formerly contended that similar
imposition taxed the cotton of the South?
But nearer, aud more Immediately still than
these instances; if even constitutional
obligation, to the support ofwhich nearly a
majority ofthe voters at some time have been
sworn, may be thrown off and set at naught
what security can be given by the same
people, and under the same government for
the faithful payment of the national debt2
| If we have not been bound by the fuada-
mental law which creates our nationality,
because it has been alleged that it Cypress
I'd other persons, how little may we feel the
force of mere legislative enactments that
Cypress ourselves. Everybody knows, and
every laboring man will soon feel, that tax
es ia the end are always paid by the labor
of country. When it is found that the
debt, enormous even in its present extent,
is degrading labor below the condition
which WEBSTER loved so we'll to describe.
as existing among his own countrymen, to
that of Europe, from which SO many have
fed to our shores, the very course Of argu-
ment and defamation that has led to our
present condition, may be applied to Justify
relief by reputation.
The question now before the people is
whether or not they will proceed to set
such an example.
The problem is not now for the first time
presented. 1t is long since this community
had light upon the subject. The Constitu-
tion itself is clear enough. But one plain
err rule of duty ever has been revealed
Yet as long ago as 1885, Hon. HARRISON G..
OrIs, name among the most distinguish,
ed in the annals of our country, speaking
for the last time in Faneuil Hall, gave his
lfellow.citizens what were his convictions,
the results Of forty years acquaintance with
prominent individuals of the Southern
States, of all parties, and in all the vicissi-
4 tudes or parties. Sald ne:
GBe assured that whenever the question
of the abolition of slavery shall be agitated
in our public assemblies, under circum
stances which should indicate the preva.
lence. or probability of a general sentiment
in the free States in favor of acting upon
that subject the Union will be at an end
What we have formerly witnessed, and
what we new see, is but the realization of
this predictonin all its parts. From the day
that the warning voice of Mr.. OT1s was
raised to the present the same agitation
which led him to speak has been continued.
The very result has succeeded With such
connection and continuity of events be.
fore US, and undenable, controversy about
| the origin of our difficulties is idle.
Added to the blood and treasure o,uooa-
expended, Our own priceless Con,t;t,,;o.
makes up what We are to oou Cor o,..ro
ton.
When the ws-. commenced the bond Of
our Union WIS the rule 1t was habitualy
obsyed, 1t cost many efforts before it
could be trampled upon. Among other
things, officers distinguished between loyal
and rebel citizens in the matter of fugitive
slaves. The true man had his abscordinc
negro returned to him. The letter aud the
spirit of the Constitution were fulfilled
This remained for some time the practice !;
but the pressure" was applied, and it was
forbidden. The observance of the constitu-
tlonal obligation had direct tendency to
encourage loyalty, and to divide the South.
Its disregard brought at once suspicion over
the purity of our professions of regard for
the Union, and united the slave.holdng
interest against us.
ir lie IF cnoll