Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-10-01
MIR. BUCHANAN-IslO AND ls47.

MIR. BUCHANAN-lSl0 AND lS47.
Since the publication Ct Mr.. Buchanan's
letter recommending the extension Of The
Missouri compromise line to New Territory,
to be acquired from Mexico, a Pennsylvania
Editor has been studying the history OF that
gentleman, in connection with the celebrated
Compromise of 1920. The results Of his re-
search, are two resolutions passed at a public
meeting in Lancaster, in 1919, reported by a
Committee Of which the Secretary Of State
was one. He found them in an old newspa-
per, and now republishes them in the York
RepuJHcan.
They are as follows:
Resolred, That the Representatives in Con
gress from this District be, and they are here
by most earnestly requested to use their ut
most endeavors, as members Of the National
Legislature, to prertnt tie existence NJ Sl0rery
in any of the territories or States " hlch may
be erected by Congress.
ResOlred, That in the opinion of this meet
ing, the members of Congress who. at the
last session, sustained the cause Of Justice,
Humanity and Patriotism. in opposing the
introduction Of Slavery into the State then
endeavored to be formed out of the Missouri
territory, are entitled TO the warmesi thanks
of every friend of humanity.
Now, let it be remembered that Slavery
had been permitted to exist in The Louisiana
Territory, without any Encouragement from
Congress, and, that the people OF that terrific
~ about to form themselves into a State, had
adopted a Constitution recognizing and con-
tinuing the system. Slavery was undoubt-
eddy unconstitutional in the whole Territory,
as there was no power in the General Govern
ment competent to sustain such an institution.
Independent of that, Congress had a clear
discretion over the admission of States, and
had the right to refuse to the territory, per-
I mission TO form a State, unless they should
agree TO abolish Slavery. Mr.. buchanan,
undoubtedly, thought the matter very clear,
at the time the above resolutions were pass
ed.
But, clear as the Missouri question was,
although decided against the wishes of a ma
1 jority of the people Of The Unien, and the
%clearesl Constitutions rights of the Free
States, by the influence of Henry Clay, (for
which achievment he has ever since claimed
great credit,) the present question, presented
by the Wilmot Proviso, is, if possible, clear
er still. There Slavery existed in fact, and
the argument that no Stale ought 10 be ex-
cluded from the Union on account of an in
s%titulion which was tolerated in many that
already composed IL, was, 10 say the least,
plausible. But here, the people of the Ter
ritories TO be acquired, have already abolish
ed Slavery, and the project that Mr.. Buchan-
an now recommends TO the Democracy of
Pennsylvania, is, not only to plant The insti-
tuition within them, IN defiance of al! natural
right and the Constitution of the land, but
contrary TO the express will OF the people
themselves. Ought Mr.. Buchanan 10 COM
plain, if the people, Jealous If their rights,
should suspect that his change Of opinion was
rather the consequence of the allurernents of
the prospective Presidency, than the legiti
mate deductions of sound logic, from true
Consti,u tional principles !-Cin. HeraM.