New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-30
Who Violates the Compromise WHO il the
Aggressorf
Of The Tribun

.tNCINNAIfi March 5, lciT.
MI. Calhoun in his late speech upon that string
Of distractions as Mr. Benton calls them, com.
plains much OF the " aggressive policy Of the non
laveholding States and said that he had done
with compromises He wanted no more of them.
The South had always lost by them always
would"
What al array Of facts might be adduced to
show that the reverse is true Many such have
been made known TO the people OF the North
through your journal and others opposed to the en-
croachments Of Slavery. But there is one remark
able fact that has been allowed 10 slumber. Il is
part Of the history of our Government that, so
far the observ alton Of the writer of this has ex.
tended, has not as yet been exposed to public
notice.
AS late as the yesr 1897, territory Of moro than
CHE hundred miles in length, BY thirtyfye in mean
breadth, containing more than $500 square miles,
lying ADORE Hiry-aiAe degrees Of latitude, UdS an
Ier6d 70 q SiGUcrhoidHg State. The line Of conf
promise, it will be remembered was thirty.six dc.
gress thirty minutes above which there was 10 be
no Slavery, except IN the state Of Missouri as its
boundaries were then limited.
The facts relating to this annexation are readily
found in our public records. On the 9Th Of March
l'2O, an act was passed for the admission OF Mis-.
sour as one Of the STATE Of the Union. Her boun.
daries were distinctly marked. The parallel OF
with the exception Of short distance on the cast
continuing 1--WE along the same to point where
the said parallel is ntersected BY a meridian line
passing through the middle OF the mouth OF the
Kansas River where the same empties into the
Missouri River. thence from the point Aforesaid
north, along the said meridian line 20 the nterSec.
On of the parallel of latitude, which passes
through the rapids Of the river Des Monies" Her
western line therefore was to be as curveess as
surveyors could make it, for It was 10 run due
north and south upon a meridian line. The sth
and last section Of the same Act provides that
Slavery and involuntary seryltude, otherwise
than in the punishment OF crime is hereby prohibit
cd from all the territory north Of go 30, not IN
Guided IN the limits OF the State, IS above bounded.
Between the western line, as thus settled, and
the Missouri River there is a large extent OF terri
tory, OF which certain Indian tribes then held the
title.
Ia the year 1885, June :, it was enacted by
the Senate aud House Of RePrssentatfres Of he
United States o( AmerlcG III Congress Assem-.
blcd That when tue Indian title to all the
lands lying between the State OF Missouri and the
Missouri river shall be extinguished the jurisdic-
ton over said land shall DO hereby coded 10 the
State Of Missouri and the western boundary OF
said State shall be then extended to the Missouri
River, reservng TO the United states the original
right OF soil in said lands, aud OF disposlng OF tne
same Prorioed that this Act shall not take effect
until the President shall, by proclamation declare
that the Indian title to said lands has been extin-
guished nor shall it take effect, until the State OF
Missouri shall have assented to the provisions Of
this Act"
On the 18th OF December 1886, the General AS.
sembly OF Missouri did express their assent. And
in the early part of the year 1897, the proclamation
was issued, which after reciting the above facts,
concludes thus
Now therefore !, Martin Van Buren, President
of the nited States of America DO by this procla
nation, declare and make known that the Indian
title to all the said lands lying between the State OF
Missouri and the Missouri River has been extIn-
tingushed and that the said Actof Congress of the
eth June, 1885, takes effect from the date hereof
These proceedings admit and prove the whole
thing TO which It is the object OF this letter to call
attention.
Thus the fact is established that in the year 1897
territory larger than the state Of Delaw are, and
nearly the size OF Rhode Island. was placed under
the jurisdiction OF a slaveholding State, in direct
violation OF the compromise Of 1870. 4 member
Of the bar Of this city who has been recently ira
yelling over this territory, and by whom my atten'
ton was called to the subject informs me that 1t Is
very fertile, beautiful region of country, that he
found it settled by Shareholders, one OF whom, nj
whose house he tarried, worked sixty slaves.
What a comment is this upon the un,lring vigil.
ance OF our Northern Representatives and what
an illustration OF the policy and tact OF the slave
power in grasping every inch OF territory that 1t
can bring under its sway This fact suggests
many reflections. but my object is attained, if 1t
gain publicity. LIB.