The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-26

Every senator from the free States except the to from
indlana,1yoied for the Missouri compromise line; and
every member IRON the free States in the House of Rep
Iesenatives, except three from Massachusetts, from
New hampshire, and one from New York, also voted
the same way: And whilst we find the northern men,
beers voting with such extraordinary unanimy in favor
nus measure now repudated by many of their
sors' we ma such men as Samuel Smith,, OF Maryland,
LOUIS Mclane, OF Delaware; Floyd and Nelson OF Nr-
gina Lewis Williams, OF North Carolina; Joel Craw-
ord ana Cnlhbert, of Georgia; William King, of Ala
bama; Richard M Johnson. Of Kentucky, and Williams,
OF tennessee southern OF such high character and
unquestoned patriotism, backed by maorties, although
small rom the south in both houses of Congress- will
justify Their successors at this day in following their
ample is an interesting fact, that this Missouri
promise was adopted in the House of Representatives
the "a o. March, 1870, the very day on which, sixteen
which opened the way for the renewal of that compro-
mise by the American people themselves in regard to
lexas Tor the Missouri compromise now constitutes
part o; ihe constitution OF her State, the only State the
Uniop which that'can be said
have stated that every senator from the free States,
except the senator's from Indiana voted in favor OF this
compromise. Among them were Rufus King, then a
senator IRON New York, and formerly representative
OF Massachusetts in the federal convention, which framed
the constitution of the United States, and of the most
strenuous OF the Missouri restriconsts and Harrison
Gray OTIS, senator from Massachusetts, who late
1885, made Fanue Hall ring with his eloquent denun-
Citations against the mad crusade OF aboltonism carried
on against the venerated constitution of our country.
And yet it not strange that compact ratified with such
extraordinary unanimy by the whole north and acqul-
esced in by ma jory OF the SOUTH should soon be
repudiated by majority Of the north' What IA sudden
change has the spirit of the northern dream
Is the present generation wiser and better than their I'M
mortal ancestors the trainers and protectors OF the go
rlous constitution under which we live An honorable
member from Massachusetts, Mr.. WINTHROP in his
speech made few weeks since the subject of slavery
IN any territory that might be acquired at the time
avowing his opposition 10 the acquisition of any more
territory, and thus vtuay disavowing the policy of
securing indemnity for the expenses OF the war and the
payment OF acknowledged dues owing to by the MeXl
can government, SAID 81 have time to discuss the
subject of slavery on this occason should desire to
discuss It in this connexon if had more time But |
must not omit few plain words the momenous issue
which has now been raised. ! speak for Massachusetts
i believe speak the sentiments OF all New England
and of many other States out of New England when
say that, upon this question, minds made up So
lar as we have power to control political events
resolved that there shall be further extension of the
territory OF this Union subject TO the institutions OF slave
ry tbs Is not matter TO argue abom oiM US. My
honorable friend from Georgia, Mr. TooMBs,] must par
don me if ! do not enter into any question with him
whether such policy be equal or Just" And so, sir,
as far as the gentleman from Massachusetts is con-
cerned, the south is to be robbed Of her rights by the
strong arm of political power; and the blow is not to
reason for such course. Their minds are made up!
Ihis IS not question TO argue about nth them! We are
TO be struck without being heard Such language,
sir from the immediate representative OF the cradle OF
American liberty is calculated awaken feelings of in
dgnaon in every southern bosom, and to make the rep
resentatves OF the people pause before they into the
the graspng and uiscruplo character of political pow
erhat its morbid appetite grows with what it feeds
and that only Whet the desire Tor further
croachments upon the weak?
But, Mr.. Chairman, the gentleman from Maine, [Mr.
HAMLIS,l The gentleman from New York, Mr. GROVER
and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. VINToN,] say that
the Missouri compromise line has nothing to do with the
territory hereafter TO be acQured that only applied to
the country then belonging to the United States This is
distinction made, Mr.. Monroe would say by the pol
tcans, and not by the people Of the north It is the alb
surd construction of law which sacrifices the spirit
the letter If the country east of the Rio Grande, and
south of 36t degrees north latitude should be permitted
TO choose whether slavery shall exist there not why
should they not, territory acquired, be permitted to
have choice west OF the Rio Grande and south of that
of the politicians, and whether the people have not
pnlated it, Texas coded TO Spain in 1919, and the
Missouri compromise was adopted in 1920. 1t did not
therefore, that 49, It's letter did not extend to Texas
Texas that put out of the Union by the politicians
in 1872 to proptiate the ant-slayery sentiment and
brought in in accordance with the voice of the American
people, north and south, expressed in tones of thunder
1914. The Missouri compromise covenant was again
renewed BY the american people, and extended to terri
the adoption Of the Missouri compromise ine-a thing
which the politicians say shall not be done now. What
say the annexation resolutions passed in Congress BY the
representatives fresh from the field OF victory achieved
under the banner OF annexation Here is an extract:
such States may be formed of that portion of the
territory ofTevas lying south Of 80 deg 30 min. north lat
ude commonly known as the Missouri compromise line,
shall be admitted into the Union with without slavery,
the people of such State asking admission may de-
sire And in such state states as may be formed out of
very involuntary servude except for crime) shall be
prohibited
How does this provision of the annexation resolutions,
incorporated INTO the constitution of Texas, correspond
with the declaration of the gentleman from New York.
Mr. KING, IN his personal explanation made to this
House on January 9TH ls47 hai every inch OF Texas
yielded to slavery" lie should hare SAID, that every
inch Of 1era north Of 36 degrees 30 guar
antied to freedom, e south Of that line the people
left free TO choose
For this provision in the annexation resolutions, the
gentleman from New York. mir. GRovER,l and believe
the gentleman from Maine (Mr. HAMI.N,] voted, in
obedience 10 the will of the people of New York and
Manc expressed in lsi4 Here, then, they went beyond
the territory belonging 10 the United States at the time of
the adoption OF the Missouri compromise. But in an
to this, il is said that slavery existed in Texas
and that 1t existed ia the territory purchased
der the name of Louisiana, but that it does not
st in parts of Texas and of the Louisiana Terrific
ry but slavery existed north of % degrees in Texas
and consequently that immense territory lying be-
tween the Red and Arkansas south of SO degrees
30 minutes, west of the State OF Arkansas which, BY
the votes OF those gentlemen, throwing open 70
slavery According to their doctrines now advanced,
they should have made anew compromise line. and fixed
II mt - degrees north latitude. But this is evidently
after thought and desire to alter "Xed fact" fixed
because belongs to the past, and cannot be altered
and that Is, Mat the Missouri compromise Inc
tended into Ierds because Il had been oHOtced
pat made IA 1890, originating tcu the north and sane
TONED 6y the SOUTH lS regarded as sacred, and as set
Element fOreuer of this rcred question Gentlemen may
attempt to twist and turn the subject they may, but t0
this complexion 1t must come at last These were the
reasons and the only reasons, for that 1t
not because of slavery in Texas, for this argument
proves too much. gives number of degrees of lat
ude and longitude to slavery where slave had never
been and where, indeed the white had scarcely ever
penetrated.