Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-07-15
FAYETTE, MISSOURI, SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1s4s.


for independence we're too strong to per.
nit them to deal with such a matter upon
any other principles than those of LIBERAL.
ty and justice. The policy they adopted
was TO guarantee TO the States in which
slavery existed, the exclusive control over
the subject within their respective jurisdic-
tons. but to prevent, by united efforts, its
extension 10 territories of the u. States in
which it did not in fact exist.
On all sides the most expeditions means
10 carry out this policy were adopted with
alacrity and good feeling. Their frs, step
was to inierdict the introduction eff slave
ry into the North western territory, now
covered by the States of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. This
may Justly be regarded as being in The main
a Southern measure. The subject was
first brought forward in Congress by Mr..
Jefferson. Virginia made the cession of
territory upon which The ordinance was in.
tended to operate, and The representatives
from all the slaveholding States gave it a
unanimous support. Doubts have arisen
in the minds of some whether the ordi-
nance of 1887 was authorized by the arti.
Giles Of confederation. A bill was intro
duced in the new Congress at its frs, ses-
sion under the Constitution, recognizing
and adapting it 10 the new organization,
and it has ever since been treated and re-
garded as a valid act. This bill received
the constitutional appreciation of Presiden,
Washington, whose highest and sworn du.
ty il was to support the constitution under
which it was enacted. Nor was the North
backward in doing its part to sustain the
policy which had been wisely adopted
They assented TO The insertion of proyis-
ions in the constitution necessary and suf.
fcient TO protect that interest in the States,
and they did more.
The trouble apprehended at the COM
mencement of the government from this
source, begun to show itself as early as the
year 1890, in the form of petitions presen.
ted to Congress upon the subject of slave.
~ and the slave trade by Quakers of Phil.
adel phia and New York, and by Dr.. Frank
lin as President of a society for the pro.
motion Of abolition. These petitions were,
in the House of Representatives referred
to committee of seven, all but one OF
whom were Northern members, whose re.
port, as amended in the committee of The
whole, affirmed "that Congress have no
power to interfere in the emancipation OF
slaves, or in the treatment of them within
any of the States, it remaining with the
several States alone TO provide any regula-
ton therein which humanity and true poll
cy might require"
The perseverance and good faith with
which both branches of policy thus adopt
ed have, until very recently, been recog.
nised and carried out. are highly honora.
BILE to the whole country. The popular
liability of the subjects to be converted in
to an element of political agitation, as well
in the slaveholding as in the non, slavehold.
ing States, may have led to occasional at
teinpts so as to employ it, but these efforts
have been very successfully frustrated by
the good sense and good feeling of the PEG.
pie in every quarter of the Union. A de-
tailed account of the numerous acts of the
Federal Government. sustaining and carry
ing into full effec. the policy of its foun-
ders upon the subject Of slavery in the
States, and its extension to the territories
and the steps taken, in the non, slavehold.
ing States, to suppress or neutralize undue
agitation in regard to il, would be alike in.
them. But it will be readily perceived,
that this could not be given within the ne.
cessary limits of communication like the
present.
1t must therefore suffice to say, that from
1887, the date of the ordinance for The pre-,
vention of slavery in the North Western
Territory down TO and including 1888, a,
least eleven acts of Congress have been
passed, organizing territories which have
since become States, in all of which The con.
sli,u,iona power of Congress to in,erdicl
the introduction of slavery into the terri
tories of the United States, is either direct.
y exercised. or clearly asserted by enact
men,s, which, as matters Of authority. are
,an,amount TO its exercise; and that at the
only period when the peace of the saveh oil.
ding States was supposed to be seriously
endangered by abolition agitation, there
was spontaneous uprising of the people OF
the North, of both parties by which agita-
lion was paraIyzed and the South treasured
of our fidelity to the compromises of the
constitution.
In the laws for the organization of the
territories which now constitute the State:
of Ohio, Indiana. Michigan, Illinois, Wis
consin, and Iowa, slavery was expressly
prohibited. The laws for the organization
of the territories of Mississippi, Orleans
Arkansas, Alabama and Florida, contained
enactments fully equivalent in regard to th'
extent of power in Congress over The sub
ect Of slavery in the territories TO the ex
press exercise of it in the other cases.
These acts were approved by Prest. Wash
ington. the elder Adams. Jefferson. Madison
Monroe, Jackson, and myself, all bound b,