The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-06-03

S. p. CHASE, one OF the ablest men, and most
distinguished lawyers OF the West, has calhd
the attention Of the public, most upponunely, 10
Mr.. JEFFERsoN's PROPOSITION in 1884.
We have not seen il noticed before in any dis
cnsSlon nor referred To by any winter. Yet it is,
by ell odds, one q the most important feaiuns
IA the history of ahii-slayery action. Coming,
too, from man hailed as the greai teacher Of a
SOuih-lrOm Mr.. JEFFERsOS---this proposition
cannot fail TO attract public attention here and
everywhere else.
We leave Mr.. CHASE, in ms ierse, clear siyle,
10 state the proposition, and the history Of t.
Has letter is addressed t0tle Cincinnati Gazette.
GFSTLENES;-I desire TO can the attention ID
your readers TO Remarkable fact which has aci
been noticed, so far rs have Observed, in any a
the DISCUSSIONS, which have aTissn in respect 1,
the limitation Of Slavery.
IL As tins: The proposition Of Ar jefferson, IN
lisa WAS not that slavery sbsuid bs excluded
from the Territory Northwest OF the G,hlo, but
that slavery should be excluded tfon All feTTlio.
~ eeiedy or 10 be celed by individual States d,
the United States, wherever situated.
On the Isl March, 1884, a COMMITTEE, al th,,
head Of which was Mr.. JEFFERsoE, submitted {,
plan for the Government of-TOt the NOrtA-wesi.
era-bui the HeStefn Territory. Tins TERRITORY
was described as lying between the thintV-6Tsl
degTeo-then the extreme Southern boundary OF
the United States, and the Northern boundary.
not then exactly defined, but North Of The forty
seventh degree. IL was proposed 10 dIyide tins
Territory into seventeen States, the rsi eight ly-
ing between the Mississippi, and line drawn
due norih from the thiry-first parallel 10 the
northern boundary OF the United States, through
the falls of the Ohio; the next eight living be-
tween this hBe and a similar line drawn through
the western cape of thu mouth OK the Great
Kanhaws; and the other State was 10 posses the
Territory, lying between the last line, Lake Enc,
Pennsylvania and the Ohio nyer.
After thus providing for the division Of the
whole terutop Of the United States, acquired or
10 be acquired, without respect 20 degrees OF ati-
tuoe, into independent States, the Plan Of JEFF
he fr4e Sk1fas- THIS uaS the Ppssise srLseb ho
proposed: ''PrOvided, that after the year 1900 OF
the Christian era, there shall be neither slavery
nor involuntary SeTvitnde in any of the said
States, other than in the punishment. of crimes,
whereof the party shall have been Jll,ly convict
ell 10 have been personally guilty."
THIS PIONiso Was stncken cut OF the plan on
the 18Th OF April, 17S4, on the motion Of Mr.
Spaisit OF North CanOlina, eleven States being
iftirctuNt1i wac Inc qutrllCH on mo
ton TO strike out, in that Congress, was put in
tins form; ''Shail the clause standg" II nine
States voted "syo,' the motion 10 strike out
failed; If no States OF any less number than nins
voted 'aye,' the clause was stricken, out Up
on the question being put, on Mr. Spaighi's mo-
ton, "Shall this clause stand2" New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, COnnecii-
cut, New YOrk, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania,
seven States, voted "aye." Maryland, Nirgin-
"a, and South Carolina, three States, voted
"no;'' and North Carolina was divided. Thus
II appears that seven States were for the PIoyso.
and three against II. OF the three thus against
II, one was Virginia; represented by three dele
gates, OF whom one, Mr. JeisoTson, was for il,
and tive, MessTs. Handy and Mercer, were
agaiRstIt- Had but one OF Mr.. jefferson s cd
leagues shared has spInt, and had Mr.. S,aight
Of North Carolina voted with his colleague, Mr..
the PToyisO would then have been
adopted. The eleven States present and voting
were represented by twenty three delegates. or
these, sixteen voted fOrthe PIoyiso and seven on
y against it. Thus with a majority OF two
thirds Of the States, and two thirds OF the dele
gates in IT'S favor, the jefferson PFoyiso WAS de-
ested. What vast consequences have flowed
nom that minority decision,