The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-08-25


Congress has at lcngh been obliged to
y'eltt1 the pressing necessities Of the peo-
p.c 1i Oregon, and give them Il territorial
government. The Oregon bin, after hay-
in- been pressed al, and passed over by at
laost fbar successive sessions of congress
has at length become a law, and the Ordin-
snce Of l1S1, which had been the whole
difficulty in the way Of its earlier passage,
has been incOrpora,cdin il. THUS. for the
first time since the formation Of the con
st.ution. has congress proclaimed, in so
authoritative a form as legislative enact
rnenf, the doctrine that they have the pow
or 10 prohibit the extension of slavery over
the territories Of the Union. Other enact
men,', covering the same ground, doubt
less, have been passed heretofore, prohibit.
ing the abolition slavery in the territories,
but this is the first bill in which, in express
terms, its Introduction into such territories
has been inhibited.
This important measure was first intro.
duced into the United States Senate, some
six or seven years ago, by the lamen;cd
Dr. Linn, Of Missouri, and pressed by him
at every session, until his death. 1t was
then taken in charge by Col. Benton, but
the same reasons which rendered al! the
efforts Of Dr. Linn abcr,ive, also defeated
his efforts. Congress dreaded to meet
The great question which it involved of
the prohibition Of slavery in the new terri
tory. Finally, at the last session, the cries
Of Oregon came up in such urgent and r-
resislib!e demands for protection, that il
was impossible to s,aye the matter off any
longer, and opposite parties prepared TO
meet the issue. Sundry propositions had
been introduced in both houses, but tie
first bill definitely acted upon was the IA.
NOUS "Comprom.se," or capitnation bill,
that was got up by the committee of eight
IN the senate, and passed by that body.
This bill, which provided also territorial
government for New Mexico and Califor.
MA, while it pretended to dodge the ques-
ton OF slavery entirely, AMI leave it to the
Judiciary, it is known was regarded gener-
ally as complete capitulation 10 the slave
power, and II no sooner got into the house
than i, was killed by the friends of free ter
rltory withou, even deigning to debate it.
A new bill was then got up in the house,
applying to Oregon alone, and passed, in
which the ordinance of 1857 was incorpo-
rated, excluding slavery forever from the
territory. The bill went to the senate, and,
after an exciting debate, was amended, ON
"o''cT Of Judge Douglass, by striking out
the ordinance, and inserting the Missouri
compromise, which prohibits slavery north
Of 30 deg. 80 min. This would have elIec.
tnal'y excluded slavery from Oregon, but
it would, ut the same time, formally have
surrendered to slavery all territory south
OF that line. The bill thus amended was
returned to the house, and immense efforts
were there made to induce concurrence,
bnt the house stood firm aud rejected the
amendment by the decisive vote Of lei IL
to 81, and insisted on retaining the orlin.
ance Of 1871. An analysis of the vote
shows that from the free states there wer,
but four votes in favor cfp,e senate amend
men', and l2O agains, it. From the slav,
states there were IS votes in favor Of III,
amendment, aphone Houston, of Del. a
gainstit. The whole delegation from thi
voted asainst,he Missouri compromise, OK
state eppt Maj Richardson, who was absent
Thus amended, the bill was again sent +
the Senate, and on the 10Th that body. ate
an uninterrupted and most exciting sessio
OF II hours, during which, il is said a ca
was made to get up a southern conveu,io
to intimidate the friends Of the bill, il wa
passed, ordinance Of l7S7 and all, by vol
Of 20 to 25. Among the ayes are both III
senators from this state and senators ITou,
ton, Spragnc and Benton, from the slay
states.
The Joy Of the friends Of human freedom