The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-20

ny of the Unon-to which has been averse Act
ing this principle, she permitted the territory of Iowa to
be formed and the State admitted the Union UNI
der the compromise without objection and that is
quoed by the Senator from New York prove her sur
render Of The power he claims for Congress
To add the strength of this caim the advocates of the
power hold up the of Jefferson favor and 90
far TO call him the author of the socaed Wmot Provlso
which but general expression of power OF which the
Missouri compromise a Of its application. Ii
may judge by his opinion Of that case what his opinion
was of the principle instead of being the author of the pro-
Vlso or being ITS favor could be deadly hos
ie 10 H. In letter addressed 10 the elder Adams, 1919
IN answer to one from him, he these remarkable
pressioss in reference to the Missouri question
81 The banks, bankrupt law manufactures, Spanish
treaty. nothing. These occurrences. which like
waves IN storm, will pass under the ship But the
missouri question Is breaker on which lose the Mis-
so"fi country by evoi aud what more, God only knows
To understand the full force of these it mus,
be borne IN mind that the questions enumerated
the great and exciting political questions of the day
which parties divided The banks and bankrupt la had
long been So Manufactures, what has since been
called the protective tariff the subject of great
excitement, Spanish treaty; that is the treaty.
by which Florida coded the Unon and by which
the western boundary between Mexico and the United
States was settled from the Gulf of Mexico the Pacific
ocean All these exciting party questions Of the day. Mr.
Jefferson regarded as nothing compared the Missouri
question He looked all of as in their nature fug
tive; and to use his orcbe expression would pass
on under the ship OF State like Not
that fatal question. breaker which was des
tined TO be stranded And yet his is quoted by the
ncendares OF the present day. in support Of and the
versal extension to this fatal question all the
II was compromised the year by the adoption of the
line to which have referred Mr. Holmes of Maine, long
member this body, who voted for the measure address
ed letter to Mr. Jefferson enclosing copy his speech
the occasion II drew from him which ought
be treasured in the every who loves his
the secretary be read The time of Senate cannot be
better occupied than in listening to il:
TO John Holmes.
MONTICELLO, April %. 1870
81 thank you, dear sir for the COPY YOU have been so
kind 10 send oil the lete your consttuen Is on the
Missouri question 1t is perfect Justification them.
had Tor long time ceased read newspapers, pay
attention TO public aHiirs. confident they in good
hapds and content to be passenger in barque the
question, like firebe in the night, awakened filled
me win terror considered it the kne of the
repreve only not final sentence. ge graphical line
coinciding with marked principle moral and political,
viii never be obli,erated and every irritation will
mark deeper and deeper. | say. consc ious
truth, that there is not - rt who would sacrifice
in any yyaeiicab way The of that hind OF pron
~ Oor so II IS nisnaneD is bagatele. which would no,
cost me second bought if in that general
and due SACRIFICES, think it might be- But as il T.
we have the vol by the and neither hold him
preservation the other vi one thing am CERTAIN ina,
AS The passage OF slaves from free State another
would not he without their usioi over greater
surface you'd make tnem individually haPper and proper
ton, by dividing the burden greater number of coad
tutors. An abstinence from This act Of power would
The jealousy excited by the undertaking Congress
to regulate the condition Of the different tesc Pions of
men composing State This certainly the exclusive
night every State, which nothing in the constitution has
taken from hen and given to the general government,
Could Congress Tor example that the noneepen Of
Connecticut shall be freetnen, that they shall emf
CRATE into any other State
81 regret thai am now 10 die in the belief that the
less nce OF themselves by the generation of I776
qire seiigovernment and happiness their county, 10
her row. AMY o oy ns ana unworthy 81
live not TO weep over it, If they would but dspasonste
abstract principle, mere likely be effected by
by session, they would pause before they would pere
against the hopes of world To yourself as the faithful
advocate Of the Union, tender the Offering of my high
esteem and respect
THOMAS JEFFERSON"
Marx his prophetic words! Mark his profound reason
ing!
alt 1.-The question: hushed for the moment But this is
coincding with marked principle. moral and POLITICAL
eoneeired and h to the angry passions of men ,c
nec1 be oblitrratsd and ,riN mark IL
deeper and deper'
Twenty years passed since these remarkable
words were penned and there is thought which
has not thus far verified and feared will continue
to verify until the whole will be fulfilled Certain 1t is
that he regarded the compromise line utterly
to arrest that fatal of which his keen saacy
anticipated from the question. 1t but reprieve" Mark
the deeply melancholy impression which made his
mind
81 regret that die the belief that the useless
themselves by the generation i77s TO acnuire
self government aud happiness themselves is 10 be
thrown by the unwse and unworthy passions their
sous, and that only consolation BE-, that shall
1--we To weep over it,.
Can any believe, after listening this letter. that
Jefferson the nuthor of the so-caed Wmo Proviso
favored III And yet there are at this time strenuous
Ell rts making IN the north 10 form purely sectional party
and that too under the sanction of those profess
the highest yeneration for his character and principles
But must speak the truth while vindicate the memory
OF Jefferson from foul CHARGE hold he is not blame
ess reference this subject He committed great
inserting the provision he did, the plan he
ported for the OF the territory, much mod
fed was It the first blow-thc first essay to
moral apd POLITICAL" Itongina,ed with him phllanlhro
pic, but mistaken views of the dangerous character
as | shall show in the sequel. Others with very diff
erent feelings and views, followed and given
direction and impetus, which, If promptly and efficiently
arrested will end in the dissolution Of the Union
siruciion Of our political institutions.
have trust established beyond controversy that
her the ordinance OF 1857 the Missouri compromise
the presidents growing of them the authority
of Mr. Jefferson furnishes any evidence whatever prove
that Congress the power the territory claim
ed by those who advocate the 18th section Of this bill
But admit, for the sake Of argument, mistaken
and that the objections have urged against them
groundessgive them all the force which be claimed
FOR preccdcntsand they would not have the weight of
feather against the strong which at the outset
OF remarks showed Ice opposed the existence of the
power Precedents, court of justice, have
but little weight except where the law Is doubtful, and
should have little in deiberative body any
stlutiona question, and where the power which
has been attempted does exist have shown
| trust, TO be the case in this instance
But while deny that the clause relating TO the territory
and other property Of the United States coners any gov
ernmenta Congress possesses absolute over
,ot NV fhat,t -