The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-08-26

Cancellation which presided at the birth.
of our institutions finally prevailed,
and the Missouri compromise was adop.
ted. The eighth section Of the act Of
Congress Of the 9th Of March, 1890, "to
authorize the people Of the Missouri
Territory to form Constitution and
State Government" &c. provides:--
sThat in all that territory ceded by
France TO the United States, under the
name ofsLouisiana, which lies north of
thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes
north latitude, not included within the
limits Of the State contemplated by this
act, slavery and involuntary servitude,
otherwise than in the punishment Of
crimes, whereof the parties shall have
been duly convicted, shall be and is
hereby forever prohibited: Provided,
al,oays, That any person escaping into
the same from whom labor or service
is lawfully claimed in any State or Ter.
ritory Of the United States, such fugi-
tive may be lawfully reclaimed and
conveyed 10 the person claiming his or
her labor or service as aforesaid"
"This compromise had the effect Of
calming the troubled waves and restor-
ing peace and good will throughout the
States of the Union.
"The Missouri question had excited
intense agitation Of the public mind, and
threatened to divide the country into
geographical parties, alternating the feel
ings Of attachment which each portion
OF our Union should bear to every 9th
er. The compromise allayed the ex-
citement, tranquilzed the popular mind,
and restored confidence and fraternal
feelings. It authors were hailed as pub.
lie benelactors. ~aawa
III do not doubt that similar adjust
men. Of the questions which now agi-
tate the public mind would produce the
same happy results. i the legislation
Of Congress on the subject Of the other
Territories shall not be adopted in q
spirit of conci|iation and compromise,
it is impossible that the country can be
satisfied, or that the most disastrous con.
sequence shall fail to ensue.
/ .When Texas was admitted into the
Union, the same spirit Of compromise
which guided our predecessors in the
admission Of Missouri, quarter of a
century before, prevailed without any
serious opposition. The joint resolu-
ton for annexing Texas to the United
States, approved March the first, one
thousand eight hundred and forty-fve,
provides that "such States as may be
formed out OF that portion of said terri
tory laying south Of ,hirty-six degrees
thirty minutes north latitude, common
ly known as the Missouri compromise
line, shall be admitted into the Union
with or without slavery, as the people
Of each State asking admission may de-
sire; and in such State or States as shall
be formed out Of said territory north Of
the Missouri compromise line, slavery
or involuntary servitude Except for
crime) shall be prohibited"
"The territory Of Oregon lies far
north OF thirty.six degrees thirty min.
utes, the Missouri and Texas compro.
mise line. Its southern boundary is the
parallel Of AZ degrees, leaving the inter-
mediate distance TO be three hundred
and thirty geographical miles.
sand it is because the provisions OF
this bill are not inconsistent with the
terms Of the Missouri compromisc, if
extended from the Rio Grande to the
Pacific ocean, that have not felt at
liberty to Withhold my sanction. Had
1t embraced territories south OF that
compromise, the question presented Tor
my consideration would have been of
a far different character, and my action
upon it must have corresPonded with
my convictions. M ,4
i"Ought we now to disturb the Mis-.
souri, and Texas compromises? Ought
we, at this late day, in attempting to
annul what has been SO long established
and acquiesced in, to excite sectional
divisions and jealouses; to ALLEVIATE the
people Of differen, portions Of the Uni.
on from each other, and to endanger the
existence OF the Union itsell?"
Z The message then proceeds to re-
count the continued prosperity of the
country under the spirit Of compromise
that has prevailed in its legislation on
this and other important subjects, the
President expressing an abiding conf.
deace that the patriotism Of the people
will lead them to ultimately adopt the
Missouri compromise for the settlement
of this distracting question:. The Pres.
dent then adds: .a''9 ,l'asss
"Holding as a sacred trust the exec.
utive authority for the whole Union,
and boundto guard the rights Of all, / |
should beconstrained, by sense Of du-