The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-30

add one being TO that unfortunate condition that IL vii
increase the happiness of those existing, and by spreading
them large surface will date the evil
and facilitate the means OF getting finally rid of it,"
So thought and wrote Jefferson on the question which
divided and threatened them divides and threatens
US now. But sir, the difficulty then overcome II
was by concession made by these very south
ern Satesa great coneesslon-a concession only o
their constitutional right but of expressed
guarantee, and made for the Of peace. How is
II met now! understood The from Vermont, who
had the floor this question few days since, say
what Why that the compromise in the of Missouri
was really boon offered by the North to the South.
Mr. PHELPS here inerposed aud understood to dis
claim the remark applied to him. in the which
was understood by MIR. Mason
MIR. Mason. Well, sir, the concession made in the
mutual agreement, for the sake of peace agreed
limit the right introduce slaves in the country acquired
from France to line extended from the southern
boundary of the State of Missouri being the parallel Of 36
30 Sir, this conceded for the preserving
Union Ii was a consideration high that and
ondy hoped that at future day would it be in the power
of agaors again leopard the Union, with all the
quences that must cnsue IN order TO drive political bar
gain. But this has been done. The very first OCCASION
when territory is acquired as the property of the
deracy this disturbing question brought up and brought
up how' Brought up by connecting it with territory lying
80 far north that all must agree become the prop
erty of Shareholders II brought up sir precedent
because well know will follow There are two
other Territories that have recently been
and New Mexicoand here the precedent apply Sir,
the question in inine, and if be the udg-
Of the Senate, of majority of the States here repre-
sened that the settlement of this question 1920 to be
dsegarded and the question is be carried matter Of
absolute power let them take the consequence when II
comes, il will.
Mr.. President when matter Of political nle-no of po
litcal right, but of political rues determined on,
there great difficulty finding arguments sustain it,
The senator from New York, Mr. DIX, vino has opened
the debate upon this question: invoked the ordinance
1857 for the of the northwestern Territory and
has relied upon it, what! As PRECEDENT should
presume not-hardy persuasive authorty-but
ample that early the year 1887 before the foundation of
this government laid the American people, by
pact excluded slavery from large territory that belonged
TO the United States Sir, the ordinance shows upon
face that matter of absolute compact between the
States then confedcrated and the State of Virginia which
made the ccsson II compact in terms and whether
Congress of the conederacy had had power
make it, does not shed the least light upon the inquiry
whether the Congress- under the confederation
make similar compact and for the simple that the
ordinance of 1887 made before the constitution
formed The history of that ordinance very little known
The proceedings of the old continental Congress
secret and memorial kept of their debates But this
territory coded by Virginia the United States in
March, 1884 and the ordinance for its government
adopted until july 1885, and during the whole of the
vcnng time the journals Of Congress show that the organ
izaon of government for the Territory subject Of
discussion engenderDg contention and great differences Of
opinion.
The honorable South Carolina suggested
with great force-a least with degree Of probability the
absence of direct infomaonhat this very clause inter-
dieting involuntary servitude the Territory itself
the result of compromise and that it yielded by
Virginia upon condition that the guarantee which
panes should be given for the recovery of fugitive slaves
There is another suggestion thai have derived from differ
| The honorable senator from Florida (Mr. WEsrcorr)
whose habits of research all know and of which he has
given TO the benefit, has exhibited letter
from Mr. Madison throwing out this suggestion. In those
days. all the States under the articles of considerations
importers of slaves. The New England States almost
whiened the with the of their ships, bringing
slaves from Africa to the of America; and although
there a strong disposition the federal legislation put
stop they had not the power do And the prob
ability is, says Mr.. Madison, that the clause in the ord
of 1887 which forbids involuntary servude" in
Northwest introduced
the foreign savctrade Congress- having to for
bid the Importation taking this mode to restrain it, by limit
ing the territory which slaves should be carried But be
this may, the occasion which called it forth pregnant
with instructive history the statesmen and people OF
country, and opposite that shall be pardoned for the
aggression in introducing 1t here.
The claim by many of the States to large and unoccu-
pied territory in the west the subject OF much jealousy
dissenson with those States whose boundaries
more crcumscrbed Virginia. whose chartered limits once
extended the Pacific Chen called the South sea- had yet
immense territory unoccuped lying the of the OHIO
opposition to the title of Virginia; while the States of Mas
sachuseis and Connecticut in the east and Georgia and
the Caronas in the south, each held large bodies OF
waste and unappropriaed land.
1t said by the other States that it unjust and in
equitable that these stterores the enjoyment of which
their respective claimants by the blood
and of ALL freely avshed in the revolutionary
struggle should be thus separately held that Delaware,
Maryland, and New Jersey had equally contributed to
them from the dominion of the British Crown and
oppressive and unjust exclude them from the fruits
Of the conquest. This feeling which grew the Revou-
ton progressed manifested itself decided when
the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union,'
agreed by Congress in TIT recommended to the
States for their ratification The State of Maryland
refused aty and placed her refusal upon the express
ground that she excluded from participation these
unoccuped lands. read extract from the instructions
of the general assembly of Maryland her delegates in
Congress, presented by them on the 2ls May, l779:
"We are convinced policy and justice require that a
unsettled mt the commencement. OF this claim.
ed by the British Crown and cedsd by the treaty
Paris, if wresed from the common enemy by the blood and
:
commou properly, subject be parcelled by Congress
into five convenient and independent governments such
and such times the wisdom of hat assembly
shall hereafter drecf.
ject have weighed prob, able naonvenences and hard
ship against the sacrifice and essential rights and do
instruct You agree the confederation
tice articles be added thereto in conformity with
declaration
New Jersey did raty, but under protest, in the firm
reliance that the candor and justice Of the several States will
in due time remove far possible the inequality which
now subsss" The State of Delaware also into that
confedcracy but under like protest. from which shall also
ask leave read extract exhibits the feeling which
then actuatcd the States all which they willing
lay down for the common good
Extract from the resolutions of the State of Daee pre-
sentcd by hr delegates in Congress. february %, l779
"Resoiped, That this State consider themselves Justly
entitled u right in common with the members of the
Union to that extensive OF country which lies
ward of the frontier of the United Sate the property
which vested granted individuals at the
commencement OF the present war; that the same hath
been may be gained from the King OF Great Brta the
native Indians by the blood and reasure OF ALL and ought
the be estate. be granted
/ beneficial to the United States
Sir, i, useful go back and the spirit with