Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-02-15

INCL oPPOSition on tne niSh Sio"""o vi oeii-
government They claimed that terrific
ry, having reached the period when it is
proper for it to form constitution and gov
eminent for itself, becomes fully vested with
all the rights of selEgovernment and that
even the condition imposed on it by the
Federal constitution relates not to the for
nation of the constitution aud government,
but its admission into the Union. For that
purpose, it provides as condition, that the
government must be republican.
They claimed that Congress has no right
to add to this condition. and that to assume
1t would be tantamount to the assumption
of the right to make its entire constitution
and government; as no limitation could be
imposed as to the extent of the right, If 1t
be admitted that it exists at all. Those
who supported the amendment denied those
grounds, and claimed the right of Congress
to impose, at discretion, what conditions it
pleased. In this agtating debate, the two
sections stood arrayed against each other
the South in favor of the bill without a.
mendment, and the North opposed to it
without it, The debate and agitation con-
tinued until the session was well advanced !;
but it became apparent towards its close,
that the people of Missouri were fixed and
resolved in their opposition to the proposed
condition, and that they would certainly re-
Ject 1t, and adopt constitution without it,
should the bill pass with the condition.
Such being the case, it required 10 great
effort of mind to perceive, that Missouri
once in possession of a constitution and
government, not simply on paper but with
legislators elected, and officers appointed, to
carry them into effect, the grave questions
would be presented, whether she was of
right State or Territory; and, if the lat
ter, wheter Congress had the right, and, if
the right, the power, to abrogate her con-
stltution, dispense her legislature, and to re-
mand her back to the territorial condition
These were great, and, under the circum-
stances, fearful questions-too fearful to be
met by those who had raised the agitation.
From that time the only question was, how
to escape from the difficulty.
Fortunately, means afforded. A
compromise las it was called) was offered
based on the terms, that the North should
cease to oppose the admission of Missouri
on the grounds for which the South conten-
ded, and that the provisions of the ordin-
ance Of 1857 for the government of the
northwestern territory should be applied to
all the territory acquired by the United
States from France, under the treaty of
Louisiana, lying north of 36 ID except the
portion lying i'll the State of Missouri. The
northern members embraced it; and al
though not originating with them, adopted
it as their own. 1t was forced through Con-
gress by the almost united votes of the
North, against a minority consisting almost
entirely of members from the Southern
States.
Such was the termination of this the first
conflict, under the constitution, between the
two sections in reference to slavery in con-
connection with the territories. MANY
hailed 1t as permanent and final ad Just
ment that would prevent the recurrence OF
similar conflicts; but others, less sanguine,
took the opposite and more gloomy view,
regarding it as the precursor of train of
events which might rend the Union asun-
der, and PROSTATE our political system
One OF these of these was the experienced
and sagacious Jefferson. Thus far, time
would seem to favor his forebodings. May
returning sense of justice, and a protect
ing Providence, avert their final fulillment.
For many years the subject of slavery in
reference to the territories ceased to agtate
the country. Indications, however, con-
nected with the question of admitting Tex
as, showed clearly that it was ready to break
out again, with redoubled violence. on some
future occasion. The difference in the
case OF Texas was adjusted by extending
inc MISSOURI compromise line of 80 80
rom It's terminus on the western boundary
OF the Louisiana purchase to the western
boundary OF Texas. The agitation auaip
ceased for a short period
Inc war with Mexico soon followed. and
that terminated in the acquisition of New
Mexico aud Upper California, embracing an
area equal to about one-haf of the entire
valley OF the Mississippi. If to this we add
the portion of Oregon acknowledged to be
) ours by recent treaty with England, our
whole territory on the Pacific and west O.
the rocky mountains will be found TO be in
extent little less than that vast valley. Tn,
prospect OF so great an addition rekindlec
the excitement between the North and Soutl
IN reference to slavery in its connexior
5 with the territories, which has become, sine,
those on the Pacific were acquired, more u
7 nlversa and intense than ever.
+ The effects have been to widen the differ
5 ence between the two sections, and to civ
4 more determined and hostile character f
] their conflict. The North no longer res
: poets the Missouri compromise line, al
t though adopted by their almost unanmou
t vote. Instead of compromise, they avo,
f that their determination is to exclude slave
. ny from all the territories of the Unite
n States, acquired or to be acquired; and q
t course to prevent the citizens of the South
t ern States from emigralng with their pre-
e perty IN slaves into any of them. Their OF
t Ject, they allege, is to prevent the extensio
= OF slavery, aud ours to extend it, thus max
Z ing the issue between them and us to be tn
!, naked question, shall slavery be extended q
e not We do not deem it necessary. look
e ing to the object of this address, to exam
i inc the question so fully discussed at tn
r last session, whether Congress has the rigl
to exclude the citizens of the South fror
e immigratlng with their property into terri
d tories belonging to the contederated State
e of the Union. What we propose in thi
i connexion is, to make few remarks o
n what the North alleges, enormously, to b
If the issue between us and them
Il So far from maintaining the doctrin