The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-11
CONTINUED PROM FIRsr PAeE.l

PlSdged the government in conformity with its past
pohcy and protested principles 10 promote the
gether.
This was the first fruit of intimidation on the one
SIDE, and concession and compromise on the other.
Inc majority OF the House forbore TO express their
own settled convictiOns Orbore TO pledge themselves
TO that course Of disfavor to slavery and the slave
trade which consistency, honor, and humanity
quired OF them yielded everything Of substance and
retained little else than form. Could they have seen
that this was but the first step in long line of con-
cessons, perhaps not yet ended, surely the patriotic
men who composed that Congress would never have
taken that first step.
What followed, sirl In that same year. North
Carolina rendered TO the United STATES cession of
the territory lying between the mountains which
form her present western boundary and the Missis-
sippi and now constituting the State of Tennessee
upon condition that the inhabitants should have ali
the privileges, benefits, and advantages of the Ordi-
nance OF 1857; provided, always, that regulations
mace OF 10 be made by Congress should tend TO
emancipate slaves" Congress accepted this cession
aud provided for the government of the ceded country
as a slaveholding Territory.
Hitherto Congress had never sanctioned slave
holding. Never hitherto had single slave been held
under any authority emanating from Congress. On
the contrary, as we have SEEN in all the territory
hitherto acquired, slavery had been promptly abol-
lshed, and impregnable barriers erected against its
renewed introduction. The acceptance of the North
carolina cession reversed the policy of the Govern
Inent, and was step in the wrong direction. To
preserve the dominion of a few masters over an
settled principle, and safe precedent were alike dis
regarded. 1t was mischievous-an almost fatal
error.
In 1902, Georgia ceded to the United States the
country lying between her present western limit and
the mrsssSPPa stIPd6ts0g- sias me Ordinance q.
lIoI in all its provisions should extend TO the ceded
territory, that article only excepted which forbids
slavery" This cession was accepted and the terri
tory placed under Territorial Government restricted
from all interference with slavery. This was the
second chapter in the history of reaction
In 1903, we acquired Louisiana by purchase from
the French Republic There were at that time about
forty thousand slaves held within its limits under
the French law. The treaty contained this 'supua-
ton
THE inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be ncorpo
rated in the Union of the United States and admitted
possible, according prime Piles Of Federal
ges and immuntes OF citizens of the United States and
IN the mean im they shall be maintained in the free
JOymen OF their liberty, property, and the religion which
they profess Stat al Large u. s., an.
This stipulation interpreted according TO the plain
sense OF its terms, and carried into practical effect
would have enfranchised every slave in Louisiana I;
for no one, l apprehend, will venture To affirm that
the slaves were not inhabitants lndepen 1ently OF
this stipulation, il was the duty of the Government
imperative than in 1881 for since then the
whole country south of the Ohio and east OF the
Mississippi had been formed into slave States and
slave Terrores-tO establish freedom as the funda-
.s19antaj lDw NJ ihe new Sc1I1sjion. But this duty
was not performed. There was some leeolc l'glsa-
lion agahs the Introduction OF slaves from foreign
:,
othafStaes; but that all, and that was useless.
EThen came the ccssiOn of Florida by Spain in
Fl520 The stipulation in the treaty substantially
the same as in the treaty with France i the duty Of
the Government in respect TO the acquisition was
the same; and there was the same failure to per-
form it.
Finally, Texas came in in l645 not as a Territory,
but as a State Within her limits slavery was never
under the control Of Congress. The existence of
slavery there OBJ ction to her admission into
the Union; but once admitted and admitted as
State, her internal legislation on that subject was as
much beyond the reach OF the National Government
before.
Now. sir, what would have been the result if the
policy which formed the SESSIONS OF North Carolina,
Georgia France, and Spain into slave Territories,
and finally admitted slayChOlding Texas, had pre-
vailed in 1881 Slavery, it is well known, existed
in the Northwestern Territory. The honorable
Senator from Illinois Mr.. DoUeLAs has informed
us that slavery continued in that State, not
withstandng the Ordinance under the protection of
the State Constitution. We know what perseverng
efious-continucd from 1902 to 1907, and until final
rejection of the application herewere used 10 induce
Congress TO suspend the operation of the slavery
prohibition in the Ordinance in respect TO all the
territory included within the limits OF Ohio. We
know what arguments were empoyed-the same
precisely which have ever since been urged by those
who would reconcile the people to the extension of
slavery-the same, doubtless, which were urged with
TOO fatal success 10 persuade the National Legislature
10 its first departure from the policy of INA and
1887 1t was said that slavery would not be increased
by~Ffe proposed extension, its only effect being TO
change the locality of persons already slaves; that
the happiness of the slaves would be promoted by
increased comforts OF their new abodes and finally,
that emancipation would be promoted by spreading
the slaves largest possible extent OF territory,
and thereby making emancipation sate.t
These facts furnish conclusive proof that but for
the positive prohibition of slavery by the Ordinance
of 1887 every foot of land west of the Allegheny
mountains would have been at this day slave soil.
No law of physerl geography or formation of the
earth no want OF adaptation of soil or climate to the
great staples of slave labor no imaginary barrier in
degrees of latitude would have arrested the progress
of the fatal blight.
Let us be thankful that the wisdom Of the founders
of the Republic ioresaw and by positive prohibition
prevented this great calamity. Let us be thankful,
also. that those who followed them, though they
failed to initiate their example, were yet unwilling to
undo their work.
Let me how sir sum up the results of this policy
ofadding new slave Territories and new slave States
to the Union, which was substituted for the original
policy of free Territories and free States.
| make no remark here upon the admission of
Kentucky That State district of Virginia,
and never Territory of the United States. But out
of Territories cedcd the Union and actually organ
lied under national jurisdiction, since the adoption OF
the Constitution, eight slave States have been erect
ed and admitted Tennessee out OF the cession Of
North Carolina Alabama and Mississippi out of the
cesson of Georgia; Louisiana, Missouri, and Arkan-
sas out Of tie cession of France; and Florida out of
the cessiOn of Spain. Besides these States, we have
annexed slaveholdng Texas, vast in her undisputed
limits and with vast claims beyond them. Here are
eight new slave States, created and admitted OFT OF
Territories not foot OF which had been ceded to
the United States prior to the Constitution, and five
of them out of foreign territory acquired by purchase
or annexation since its adoption.
Well, sir where are the free States which have
come into the Union out of these Territories There
is but one. Iowa is the single State yet admitted
out of all the vast Territories acquired since the or
ganizaton of the Government
Thus sir we see-that while the original policy of
the Government secured TO freedom all the territory
acquired before the Constitution, and oil the States
erected of it, the reversal of that policy secured
10 slavery of the territory subsequently acquired,
and all the States formed out of il except one.
Now sir, desire to submit TO the Senate COM
parison of the areas which belonged respectively 10
freedom and TO slavery at the date of the Conslitu
tion and the which have been devoted 10 free
dom and 10 slavery, respectively, in States created
out of Territories and admitted into the Union since
that date. have compiled from the reports of the
Commissioner of the Land Office a statement ex-
hibiting this comparison, which will read
FREE STATES So mt
States in 49, including Vermont and Maine l6iOSl
States out Of Northwestern Territory, via; Ohio In
DIANA Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin 239 3i5
State out Of foreign territory acquired viz Iowa 509i
1890
SLAVE STATES.
States In 1871, including kentucky 2i3e2
States out Of territory within original limits, Wis
Tennessee Alabama, and Mississippi -Ill 1863
Texas S within her undisputed boundariss s7a7ss
7j9N
Difference in favor of slave States in square miles 9O7
Add IN this narts OF Tnmaulinas Gnahuila be