The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-13

LOCKS w. RAMSAY, and @. srxrsnAS.
90 Receipts from either Of the win be good.
0voLSEY PALxxa Advertisements for
New York, Philadelphia and Boston, and receipt for
payment for the same. t
The Missouri Compronaiss.
This to be misunderstood at the present
time. Although il is not at this time probable that It
viii be adopted the basis of compromise in the pres
en controversy, yet may ultimately be called into
requison for this purpose. feel constrained to re-
move the misapprehension which exists with regard to
It. The senior editor. who was then engaged in the
abors of his profession has hesitation in repeating
that he opposed TO the principle Of that compromise
at the time Of its adoption We believed then, be-
heve now, that the principle Of non-intevenon was the
only safe and constitutional principle to guide the action
of Congress yet subsequently, acquiesced in that
measure the same principle upon which Mr. Berrien
justified its adoption in his powerful speech OF yeser
day-saius popu suprema isr-because thought that
the slavery question was the chief if not the only
danger which could menace the permanency, the
prosperity and the power Of this glorious confedeacy
and when the feelings Of the moment over, and
saw the oil which should have been poured upon the ag
tated waves by the Missouri compromise, in
cned to acquesce in any adjustment OF this porentous
and fearful controversy, which hung so aarmingly
over the desnies Of country We then believed too,
that the Missouri compromise was to operate a
permanent adjustment of the most dangerous question
which could assa our institutions. We confess
that we were content, for one, to dismiss from our
minds those constitutional objections which we for
mery ENTERTAINERS and since has been acknowledged for
more than quarter Of century by all sections and by
both OF the two great paresrecognised too virtually
second time in the OF the annexation of Texaswe
have looked upon it bindng-lke solemn treaty Of
amityon the North and the South When this question
again ups with all its alarming and portentous as
pecs within the last three years. the acquisition Of
new territory, thought again that something was due
an engagement deliberately entered into and left unds
turbed for many years by the parties to it, matter upon
what principles it was originally founded.
But our purpose was not to enter into an examination
Of the binding force of the Missouri compromise nor
vndicate to condemn the Interpretation OF the
stution on which it based, but simply TO lay that
before readers that hey may fully UNDER
stand its provisions portion Of the law OF the 9th
Of March, $780, which relates to slavery in the Terrific
res, is in the following words:
SEo And BE- IL farther enacted, That in all that terri
tory ceded by France the United States under the
Of Louisiana hch lies north of thirtysx degrees and
thirty minutes north latitude, included within the lin
involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the panish
Grimes whereof the parties shall have been duly
vcted shall be- and hereby forever prohibited Provided
aoay Thatany person ping into the same from whom
labor service lawfully claimed, In any State Terri
tory the United States such fugitive may be lawfully
and conveyed the person claiming his her
labor service, aforesaid" I f'E #t
This is the language of the Missouri compromise and
even moments examination Will serve to show that
while forever excludes slavery from the territory north
of hry-sx degrees thirty minutes north latitude it could
not be interpreted TO mean, many suppose, establish
ing and fixing forever the existence OF slavery south
OF that line In the country south OF the CON-
promise lne it recognises the doctrine OF non-inter-
vention, and leaves to the people the right to say
for themselves whether they will establish pro-
hib slave institutions We confess indeed, that this
engagement was by no means reciprocal. Ii conveyed
the portion Of the territory north Of the Missouri line 10
the citizens OF the North, who would settle there with
out slaves whilst gave the citizens OF the South the
privilege OF settling there with slaves but left to
the majority OF the citizens to decide what destiny should
be stamped upon the southern territory, when they form
ed constitution and desired TO be admitted into the
Union Yet, notwithstanding this difference, they made
this sacri6ce-eyen more than an equal compromise
would have demanded-from devotion TO the Union,
and from desire to yield much, in order to make final
adjustment OF the only question which could leopard the
permanence Of this glorious confederacy.
But we have another precedent also on file The princ
pie established by the Missouri compomise was virtu.
ally adhered to when Texas admitted into the Union
The Joint resolution for her admission, after stpulang
that with the consent of Texas four additional States
may be carved out OF her territory, says;
And such States as may be formed OF that portion OF
said territory lying south of hirysix degrees thirty min
u,es north latitude, commonly known the Missouri com
promise line, shall be admitted into the Union with or
without slavery the people Of each State asking sdnis
sion may desire And In such State Staes shall be
formed out Of said territory north Of said Missouri compo-
mise line slavery involuntary servitude Except for
| crme) shall be prohibited
| This joint resolution, under which Texas was ad.
mted expressly recognises the principle Of the Missouri
compromise; for il expressly prohibits slavery in any
State which may be carved out Of Texas north Of
thirty six degrees thirty minutes while does not
ablish slavery south OF that line, but recognises the
principle Of non-nervention, and leaves the whole sub
jec to be determined by the people themselves, inde
pendent Of the action OF Congress- Notwithstanding
the objections which urged in the southern portion
Of the confederacy against the Missouri compromise
quarter Of century ago, believe hathe South is now
willing to abide by the spirit the meaning, and real inten,
OF that treaty Of amy and make il in all time to come
an adjustment OF all the territorial questions which may
arise touching slavery II our memory right,
prominent southern member OF the House Of Representa-