The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-13

on the LIST OF March, lisa tne uned ctars came my
he undisputed ownership and sovereignty OF the vast re-
ZION northwest OF the Ohio To dispose Of the SOIL and
% determine the political institutions OF the Territory,
n1omutiy performed On the very day Of The cession be-
fore the went down. Thomas Jefferson n osnalI q
1 committee, consisting OF himself Mr. Howell oil RHODE
Island and Mr.. Chase of Maryland, reported plan Tor
be government OF the Western Terrtorynot that lying
north OF the Ohio, merely, but OF all from the north line
Of Florida to the north Line OF the United States THIS
sir 10 memorable document OF our early history, and
propose to read portions OF Il TO the Senate
hs ,e dd esss 9y the Individual a , States s
own petition the order Of Congress, receive auhor
w. with appointments Of time and place. for their free
males e age % 70. Such q
poary government shall only continue in force, any
ants when. giving due proof thereof Congress, they
shall receive from Them authority, with appointments Of
time and place. call convention Of representatives to
establish permanent constitution and government for
Provided That both the temporary and per
governments be established these principles
as their basis"
Here follow sundy provisions, the last Of which is as
follows;
the yar 1900 or tAs Christian era there shall
sitksr savsry nor .apaatars s9piisd any Of said
sa is's Sss. da1 ss"''sd q have Been personally
This, sir was the plan and prouiso of Jefferson II
met the appreciation OF the American people Improved
hn true faith Il proved that he spirit Of he coyenant
Of l774 yet animated the heart of the nation According
10 this grand and comprehensive schemes the commence
ment OF the nneee century was 10 witness the inaugu-
ration of freedom the fundamental and perpetual law
Of the transmonane half OF The American republic.
Had this plan and poviso been adopted, we should not
now be discussing the questions which embarrass us.
The extension of slavery would have been limited by the
Alleghanies. No slave could have trodden foot
Of the soil beyond. Unhapply. however the proviso
was not adopted and, have already said that met
the approval Of the people, ask attention 10 the pro.
ceedngs which resulted in IFS rejection On the 10Th OF
April Mr SPaight q North Csroina, moved shas the
ton, which governed the proceedings OF Congress. a
majority Of the thirteen States was necessary to an ar-
native decision OF any question and the vote OF no State
could be counted unless represented by at least two
TIE question upon Mr. Spaighrs motion was put in
this form
Shall the words moved to be struck out stand 70
For tie Proviso six States, viz New Hampshire, Mas.
sachusetts. Rhode Island. Connecticut New York; and
Against he Proviso three States, viz Virginia, Mary
land, and South Carolina.
Delaware and Georgia were not represented. New
delegate being present. could not be counted The vote
Of North Carolina was diyldei-Mr Williamson voting
Mr. s1hM T9s 0s ,o q MNaa 81 NJ
wentyhre delegates present and voting sixteen voted
for and against. The proviso Thus was the
yso defeated by minority vote. Thepeope for it,
The States were for ii but il failed in consequences Of
provision which enabled the minority TO control the
ony Il happened that Mr.; Beatty. the colleague Of
III. Ck,
turned day after Had he been present. had
one Of Mr.. Jeersons colleagues voted with him, the
suit would have been changed. How vast the
quences which, in this instance, depended on single
vote
WE'LL SIR the ordinance Of 1854. thus MANNED and 9TH
erwse mutlaed became the law OF the land on the 23d
minister to France, and out of the country until
after the adoption OF the constitution The agitation OF
the Proyso, however did not cease in consequence Of
his absence In that year, u7S5) Mr.. King, OF
Massachusetts,. again moved the proviso in Congress. in
slightly modified form, as follows:
"Tha, there shall be neither slavery involuntary
q I'd ~ saafs the
shment Of Grimes whereof the party shall have been per-
Of compact and remain fundamental principle of,he
constitutions between the thirteen original and each
i7s4."-t4 Jour Old Cong, 4sl)
The resolution was ordered to be committed by the
votes Of New Hampshire Massachusetts,, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyvan
and Maryland-eght;. against the votes Of Virginia.
North Carolina, South Carolina, and GeoYia--four.
Delaware was not represented. The vote OF Maryland
Of Virginia determined by two against aye
The decided favor shown TO this resolution by the vote
Tor its commitment was the more remarkable, inasmuch
as it proposed the immediate prohibition of slavery, in
stead Of prohibition after $780, in all territory acquired,
and to be acquired.
No further action was had at this time but in little
than two years afterwards, the subject brought
for the third time before Congress- in connexon, be-
FORE with the government OF the Western Territory. The
ordnance oil JTS4, from causes INTO winch
ea to inquire. had been carried into practical
operation. Settlements were about TO commence in the
northwest and the settlers needed protection and gov
eminent Congress, therefore, in 1857 resumed the
sderation OF the subject OF Western Territory These
deliberations resulted in the celebrated ordinance Of 1887
the last great act and among the greatest acts OF the
Congress OF the Confedeationan act which received
the unanimous voes OF the States, and, with single
exception from New York. OF all the delegates. This
ordinance, in its sixth article OF compact, expressly pro-
hbied slavery and involuntary seryude. except for
crime, throughout the Territory Ii abolished existing
slavery, and forbade future slavery Ii covered with
this prohibition every inch OF territory then belonging to
the United States IL expressly declared the national
policy which this prohibition and kindred provisions con-
tanned in the articles OF compact meant indicate
and establish. This is IFS language:
'.For EXTENDING the fundamental prwcfpi. Of civa and
religious fbrty, wheTeon these rcpubics their laws and
constitutions erected 10 fir and eabi those princi
pies as the basis NJ all laos, consfipiions and
which forever hereafter shall be formed 10 ahe said Terri
'oyi Be Il ordained and
To guard against possible future departure from this
policy ordained that these articles should 'forever
remain unaerabe" unless altered by the common con-
sent Of the original States and the people and States in
the Territory
1t is hardly possible to conceive OF more explicit dec
aaton OF governmental policy than this The state OF
public sentiment in regard to slavery which resulted in
this positive and unanimous exclusion Of i from national
territory is we'll described in letter of Mr. Jefferson to
OF emancipation The letter bears date Paris, August
7h, l7s5. will read an extract
"soahward Of the Chesapeake. IL viii find but few read