Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-09


proposed in the resolutions which have offered Present me
such scheme and will hail it with pleasure, and will
accept without the slightest feeling OF regret that my
abandoned. Sir, whilst engaged in anxions
sideraon upon this subject the idea Of the Missouri
promise, has been termed, under my review,
considered by me- and finally rejected n my judgment less
worthy Of the common acceptance Of both parts OF this Union
than the project which have offered for your consideration
Before enter into particular examnaton however, OF
that Missouri compromise beg to be allowed TO correct
great which is prevailing not merely in this Senate but
throughout the whole in respect to agency in the
Missouri compromise rather in respect to the line OF S6 30
which established in 1920 by act OF Congress- do
know whether any thing has excited surprise in
mind the rspdiiy with which important historical trans
actions obered and pass from the mind, than when
understood every where that had been the author OF the line
$50 3O which established upon the occasion of the a
mission of Missouri into the Union 1t would take too much
time go over the whole Of thatmpoant in the pub
lie affairs Of the country shall not do it, although have
got ample materials before me- derived from careful exami
time by going in detail through the whole ansacon but
will content myself with stating that far from my having
presented proposition this line OF 36 3O upon the occa
Of the consideration whether Missouri should be admitted
into the Union not did originate the House of which
member 1t originated in this body, those who will
cast their recollection back and am the honorable Senator
from Missouri Mr BESToS more correctly than any body
else, bring bis recollection the fact that at the Congress
when the proposition was first made admit Missouror
her allow her hold convention and frame constitution
and decide whether she should should be admitted into
the Unonhe bill failed by disagreement between the two
houses, the House insisting and the Senate dissenting
from the provisions contained in the ordinance Of 7S7 The
House insisting the nterdcon Of slavery, and the Senate
rejecting the proposition of the niercon Of slavery the bill
fell through did not pass a that session of Congress At
the next renewed the Of s renewal
Maine was knockng at door TO 20 admitted into the
Union. In the House there majority for the rescon
10 slavery in Missouri, in the Senate there majority
opposed TO all restriction In the Senae therefore, in order
carry through the Missouri BILL the provision for her ad
rather authorizing her to determine the question
Of her admission bill coupled with bill for the adj
mission Of Maine They connected together, and the
Senate said the House, "Yon bill for the admission
Of Maine passed. but you shall have it. unless take
along with bill for the admission Of Missouri aso There
was majority, very large one in the Senate for coupling
both together. #
WELL sir the bill went through all the usual stages Of dis
agreement of committees Of conference and there two
committees of conference the occasion before the matter
finally settled. And finally settled to disconnect
the bsto admit Maine separately without any con-
nexion with Missouri and to insert in the Missouri bill
clause, proposed in the Senate of the United States by Mr.
Thomas Senator from Illinois, restricting slavery north OF
the line 36o 30 and leaving open south OF that line either
to admit admit it. Well the bill finally pass
ed The committees Of conference Of Houses
mended the detachment of the two and the passage OF
the Missouri bill with the clause 36o 3O in it. and so It
passed. went to Missouri it for moment quieed the
country by of the introduction of the clause 36 3V
Yon will nd repeat sir, you will take the trouble to
look at the journals that many three four differ
ent occasions Mr. Thomas in every instance presented the
proposition Of $50 80. Nwas finally agreed to and take
to say that amongst those who voted for the line
36o 80 the majority Of the Southern membersmy
friend from Alabama, (Mr Kitg,) in the Senate, Mr..
Pinckney, from Maryland, and indeed the majority OF
the Southern Senators voted in favor Of the line $50 80 and
the majority Of the Southern members in the other
House, at the head of whom Mr.. sIowndes him
SELF voted also for that line. have doubt did also but
Speaker of the House at the time, and the journal
does show how the Speaker votes except in the OF
tie, able ascertain, by to the records how
did vote, but have very little doubt that voted in common
with my other Southern friends for the adoption, in spirit
Of compromise, it is true, Of the line 36o 3O1.
Well sir the matter ended in 1920 During that yea
Missouri held her Convention adopted her constitution, sem
her delegates Congress- seeking to be admitted into Inc
Union she had inserted clause in her constitution con
tanning prohibition Of free people OF color from that state
She here with her constitution containing that prohbi
on and immediately the Northern members took exception
toi The flame which had been repressed during the pre-
session burst orh with double violence throughou
the whole Union Legislative bodies all got IN mouon
keep out Missouri Of her Introduction Of re
people Of color from within her limits did not arrive
Congress that session till January, and when got here
found both bodies completely par in OF tn
struggle excfudr Missouri from the Union in consequence
of that prohibition.
Well sir made the first effort in the House to settle it
asked committee Of thirteen and committee Of thirteen
granted me- representing all the old States o. ths
Union The committee met. presented to them resolu
oD which adopted by the committee and reported to inc
House-not unlike the which will presently call the
attention of the Sepaeand should have carried IN the
House but the votes oil OI
Edwards of North Carolina, and Mr. Burton OF North Ca
rolnatwo of the three, believe no longer Wng' Inese
three Southern all cast against the compromise
which was prepared by the committee rather BY myself as
chairman of the committee Of thirteen and defeated u.
Well sir in that condition the thing remained for several
days. The greatest anxiety pervaded the counythe pub
lie mind unsetledmen were unhaPpythere was large
majority of the House them as hope and trust there IS now
large majority in Congress, favor of an equitable accommo.
daton or settlement Of the questions and the rcsouan would
have been adopted believe but when it TO the vote
by yeas and nays unfortunately hen-more unfortunately
then, hope, than now if there should be occasion for
nowhere few Cutuses and Leondases willing to rsi
themselves for the safety and security Of their country
deavored to avail myself that good feeling, far as could
aad, after few days had elapsed brought forward anothe
proposition one perfectly unpractsed in this country
either before SINCE far know. proposed join
committee Of the Houses that Of the House to consist
twenty members hc number Of the Senate committee
do recolec and that this committee should be appoint
ed by ballot for at time Mr. Taylor, Of New York, wa
in the chair and Mr.. Taylor the very man who had
first proposed The restriction upon Missouri lie pro-
posed that she should only be admitted the principle
Of the ordinance Of 1857 proposed therefore, that the
committee be appointed by ballot Well, SIR, my motion was
carried by large majority and members came to me from
all quarters House, and said, whom, Mr. CLAY, do
you want to have with you the committee made out
my list Of twenty three members and venture to say that
that happened that occasion which will hardly happen
again. eighteen Of the elected on the rst
baot-and the remaining Eve my list having the largest
number Of votes but the majority, moved to dispense
with any further baong and that these five should be add
ed the eighteen thus completing the committee of twenty
three. One or two gentlemen, Mr. Lvermore, OF New
Hampshire and Others declined to serve on the
committee and very much my egei and somewhat 70
annoyance the lamened Mr. Randolph ard another person
placed in their stuaonI forget whether done by bal
lot by the Speaker it enough to say they were put on
the committee
Well sir the Senate immediately agreed to the PROPOSE
ton appointed its committee, and met in this hall on the
Sabbath ay within two or three days of the close Of the