The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-14

sons indiscreet-mad, IL you choose-fanatics, II
YOU choose to call them so-who are for dissolv-
ing this Union-(ind we know there are some
at the North who are for dissolying IL, IN conse-
auence Of the connection which exists between
the free and slaveholding States)-l do not think
that any State ought TO be held responsible for
the doctrines which they propagate, unless tne
State itself adopts those doctrines.
The last resolution declares
s. Resolved, That Congress has no power 10
prohibit or obstruct the trdHe IN slaves De
tween the slaveholdiDg States; but that the au-
mission or exclusion Of slaves brought rouh 0he
into another Of them, depends exclusively upon
their own particular laws
This is a concession-not admit, OF any rear
constitutional provision, but concession OF Mna'
is understood, believe, by great number AZ lne
North to be constitutional provlslon-iroin 'he
North to the South, if the resolution be aaopteu
Take away the decisions Of the Supreme tour' vi
the United States on that subject, and know
there is a great deal that might be said On ooth
sides of the subject of the right of Congress 10
regulate the trade between the States But be-
lieve the decision of the Supreme Court has been
founded upon correct principles; and hope IL
will forever put an end 10 the question whether
Congress has or has not the power to regulate the
slave trade between the different States
Such, Mr. President is the series Of resolutions
which, with an earnest and anxious desire 10 pre-
sent the olive branch TO both parts OF this dis
tracted and, at this moment, unhappy country,
thought it my duty to offer
Sir, while | was engaged in anxious considera
ton upon this subject, The idea of the Missouri
Compromise, as it has been termed came under
my review. was considered by me, and finally re-
ected as in my judgment less worthy of the com
mon acceptance Of both parties OF this mon tn an
the project which offer TO your consideration
Mr.. President, before enter into particular
examination however, of that Missouri Compro-
mise beg to be allowed to correct great error
not merely in the Senate, but throughout the
whole country, in respect to my agency in regard
to the Missouri Compromise, or, rather, the line
of $50 80, established by the agency of Congress.
| do not know, Mr. President, whether anything
has excited more surprise in my mind rs TO the
rapidity with which important historical transac-
lions are obliterated and pass out of the memory,
than has the knowledge of the fact that was
everywhere considered the author of the line Of
| $50 3O which was established upon the occasion
of the admission OF Missouri into the Union.
| Mr. President it would take up too much time
to 20 over the whole of that important era in the
public affairs of this country. | shall not attempt
| it, although have ample materials before me,
derived from careful and particular examination
of the journals of both Houses. ! will not occupy
your time by going into any detailed account Of
The whole Transaction, but | will content myself
with stating that, far from my having presented
AS a proposition the line of3GO 80 upon the occa-
! s;n,>ns rass;5nripg whether Missouri oDgbt to p
! admitted into the Union or not it did not origi-
nate in the House of which was member. 1t
originated in this body. Those who will cast
their recollection back-and am sure the honor
able Senator from Missouri, more correctly per-
haps than anybody else-must bring to recollec-
Y A. 49, tha han he
proposition was made to admit Missouri or
rather to permit her to hold convention and to
form q constitution, as preliminary to deciding
whether she should be admitted into this Union
the bill failed by disagreement between the two
! Houses the House of Representatives insisting
upon, and the Senate dissenting from, the proyi-
sion contained in the Ordinance of 1887 the
House insisting upon the Introduction Of slavery,
and the Senate rejecting the proposition for the
introduction Of slavery. The bill failed. 1t did
not pass at that session of Congress.
At the next session it was renewed; and, at the
time of its renewal, Maine WAS knocking at our
door, also, to be admitted into the Union. In the
House there was majority for restriction OF
the admission of slavery; in the Senate majority
was opposed to any such restriction. In the Sen
ate therefore in order to carry through Missouri,
bill or provision for her admission, or rather
authorizing her to determine the question of her
admission. was coupled with the bill for the ai-
mission of Maine. They were connected together,
and the Senate said to the House, You want the
bill for the admission of Maine passed you shall
not have it, unless you take along with 1t the bill
for the admission Of Missouri also. There was
msjority--not very large one, but very firm
and decided majority-in the Senate for coupling
them together. Well, sir, the bill went through
all the usual stages of disagreement and OF CON-
mittees Of conference; for there were two COM
mitees of conference upon the occasion before the
matter was finally settled. Ii was finally settled
to dsconnect the two bills to admit Maine sep
arately, without any connection with Missouri
and to insert in the Missouri bill clause which
was inserted in the Senate Of the United States
a clause which was proposed by Mr.. Thomas, OF
Illinois in the Senate. restricting the admission
of slavery north of $50 30, and leaving the ques
ton open south of 800 30' either to admit or not
TO admit slavery. The bill was finally passed
The committee of conference Of the two Houses
recommended the detachment Of the two bills. ano
the passage of the Missouri bill, with the clause
of 800 30' in it. So it passed. SO it went to Mis-
souri, So for moment, it quieted the country
But the clause of 500 30', repeat, you will find
sir if you will take the trouble to look into The
Journals was upon three or four different occa
sions, offered Mr.. Thomas, acting in every in
stance, presented the proposition of 36o 30'; and
it was finally agreefto. But take the occasion
to say, that among those who agreed to that line
were majority of Southern members My friend
from Alabama in the Senate, Mr.. King Mr.
Pinkney from Maryland, and a majority of tn,
Southern Senators, in this body, voted in favor o.
the line of 800 80; and majority of Southern
members in the other House, at the head of whom
was Mr. Lawrence himself, voted also for tha
line have no doubt that did also; but, rs wa,
Speaker of the House. and as the journal does no
L., l..
cases Of tie am not able to tell with certainty
how | actually did vote but have no earthly
doubt that voted, in common with my othei
Southern friends, for the adoption of the line o
800 3O.
So the matter ended in 1920. During that ycal
Missouri held Convention, adopted a Constitu
ton sent her Constitution by her members, I,
Congress, to be admitted into the Union but sh,
had inadvertently inserted into that Constitution
a provision to PREVENT the migration of free PEG
pie of color into that State. She came here will
the Constitution containing that provision AM
|, Immediately Northern members took excepto t,
it, The flame which had been repressed at tn,
previous session, now burst out with redoubeC
force and violence throughout the whole Union
Legislative bodies all got in motion to keep on
| Missouri from the Union, in consequence OF he
interdiction of the admission of free people o
color within her limits.
did not arrive at Washington, at that session
until January and when got here, found both
bodies completely paralyzed by the excitement
which had been produced in the struggle TO ad
nit or exclude Missouri from the Union, in con
sequence of that prohibition. Well, sir, ! mad
an effort, first, in the House Of Representatives
to settle it. | asked for Committee of thirteen
and Committee of thirteen was granted to me
{ representing all the old States of the Uuion
That committee met. presented to that Com
, mittee resolution, which was adopted by it an'
( reported to the House, not unlike the one L
which will presently call the attention of th
Senate We should have carried it through th
r House but for the votes Of Mr.. K ,ndolph o