Washington telegraph., 1851-07-16
The Missouri CoMpRoMrsE.-It has

| HE Missouri CoMPRoMIsE.-It has
been frequently asserted by leading Fire
eaters that the Missouri Compromise was
forged or the south by northern votes.
Those who have made this charge, have,
of course. neglected to examine the re-
cord. Judge Cuthbersp.aced this matte r
in its proper light before the Southern
Rights Association not long since, by
stating that it was passed by Southern
votes.
The storm was first raised in the House
Of Representatives, upon the preliminary
bill authorizing the people Of the Nilsson.
ri Territory to form State Constiru-
ton. When this bill came up in the
House in 1920, an amendment was offer
ed in the form of mandate to the peo-
pie, to, incorporate. into their new consti-
tuition the Wilmot Psovlso, in substance.
After a debate which convulsed the
whole country. the restriction passed the
House !l! and was sent to the Senate. Ef-
forts were made for long time to settle
the difficulty by compromise, but without
success; the members from the free States
insisting that no . more more States. whose con-
stilnntions fl recognized slavery, should he htee
admitted int0 the Union.
The Missouri Compromise was finally
presented by Senator Thomas, of Illi-
hois-and not by Mr.. Clay. as has been
generally supposed and was accepted.
understood. that if this compromise was
accepted. the opposition to States because
their constitution recognized slavery
should be abandoned. the line of SO 80
adopted. and slavery prohibited by law
north of that line. except The case of
Missouri. South Of that line it already
existed.
The Senate, At that time, consisted of
forty-tour memhers from twenty-five
States-eleven free aud eleven slave-hold.
ing. When the restriction imposed by
the House came up in the Senate, Mr..
Barbour, of Virginia. moved 70 strike it
from the bill, which motion was carried
by a vote Of yeas 27. nays 15-6ve Sem
ators from Vermont being absent. I'm
mediately after this vote had been taken,
the Missouri Compromise of 36 80, as
applicable to the territories, was adopted
in the Senate without division. Sena-
tors from the north and south voting for
- - u . - ''i - - 'IS u
On the same day, the House adopted
both the amendments Of the Senate.
The first, striking out the slavery Eestric-
ton on Missouri, by the close vote of
yeas 80. nays S7-only three majority.
Fourteen members from the free States
voted with the South; and ali the other
Northern members in body went for
excluding State which tolerated slavery.
After 'ba yals eEpulnlging the res'ric-
House, the Missouri Compromise was
passed by the very large majority of 134
yeas to AZ nays. On this vote the mem
bers from the South divided, 40 voting
for it and 81 against it, Thus it appears
on the record that the Missouri Com
promise passed the Senate without di-
vision-all asserting to the bill, while
the members from the South in the
House divided. a majority voting for the
bill. 1t may thereto be said to have
been passed by Southern votes.
The next session contest arose upon
the presentation of the Constitution of
Missouri for acceptance, on the clause
which prohibited free negroes from NOV.
ing into the State; Northern members
contending that it was depriving citizens
of the United States of that equality in
ali the States which the Constitution
GUARANTEED. A hot and bitter debate
followed, and it was upon this point that
the celebrated Compromise Committee Of
Mr.. Clay was raised. A report was SUBJ
sequently submitted which satisfied the
pride of both sections, and the constiru-
ton was accepted. Since then, it has
become common for the free States them
selves to prohibit by constitutional en-
actments free negroes from emigrating to
those States which deemed it advisable to
legislatee upon the subject Circums.an-
ceS alter cases It seems.
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