Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-24
NEBRASKA.

everybody.
It gives condensed view Of slavery in Missouri,
which the writer thinks is rapidly declining, and
destined eventually to pass away. The position
and staples Of Missouri, render slavery necessarily
improbable on ncr soil. The influence Of internal
improvements and the influx Of foreigners is fast
tending to the destruction Of slavery. IL is quoted
as a saying in the State that every German emf
grant displaces three slaves, and every Irishman
two," which he thinks not far from the truth. The
conviction that slavery is to fade away in the State,
is represented as having desirable influence to-
wards securing tho result While slavery continues,
Of course the political parties Of the State will act
in accordance with its policy But politically il
may be safely set down that three-fourths Of the
State would vote against slavery, were the question
to come up dUectly-slaycry slavery in Mis-
souri," OF the correctness of this opinion, the
election Of Thomas IL. Benton is considered ono
point Of evidence. Others also enumerated.
But prominent object of the work is to counter
act the plot now in progress Of developement to
abrogaie the Missouri Compromise and admit
Nebraska as a slape STATE, to the Union. Should
this be DONE the slave interest in Missouri will be
most unfortunately fortified, and the dovelopcmcnt
of those causes which are tending to freedom in
thot state, esschtlally 1eluTucu' llcHcc 'c Nholc
slave interest in the State is alive and actve-with
fierce jealousy aroused And hence, too, the nc
cessity Of vigorous action to couneraet this move
tnent, by all the friends of freedom. With such
sction the whole free element Of Missouri earnestly
sympathizes.
There are those who think there is no danger Of
a violation of this Missouri bargain. But why not
What are the lacts2 In 1920 Missouri applied for
admission to the Union. The north wished no more
slave States and dcmured to her admission as
sirrekoldng State The south clustered, and threat
ened to dissolve the Union. Henry Clay came with
his Compromise. It was this: That if the north
would yield This Hmo--this oHce-thc south would
ask no more. If the north would admit Missouri
with her clearly defined boundaries slave State
the whole of the Louisiana purchase north of 3Go
30> north latitude, should forever be free territory.
In the language Of the compromising laws
" In all that territory cedod by France to the
United States, under the name of Louisiana, which
lies north of 3Go 3O> north latitude, not included
within the limits of the State contemplated by this
act slarery aud Involuntary seroit,ide, otherwise
than in the punishment of crimes whereof the
parties shall have been duly convicted, shall BE- and
IS hereby prohibited .J6reeer."
Here was positive pledge on the part Of the
South, that they would .t6recer" refrain from
molcsting freedom in every other part of the Lou
isiaua Territory. But only Sirteen gears passed,
before Missouri found it convenient to make the
Missouri river her western boundary, instead Of
the original line. And Congress in violation Of
the compromise Of 1890 consented. Thus was
added to the state and to slavery, strip of terri
tory running from point at the South, 10 sixty
miles in width at the North, and of which have
been formed six counties, with present slave
population of 1900 souls. The North fulfilled her
Infamous stipulation to the letter. The South was
false and porfdous to her pledge to freedom, as
she always has been, as she is plotting with firm
determination again to be- in the Of Nebraska.
If there was any faith to be placed in slaycholdin2
promises, or in the enactmcnts Of slave governed
Congress, in favor Of freedom, these 4,500 slaves
would be immediately cmancipacd, and the west
crn triangle declared free, by remuneration to
Nebraska Territory.
Such in substance, is the statement Of the writer
on this question. We append the closing para
graph of one Of his letters in regard to it, We
shall make further extracts hereafter.
But passing that point let ask, Is this triangle.
when added to Missouri free slave territory?-
That there slaves there, and that it is now an
the question is Did the addition Of this triangle to
Missouri change its free character? Can one cas-
ual act OF Congress, cOuchcd in general terms,
control and take precedence Of an especial enact
ment drawn with the most stringent precision ?
Can the careless and hasty action Of Congress undo
that which wd7 established with the deepest thought
and anxiety and declared irrerocaJicP While an
absolute specific enactment is in UrCc docs 1t not
modify, in that particular respect which it regards.
amy general act, which does not directly or indl-
Il. l',f.
pass any act that shall be perpetual? Men, in this
world, make bequests, cndowments, and deeds,
which are never to be changcd-which express the
will Of the donor or conveyor. There are times
in government when the same stable kind Of ac-
tOn is desirable, when great principles are to be
established and deeds performed which will forev-
result in good. Circumstances change; Opn-
ions alter; and this is so common, in world
where the future is all hidden, that it is rare
thing, that such language MS that of the Missouri
Compromise is introduced In our Indian treaties
in reference to land titles, the same construction
Of language is used. a time came in the affairs
Of our country, when every thing demanded that Q
permanent, enduring enactment should be passed
and it was done. What that enactment ?
That Missouri, with certain boundaries should bc
admitted as slave State. Mark it we'll! Govern
ment did not promise to add territory to that State
nor to maintain the supremacy of slavery there
No; il only said to Missouri you may branC
the curse upon your own forehead, and we will ye
receive you to the Union; but west and north o
you, there shall toyerer be no slavery" Can thu
United States make permanent enactmentg Il
its word good for even 20 yearsg | do not know
or remember any United States enactment eScep
this, which was designed to be perpetual statute
beyond the possibility of change. And yet, th
ehas been trampled upon, in the grossest manner
'Is our government desirable? Is it any blessing
ito live under in IL is, why not maintain its in
,tegrityY Why make II a liar, in the thing o
all Others in which it has given out its wOrd anC
declared IL will not recall it2 Shame to the south
burning and eternal shame that, for u few aere
,of ground for a slight advantage--they shoulC
quietly and steathily attempt to violate the Mis-
-seuri Compromises compromise framed b,
themselves, and passed for themselves, and tina