The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-06-28

ing Constitutions should determine
that the public Slave trade in the Dis
trict of Columbia should be abolished,
without affecting the existence of Slave
ry in the District, and that new and rig
orous provisions for the recapture of flu
gitive slaves. of disputed constitutional
ity should be adopted, aud that on con.
dition California should be admitted as
Free State. Repugnant as this Com.
promise was to the people of the Free
States, acquiesconco was nevertheless
practically obtained by means of solemn
assurances made on behalf of the Slave
holding States, that the Compromise was
and should be forever regarded as final
adjustment Of the Slavery question and
of all the issues which could possibly,
arise out of it. A new Congress con
vened in December, 1851. Representa-
tives from the Slave States demanded a
renewed pledge Of fidelity to this adjust
ment, and it was granted by the House
Of Representatives in the following
terms:
Reso1red, That We recognize the
binding efficacy of the compromises of the
Constitution, and believe it to be the
intention of the people generally, as we
hereby declare it to be ours individual
ly, to abide by such compromises and
sustain the laws necessary to carry them
out, the provisions for tho delivery of
fugitive slaves, and the act of the last
Congress for that purpose included, and
that we deprecate al further agitation
of questions embraced in the acts of the
last Congress known as the Compromise,
and of questions generally connected
with the institution Of Slavery, as un-
necessary, useless, and dangerous.
n few months subsequently,, the Dem
ocratic National Convention met at Bal.
timore, assuming to speak the sentiments
of the Democratic party, set forth in
its platform that the Democratic party
will resist all attempts at removing in
Congress or out of it tho agitation of
the Slavery question, under whatever
shape or color the attempt may be
made. Soon afterwards, another Ma.
tional Convention assembled in the same
city, and assuming the right to declare
the sentiments of the Wing party said
ave dcprecate all further agitation of
the questions thus settled, as dangerous
to our peace, and will discountcnancc all
efforts to continue or renew such agita-
ton, whenever, wherever, or however
made" The present administration was
elected on the principle of adherence to
| 4 . 10 ID Il
fcrring to it in his inaugural speech, de-
clared that the harmony which had been
secured by it should not be disturbed
during his term of Office The Prcsi
dent, recurring to the same subject, ro
newell his pledge in his message to Con
gress at the beginning of the present
session, in the following language
" But not withstandmg differences of
opinion and sentiment which then exist
cd in relation to details and specific pro
visions, the acluicsconco of distinguished
citizens, whose devotion to the Union car
never be doubted, has given renewed Wig
or to our institutions, and restored a
sense Of rcpose and security to the pub
/ lie mind throughout the Confedcracy.-
That this reposc is to suffer no shock dur
ing my official term. if | have the power
to avert it, those who placed me here
may be assured" Under these crcum.
stances, the proposition to repeal the
Missouri Compromise wns suddenly and
unexpectedly made by the same Com
mittee on. Territories which, only ten
days before, had affirmed the sanctity OF
the Missouri Compromise, and declared
the end of agitation in the following OK.
plicit and unmistakoablc language
( Your Committee do not feel them.
selves called upon to enter into a discus,
sion of those controyerted questions
! they involve the same great issues which
produced the agitation, the sectional
strife and the fearful struggle of 1880.
As Congress deemed it wise and pruden.
to refrain from deciding the matters in
controversy then, either by affirming or
repeating the Mexican laws, or by an act
declaratory as to slave-property in the
territories, so your Committee are not
prepared now to recommend depart.
ure from the course pursued upon that
memorable occasion, either by affirming
or repeating tho eighth section Of the Mis-
souri, act, or by any act declaratory Of
the meaning of tho Constitution in re-
spect to the legal points in dispute"
The abrogaton has been effected in
pursuance of the demands Of the Admin
istration itself, and by means of its in
fuence on Congress In the House of
Representatives, that body which is more
Immediately responsible TO the people,
the contest was more equal than in the
Senate, though it is due to justice and
candor that it should b. stated that it
could not have been carried in either
House, without the votes of Representa-
tives from the free States. The minori
ty resisted tho attempts to arrest dis
cussion upon this grave question through
struggle of longer duration than any
other known to Congressional history
Some attempt was made TO stigmatize
that minority as factionists, yet we fear
lcssly declare that throughout the con-
test they resorted solely to the powers
secured to them by the law and the rules
of the House and the passage of the
measure through the House was effected
through subvorsion of it's rules by the
majority and the exercise of power I'M
precedcnted in the annals of Congress
sional legislation,
The deed is done. 1t is done with a
clear proclamation by the Administra-
ton and by Congress, that that the prin-
ciple which it contains extends not only
to Kansas and Nebraska, but to all the
othar Territories now belonging to the
United States, aud to all which here
after may be acquired 1t has been done