Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-02-09
ADDRESS
OF tho Free Democrats III Congress.
no the People of the ,,,,,.d ststss,
SHALL SLAVERY hep ,,or.q


7,vo,,.c:,;. NAsHlNGroN, Jan. 10, 1854
lives in u .Ssas As Senators and Representa-
dntv ne Congress Of the United SMtes, ii is our
10 warn our constituencies whenever imminent
danger menaces the freedom of our Institutions or
the permanently of our Union
Such danger, we firmly believe, now impends,
and we earnestly solicit your prompt attention TO
AT the last sessionof Congress, bill for the or.
ganizaion Of the territory of Nebraska passed the
House Of Representatives, With an overwhelming
majority That bill was based on the principle Of
excluding Slavery from the new Territory. 1t was
taken UP Tor consideration in the Senate, and conse-
quentiy failed to become a law. -
Al the present session, new Nebraska MI has
been reported by the Senate Committee on Terrific
ries, which, should it unhappily receive the sane
ton of Congress, will open all the unorganized ter
ritory of The Union to the iDgress of Slavery.
We arraign this bill as gross violation of sa'
cred pledge; as a criminal betrayal OF precious
rights: as part and parcel of an atrocIous plot to
exclude from vast unoccupied region, emgrants
from the Old World and free laborers from our own
States, and convert it into dreary region OF des-
potism, inhabited by masters and slaves
Take your maps, lell0w-citizens, we entreat you,
and what country it is that this bill, sraluitously
and recklessly, proposes to open to slavery.
From the southwestern corner OF Missouri pur-
sue the parallel of sc deg. 80 min. north latitude,
westwardly across the Arkansas the north fork OF
the Canadian, to the northeastern angle oil IeXaS
then follow the northern boundary OF Texas 10 the
western limit of New Mexico; then proceed along
that western line to its northern termination; then
again turn westwardly, and follow the northern line
Of New Mexico 10 the crest of the Rocky Mounlains
then ascend noIthwardly along the crest of that
mountain range TO the line which separates the Uni
ted States from the British possessions in North
America, on the 49h parallel OF north latitude;
then pursue your course eastwardly along that line
to the White Earth river, which falls into The Miss
our from the north; descend that river TO its con-
fiuence with the Missouri; descend the Missouri,
along The western boundary of Minnesota, OF Iowa,
of Missouri, TO the point where it ceases to be
boundary line, and enters the State to which it gives
its name then continue your southwark course along
the limit of that State to the point from which you
out. You have now made the circuit Of the
proposed territory Of Nebraska. You have trav-
ersed the vast distance of more than 5000 miles.
You have traversed the outline OF area of 1885,.
600 square miles; more than twelve times as great
that Of Ohio
This immense region, occupying the very heart OF
the North American Continent, and larger, by 49,
600 square miles than all the existing free States,
excluding Calilorna-this immense region, well
watered and fertile, through which the middle and
northern routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific must
pass-the immense region, embracing all the unor-
ganzed territory OF the nation, except the compay
lively Insignificant district Of Indian territory north
OF Red River and between Arkansas and Texas,
and now for more than thirty years regarded by the
common consent Of the American people as conse-
Grated to freedom by statute AMI Compact-ths i'm
mense region, the bill now before the Senate, with
out reason and without excuse, but in fragrant disre
gard of sound policy aud sacred faith, proposes to
open TO slavery.
We beg your attention, fellow citizens, to few
historical facts.
The original settled policy of the United States,
clearly indicated by The Jefferson Provso Of 1854,
and by the Ordinance of 1887, was non-exension Of
Slavery.
Ia 1903, Louisiana was acquired by purchase from
France. At that time there some twenty five or
thirty thousand slaves in this Territory, most Of
them within what is now the State of LouisiaD J;
a few, only, farther north on the west bank Of the
Mississippi. Congress instead Of providing for the
abolition Of Slavery in this new Territory, permit
ted its continuance. In 1872 the State of Louisiana
was organized, and admitted into the Union with
Slavery.
In 1918, six years later, the inhabitants Of the
Territory of Missouri applied to Congress for au-
thory TO form State Constitution, and for admis-
sion into the Union. There were, at that time, in
the whole Territory acquired from France, outside
of the State Of Louisiana, not three thousand
slaves.
There was no apology in the circumstances of the
country for the continuance of slavery. The origin
al national policy against 1t, and not less, The
plain language of the treaty under which the terri
tory had been acquired from France.
1t was proposed, therefore, to incorporate in tn
bin authorizing the formation ola State government
a provision requiring that the Constitution of the
new State should contain an article providing for
the abolition Of existing slavery, and prohibiting the
further introduction Of slaves
This provision was vehemently and peitinacious-
" opposed but finally prevailed in the House of
Representatives by a decided vote. In the Senate
q.
between the two Houses, the bill was lost.
AT the next session of Congress the controversy
was renewed with increased violence. 1t was ter
minated, at length, by a compromise. Missouri
allowed to come into the Union with slavery, but
section was inserted in the act authorizing her ad.
mission, excluding slavery, forever, from all the
Territory acquired from France, not included in the
new State, lying north OF 36 deg. 80 min.
We quote the prohbitory section -
."sEo 8. Be- further enacted. That all that
Territory ceded By France to the United States, IN
der the name of louisiana, which lies north ofthrty
six degrees and thirty minutes OF north latitude, not
included within the limits OF the State contemplated
by this act, SLAVERY and INVOLUNTARY sERy-
ITUDE, otherwise than as the punishment OF crimes,
SHALL BE, AND is HEREBY, FOREVER PRO-
HIBITED."
The question of tae constiutionaty of this pro-
hibtion was submitted by President Munroe 10 his
Cabinet. John Quincy Adams was then Secretary
Of War; VIM. H. Crawford was Secretary of the
Treasury; and VIM. Writ was Attorney General
Each of these eminent men, three Of them being
from Slave States, gave a written opinion, affirming
It's constitutionaity, and theeupon the act received
the sanction ofthe President, himself fom Slave
State.
Nothing is more certain in history than the fact
that Missouri could not have been admitted az
slave State, had not certain members of the free
States been reconced TO the measure by the incor-
poraton OF this prohibition into the act of admis-
sion. Nothing is certain than that this prohibi-
ton has been regarded and accepted by the country
as solemn compact against the extension of slavery
in any palt of the territory acquired from France, y
ing north o! SO d. 30 M, and not included in the
state of Missouri. The same act-Iet it be ever re.
membered-w authorized the formation Of
Constitution for that State, without clause forbid
ing slavery, consecrated, and beyond honest recall,
the whole remainder Of the territory freedom and
free institutions forever For than thirty years
during more lhan half The period Of national
existence under our present Constitution-this CONF
pact has been universally regarded and acted upon
as nviolabe American lawn conformity with it,
Iowa was admitted as free State, and Minnesota has
been organized as free territory.
1t is strange and ominous fact, well calculated