Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-05-10

MA660ur cQmpfomIseg and IN Iafof OF tne banCuy
ofcompscts--in favor Of preserving Plghted faithi
The senator from Ohio is cautious to dedicate his
speech with some such heading as " maintain
plighted faith" The object is to keep the atten-
ton Of the people far as possible from this prn-
chile of self-goyernnent and constitutional rights.
Well, sir, what is this Missouri compromise, Of
which we have heard so much Of late! Ithas
been read SO often that il is not necessary to
DIV the time Of the Senate in reading it again
It was an act of Congress, passed on the 9th of
March, 1920, to authorize the people OF Missouri
70 form constitution and a State government,
preparatory to the admission OF such State into
the Union. The first section provided that Mis-
souri, should be received into the Union "on an
equal footing with the original States in all re-
spects whatsoever" The last and eighth Sec
ton provided that slavery should be "forever pro-
hibited" in all the territory which had been ac-
CURED from France north Of 36 . 80 min, and
not included within the limits of the State of
Missouri. There.is nothing in the terms of the
law that purports TO be compact, or indicates
that it was anything more than Ordinary act Of
legislation to prove that it was more than it pur-
ports to be on its face, gentlemen must produce
other evidence, and prove that there was such an
understanding as to create a moral obligation in
the nature Of compact Have they shown it!
have heard but one item Of evidence produ-
sed during this whole debate, and that was a
short paragraph from Niles Register, published q
few days after the passage of the act. But gen
tlemen aver that II was q solemn compact, which
could not be violated or abrogated without dishon-
or. According to their understanding, the con-
tract was that, in consideration Of the admission
Of Missouri into the Union, ON an equal footing
with the original States in all respects whatsoev-
er, slavery should be prohibited forever in the
Territories north of 36 70 80 min. Now, who
were the parties to this alleged compact! They
tell us that it was stipulation between the north
and the south. Sir, / know of no such parties
under the Constitution. l am unwilling that
there shall be any such parties known in our leg
islation. If there is such geographical line, it
ought to be obliterated forever, and there should
be no other parties than those provided for in the
Constitution, viz: the Suites cf the Union. These
are the only parties capable of contracting under
the Constitution of the United States.
Now, if this was compact, let US see how it
was entered into. The bill originated in the
House of Representatives, and passed that body
without southern vote in its favor. 1t is prop
er to remark, however, that it did not at that time
contain the eighth section, prohibiting slavery in
the Territories; but in lieu of it, contained pro-
vision prohibiting slavery in the proposed State
of Missouri In the Senate, the clause prohibit
ing Slavery in the State was striken out, and the
eighth section added to the end of the bill, by the
terms of which slavery was to be forever prohib-
tied in the territory not embraced in the State of
Missouri north of So so min. The vote on ad-
ding this section stood, in the Senate, 81 in the
affirmative, and 10 in the negative. Of the north
ern senators, 20 voted for it and 2 against it. On
the question of ordering the bill to a third reading
as amended which was the test vote On its pas
sage, the vote stood "a yeas and 90 nays. fthe
Northern senators, only voted in the atfirma-
tive, and Is in the negative. Thus it will be seen
that, if il was intended to be a compact the north
never agreed to it. The northern senators voted
to insert the prohibition of slavery in the terrific
ries; and then, in the proportion of more than
four TO one voted against the passage of the BILL
The north, therefore, never signed the compact,
never consented to it, never agreed to be bound
by it, This fact becomes very important in vim
dcating the character of the north for repudiating
this alleged compromise in few months after
wards The act was approved and became law
on the 9Th of March, 1850. In the summer Of
that year, the people of Missouri formed consti.
tuition and State government preparatory to the
admission into the Union, in conformity with the
act. At the next session of Congress the Senate
passed joint resolution, declaring Missouri to be
one of the States of the Union, on an equal foot
ing with the original States. This resolution
was sent to the House of Representatives, where
1t was rejected by northern votes and thus Mis-
Seur was voted out of the Union, instead OF being
received into the Union under the act of the 9th
of March, 1920, now known as the Missouri CON-
promise Now, sir, what becomes of our plight
ed faith, if the act of the 9th of March, 1920,
solemn compact as we are now told! They
have oil rung the changes upon it, that it was
sacred and irrevocable compact, binding in hon
or, in conscience and morals, which could not be
&C,
or! The two senators from Ohio, Mr.. Chase
and Mr.. Wade,] the senator from Massachusetts,
Mr.. Sumner,l the Senator from Connecticut,
mr. Smith, the senator from New York, Mr..
Seward. and perhaps others have all assumed
this position.
Mfr. SEWARD. Will the senator excuse me
for q moment!
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly.
Mr. SEWARD. Mr.. President, have foreseen
that it would be probable that the honorable SEN
ator from Illinois would have occasion to reply to
many arguments which have been made by the
opponents Of this measure; and it would seem,
therefore, to create necessity, the part OF the
opponents of the bill, to answer his arguments
afterwards Yet, at the same time meaning to
be fair, and desiring to have no such advantage as
the last word, but to leave it to him, to whom it
rightly belongs, had proposed, if agreeable to
troverted my own position, to make the answer
during his speech, instead of deferring it until af
terwards To me the last word is never of any
advantage; but know that it is to him, and
ought to be SO regarded by him. have word
to say here, and propose to say another word at
another time; but if il be at all uncomfortable to
the senator, will reserve what have to say un.
ill after he concludes.
Mr.. DOUGLASS. If it will take but minute
will yield now; but if the senator is to take con-
siderable time, would prefer to 60 on myself.
Mr.. SEWARD. No, sir, | make no long
speeches anywhere; never make long speech,
and therefore would prefer saying what have
to submit now, if the honorable senator prefers it,
Mr. DOUGLAS. Very we'll.
Mr. SEWARD. l thought he would. In the
first place, find that the honorable senator is
coming upon my own ground in regald to ctmpro-
misses.
NJ Nkok ~,