Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-22

Representatives, in the following terms:
| q Resolved, That we recognise the binding
! efficacy Of the compromises OF the Consutu
ton. and believe it TO be the intention OF the
people generally, as we hereby declare It TO
! be ours individually, to abide such comprc-
misses, and to sustain the laws necessary to
carry them out--the provisions for the delivery
of fugitive slaves and the act Of the last Con-
gress for that purpose included and that we
deprecate all further agitation OF questions
embraced in the acts Of the last Congress
known as the Compromise, and Of questions
generally connected with tho institution OF Sla-
very as unnecessary, useless, and dangerous"
A few months subsequently,, the Democratic
National Convention met at Baltimore, and
assuming to speak the sentiments of the Dem
ocratic party, set forth in its platform
That the Democratic party will resist all
attempts at renewing, in Congress or out Of it
the agitation of the Slavery question, under
whatever shape or color the attempt may be
madc.n
Soon afterwards, another National Conven-
ton assembled in the same city, and, assuming
the right to declare the sentiments OF the Wing
party, said:
We deprecatc all further agitation Of the
questions thus settled, as dangerous to our peace
and will discountenance al efforts to continue
or renew such agitation, whenever, wherever,
or however made"
The present Administration was elected on
the principle Of adherence to this compromise,
and the President referring to it in his inau-
gural speech, declared that the harmony which
had been secured by it should not be disturbed
during his term Of Office. The President, re-
curing to the same subject renewed his pledge
IN his message to Congress at the beginning
OF the present session, in the following Ian
guage
Notwithstanding differences Of opinion and
sentiment which then existed in relation to de-
tails and specific provisions, the acquiescence
of distinguished citizens, whose devotion to the
Union can never be doubted, hes given renew
ed vigor to our institutions, and restored a
sense of repose and security to the public mind
throughout the Confederacy. That this re-
pose is to suffer no shock during my official
term, if have the power to avert it, those who
placed me here may be assured"
Under these circumstances, the proposition
to repeal the Missouri Compromise was sud-
denly and unexpectedly made By the same
Committee on Territories which, only ten days
before, had affirmed the sanctity Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, and declared the end of
agitation in the following explicit and unmis-
takeable language
Your committee do not feel themselves
called upon to enter into discussion of those
controverted questions. They involve the same
grave issues which produced the agitation, the
sectional strife, and tho fearful struggle of
1850. As Congress deemed it wise and pru-
dent TO refrain from deciding the matters in
controversy then, either by affirming or repeal
ing the Mexican laws, or by an act deolaratory
of the true intent of the Constitution, and the
extent of the protection afforded by it to slave
property in the Territories, 80 your committee
are not prepared noU to recommend a depart
ure from tho course pursued upon that memoir
able OCCASION either by affirming or repeating
tho eighth section of the Missouri act, or by
any act declaratory of the meaning Of the
Constitution in respect to the legal points in
dispute"
Tho abrogation has been effected in pursu-
ance of the demands of the Administration,
and by means Of it's influence 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 il should be stated, that it could not have
been carried in either House without the votes
of Representatives from the free States.
The minority resisted the attempt to arrest
discussion upon this. grave question; through a
struggle of longer duration than any other
known to Congressional history. An attempt
was made to stigmatize that minority as
"factionis;s;n yet, we fearlessly declare that
throughout the contest, they resorted solely to
the powers secured TO them BY the iaw and the
rules of the House, and the passage of the
measure through the Horse ives effected only
through subversion of its rules by the ma
jority, and the exercise Of a power unprcce-
dented in the annals of Congressional legisla-
ton.
The deed is done. IL is done with clear
proclamation, by the Administration and by
Congress, that the principle which it contains
extends not only to Kansas and Nebraska, but
to all the other Territories now belonging to
the United States, and to all which may here
after be acquired. 1t has been done unneces-
sarily and wantonly, because thcro was no
pressure for the organization of Governments
in Kansas and Nebraska, neither of which
Territories contained one lawful inhabtant
who was q citizen Of the United States; and
because there was not only no danger of dis-
union apprehended, but even no popular agita-
ton Of the question of Slavery By this reck
less measure the free States have lost all the
guarantees for freedom in the Territories con-
tanned in former compromises, while ell the
States, both slave and free, have lost the guar.
antees Of harmony and union which those
compromise afforded.
IL seems plain to us that, fatal as the measure
is in these aspects, it is only cover for broader
propagandism Of Slavery in the future. The
object of the Administration, rs We believe,
and Of many who represent the slave States,
is to prepare the way for annexing Cuba, a.
whatever cost, aud a like annexation Of half a
dozen of tho States Of Mexico, TO be admitted
also ms slave States
These acquisitions are to be made pcaccably
IL they can be purchased at the cost Of hun
dreds Of millions; if they cannot be made
peacefully then at the cost Of war with Next
90, and war with Spain, with England and
with France, and at the cost Of an alliance
with Ruesia, scarcely less repugnant. Unmis-
taxable indications appear, also, Of q purpose
to annex the eaatern part Of San Domingo, and
30 to subjugate tho whole island, restoring it
to the dominion of Slavery. And this is to DO