Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-02-04

/ Slavery
From the southwestern corner Of Missouri pur
sue the parallel of 3Go 30 min north latitude west
warly across the Arkansas across the north fork
of Canadian to the northeastern angle of Texas
then follow the northern boundary Of Texas to the
western limit of New Mexico then proceed along
that western line to its northern tormination then
again turn westwnrdly, and follow the northern
line Of New Mexico TO the crest of the Rocky
Mountains; then ascend northwardly along the
crest Of that mountain range to the line which
separates the United States from the British Pos
sessions in North America, on the 10th parallel
Of north latitude then pursue your course cast
wardly along that line 10 the White Earth river,
which falls into the Missouri from the north; des-
ceud that river to It's confluence with the Missouri :;
descend the Missouri, along the western boundary
of Minnesota, Of Iowa, Of Missouri, to the point
where it ceases to be u boundary line, and enters
the State to which it gives its name then continue
your southwark course along the western limit Of
that State to the point from which you set out
You have now made the circuit Of the proposed
Territory of Nebraska. You have trayersed the
vast distance OF more than three thousand miles.
You have traced the outline Of an area of four
hundred and eighty-Gye thousand square miles !;
more than twelve times great as that Of Ohio.
| This immense region, occupying the very heart
Of the North American continent, and larger, by
thirty-three thousand square miles, than all the
existing Free States, excluding C0liiOrnia-this
immense region, well waterdd and fertile through
which the Middle and Northrcn Routes from the
/ Atlantic to the Pacific must pass-this immense
region embracing all the unorganized territory of
the nation, except the comparatively insignificant
district OF Indian territory north of the Red River
and between Arkansas and Texas, and now for
moro than thirty years regarded by the common
consent of the American People as consecrated to-
Freedom, by statute and by compact-ths immense
region, the Bill now before the Senate, without
reason and without excuse, but in fragrant disre-
gard of sound policy and sacred faith, proposes to
open to Slavery
| We beg your attention, felow-citzens, to a few
historical facts.
! The original settled policy of the United States
clearly indicated by the Jefferson Proviso Of 1884
and by the Ordinance Of 1887, was NON EXTENSION
OF SLAVERY.
| In 1903, Louisiana was acquired by purchase
from France. At that time there were some TWEEN
ty-iye or thirty thousand slaves in this Territory,
most of them within what is the State Of
Louisiana few, only, farther north, on the west
/ bank OF the Mississippi. Congress, instead of
providing for tho abolition Of Slavery in this new
Territory, permitted its continuance. In 1872 the
State OF Louisiana was organized, and admitted
into the Union with Slavery.
i In 1918, six years later, the inhabitants Of the
Territory Of Missouri applied to Congress for
authority TO form q State Constitution, and for
admission into the Union There were, at that
time, in tho whole territory acquired from France,
outside OF the State Of Louisiana, not three thous
and slaves.
There was apology in the circumstances o.
the country, for the continuance of Slavery
The original national policy was against it, and,
not less, the plain language of the treaty under
which the Territory had been acquired from
France.
1t was proposed, therefore, to incorporate in
the bill authorizing the formation Of State Gov
ernment, q provision requiring that the Const-
tuition of the new State should contain an article
providing for the abolition of existing Slavery, and
prohibiting the further introduction Of slaves.
/ This provision vehemently and pertna-
ciously opposed but finally prevailed in the House
of Representatives by decided vote. In the
Senate it was rejected, and, in consequence of the
disagreement 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 Il compromise. Missouri
was allowed to come into the Union with Slavery,
but section was inserted in the act authorizing
her admission, excluding Slavery, forever, from
all the Territory acquired from France, not in
cluded in the new State, lying north Of 36 deg.
80 min.
We quote the prohibitory section; ~
"SEc 8. BE IL further enacted That in all that
Territory ceded by France 10 The United States, uR-
der Tie name Of louisiana, which lies north of
thirtysix degrees and thirty minutes of north lati
tude, not included within the limits of the State
contemplated by this act, SLAVERY AND INyoLuN-
TARY sERvITUDE. otherwise than as the punishment
of crimes SHALL BE AND Is HEREBY FOREVER
PROHIBITED"
The question Of the consttutionality of this
prohibition submitted by President Monroe to
his Cabinet. John Quincy Adams was then Secre-
tary Of State John G. Calhoun was Secretary of
War; William IL. Crawford was Secretary Of the
Treasury and William Writ was Attorney Gene
raj. Each of these eminent men, three Of them
being from Slave States, gave written opinion,
affirming its consttutionaty and thereupon the
act received the sanction Of the President himself
also, from Slave State.
Il Nothing is more certain in history than the fact
that Missouri could not have been admitted az n
Slave State, had not certain members from the
Free States been reconciled to the measure by the
incorporation of this prohibition into the act of
admission. Nothing is more certain than that this
prohibition has been regarded and accepted by the
whole country as solemn compact against the
extension OF Slavery into any part of the Territory
acquired from France, lying north of 36 deg. 80
min, and not included in the new State of Mis-
souri,. The same act-let it be ever remembered
which authorized the formation of Constitution
for that State without clause forbiddng Slavery,
consecrated, beyond question and beyond honest
recall, the whole remainder of the Territory to
Freedom and Free Institutions forever. For more
than thirty years--during more than half the pc
riod Of our National Existence under our present
lConstitution-this compact has been universally
regarded and acted upon inyolable American
Law. In conformity with it, Iowa was admitted
as Free State, and Minnesota has been organized
as Free Territory.
1t is a strange and ominous fact, well calculated
to awaken the worst apprehensions and the most
fearful forebodings Of future calamties, that it is
now deliberately proposed to repeal this prohibit
ton, by implication or drectly-the latter certain
lly, the manlier way-and thus to subyert this
compact, and allow Slavery in oil the yet unorgan-
lied territory
We cannot, in this address, review the various
pretenoes under which it is attempted to cloak this
monstrous wrong; but We must not altogether
omit 10 notice one
1t is said that the Territory of Nebraska sus-
tains the same relations TO Slavery as did the
Territory acquired from Mexico prior to 1850,
and that the pro-slavery clauses Of the Bill are
necessary to carry into effect tho Compromises of
that year.