The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-03-18

al u y. VOngTeSS.
Speech Of Mr. Meacham, Of Vermont, on
the Nebraska Question.
On the 18th of February, in the House
of Representatives. Mr. MrAcmAM. Of Yer
mont, made speech upon the principles in
volycsl in the Nebraska Eill. lie occupied
some time in discussing It's bearing upon the
Interests of the Indian Tribes lo-a,cd within
the Territory, and then proceeded, in con-
c!u>ian. rs follows:
The tous'l: reason for opposition 10 these
bills, | hardly need to say. is. because it re-
i'ci!S the Missouri compromise have no
new i.h: in instruction from home on Tie sub
lr'''. and need none. The resolutions OF the
Legislature Of my State on the Missouri qucs-
ion. wer introduced into the Senate ly Mr..
Tiehcn CT. Il,y arc On rcco.d lv:ore ne
One Of those resolutions in these wo.d>,
H'<oi-,A That this Legislature views
with regret and alarm the attempt Of the i'll
h,i'!tant> Of Missouri 10 Obtain admission into
the mon rs one of the United States under
. constitution which lcs,lizc> and secures
tn" .:'roiurt!oI and Co:.tinnti",. oi Siaycry''
The sentiments of til, Safe art the same
now a> they Were in 1919 She docs not
he!rn- TO that party Of progress always mov-
in@ ia kwari in the cause of freedom Ii
>tc was then opposed TO opening >iA:v->c,cu
.hor>and square miles 70 the in,ur>:ou u
-.asc:v. She i> now still more ori'n>cd to open
InG four hundred aud cighty-tivc thousand
square miles for the same purpose. II il:~
territory in question was divided into States
with an area equal to Ncrmon, it would make
full fifty States. and send one hundrc! Scna-
tors 20 the other brancl, Of Congress.
| 10 not propose 10 travel the beaten path
IN the history OF legislation on free or slave
territory. 1t has been troddcn so often in the
past five wears that "a child can follow il. Ii
can bc condcncel into few sentences. In
the early stage of our Government. the
whole country believed slavery a moral and
Political evil That was the sentiment in
49,: was the sentiment and expectation
when the Constitution was adopted. and far
beyond that timc-all wished acquired ter
ri.orv to be free territory. Then came
change the products of slave labor in their
staple articles became profitable, and change
in pccuniarv profit very naturally made Il
change in moral sentiment. Men reasoned
as they always will, according to their inter
est. They thought it best TO have slaves,
because slaves brought pecuniary profit,
This makes the difference between l.o. and
1874. This may reconcile contradictions.
showing how particular States voted then
and vote now. Louisiana was purchased i'll
lso3. The southern PORTION had a lai.c
number OF slaves, and a State bv the same
name was admitted with slavery. The por
ton next nert!. Arkansas. was made Ter
ri;orv in 1879, and State, with slavery, III
I>3G Missouri in lSIS asked authority OF
ConcrcS, 10 form State Constitution. The
House Of Representatives gave permission.
on the condition that the constitution should
abolish and prohibit slavery. That provision
defeated the bill in the Senate. That was a
point near midway in the history of our
constitutional existence Both the slavery
and anti->la,cry sentiments had vastly in
creased since l.S?, but neither had reached
one halt their prcscn: strength: and it Is TO
ne no pleasant anticipation that the sui .icct
OF this discussion, so ncc,llcS>ly introduced.
will augment tic violence OF those scnti-
mcntS.
The attention of the whole nation was called
to the subject. believe every free State.
with Delaware, by legislative resolutions. was
shown against it. Large masses of fpcoplc. in
all parts, assembled 10 utter their rc,ron-
STRANGE. A large meeting Of the citizens OF
Baltimore, over which the Mavor presided
expressed themselves to the same purpose
Mr. Niles, then in his vigor. welded his wide
influence. and powerful and giant strength a
rain>. the introduction oc slavery. The rc>o-
lution> Of States on the other side were almost,
if not quite, as unanimous in favor. The cx-
citcmcnt, of course, was intense and extern
.iye will not 90 over the history OF the
struggle. 1t ended hv admitting Missouri As
slave State and providing that slavery
should never be permitted On AIRY Of the Lou
i>iana Tcrrito-v. north Of 3s deg. so min
north latitude That was called a compro-
mise. and was introduced by member OF the
Senate who was friendly to slavery. The
Cabinet OF Mr. Monroe were a unit on the
constitutionality Of the measure, and that
Cabinet consisted Of John q. Adams, John [.
Calhoun, William H. Crawford, and William
Writ. The Signature Of the President is evil
hcncc of his concurrence. -Four o; those men
were from slave States, and probably they
never had four men less likely to misunder-
stand or abandon their rights.
lock on that , oinE romise as tcn.r9t, d