Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-02-22

Thomas Jefferson did not know himself what were
the principles Of the Democratic party which he
founded @ ei
But we find another antecedent to tho same
purpose, called the Missouri Compromise, which
was adopted in 1890, thatforever prohibited slave
ry in the territory purchased from France BY
Thomas Jefferson in 1908, in all that part Of it |
north of SO deg. 80 min, except the State of Mis-
souri,, which, in 1890, was admitted with consti-
tuition tolerating slavery This compromise was
made when Monroe, Democrat, was President;
and the question Of its consttutiondiity Be submit
ted to his cabinet. consisting Of John Quincy Ad-
ans John CT Calhoun, William H. Crawford and
William Writ. Henry Clay was its greatest cham
pion. Its constitutionality and Democracy was
never questioned, until it was done by Senator
Douglas.
i And again, Texas was admitted into the Union
by annexing resolutions in ls45, and the prnci-
pie Of the Missouri Compromise was applied to
that part of it north Of S6 deg 30 min. This was
done too by Democratic Congress. / never
knew, until saw Douglas speech, and the arti-
Gle quoted from the Statesman in your paper, that
the Democracy Of this part Of the annexing reso-
luton was ever called in question. But then Gen.
Cuss wrote letter to Nicholson in opposition to
the Wimot Proviso, which was intended to apply
to the territory which we were about to acquire
from Mexico. The Democratic party believed
that the Missouri Compromise as much settled the
question of slavery in all the territory north of 36
deg. 80 min, and forever prohibited it there, as
they uid that the ordinance Of 1887 prevented and
prohibited it in the northwestern territory This
territory was not considered an open field for
slavery to enter upon, because the south had bar
gained with the north in a solemn compact that it
Missouri was admitted into the Union acM slavery,
the remainder Of the Louisiana purchase should be
free territory. The compromise of 1850 only es-
tablished the application OF the principles of Cass'
Nicholson letter to the territory acquired from
Mexico. What was the compromise of 1851
An agitation arose, as in the case Of the admis-
sion of Missouri, on the slavery question, because
California asked admission into the Union, with
constitution prohibiting slavery The opposition
to the admission of Missouri came from the north,
or free States, because its constitution tolerated
slavery. TIE question was debated and agtated
from 1918 until 1920, when the Missouri compro-
mise was adopted, letting Missouri into the Union
with slavery, and all agreement to keep it out of
all the territory then belonging to the United
States north of certain line. But California
asked for admission with constitution not like
that of Missouri, toerating slavery, but prohibiting
it. The free and the slave States here again or
ganizeds themselves against each other; the north
for the admission of California, and the South op
posed to it. AT length in 1850, as in 1920, com
promise was affected, and California admitted in
to the Union without slavery, with accompanying
measures organizing the territories of New Mexi-
co and Utah, on the principles of Cass' Nicholson
letter, that they might come into the Union with
or without slavery as the people of these terrific,
ries themselves might decide. No territory was
here legislated for except that acquired by the
treaty with Mexico. The bill defining the bound
aries of Texas and New Mexico did not even re.
peal that part of the Texas annexing resolutions
which prohibited slavery in it north Of 36 deg. &c
min, for Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, offered an amend
ment which was adopted which was, "that nothing
therein should be construed to affect the Joint res
olution annexing Texas whether in reference tt
the number of States to be formed out of Texas
or otherwiSe."
i What Mr.. Mason's motives were, we cannot
tell but probably to secure the passage Of the
bill. ... ...
Douglas says that the compromise of 1850 re-
pealed the annexing resolution here referred to
as relating to the prohibition of slavery, as the
territory to which it applied was set off to New
Mexico. This is only sophistry, and unworthy tt
be replied to; but see that others have adopted
his views in regard to it. The amendment Of Ma
; son declared that the anneXing resolutions were
not affected in any respect by the compromise o
$780, and part of the territory Of Texas is ye
north of So deg. 80 min Now think that al
the antecedents of the Democratic party are in
favor of the Missouri compromise yet remaining
sacred and in full force, and we as faithful adhe
rents to a compact made at the instance of tht
patriot to save the Union, should anathematise
movement to desecrate aud render it void
i Pro BoNo PUBLIco.
Palmyra Feb. llth, 1854.
Everett ON the Nebraska RilE-Higsl.
| est Wh5g Authority. ,.
To hear the Fusion and Free Soil gable, abou
these days, you would suppose the passage o