Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-18

contribute more to s Are they more responsible for it
Not whit We do not ask for any thing but equality
If we are equal we insist that shall enjoy all the
rights and ali the mmunities which belong to the con-
dton of equality in this country; and we viii maintain
this demand
There is another objection in my mind to the compro-
mise of 1920 1t is to which wish to call the par
tcular attention Of the Senator from Ohio The Consti
tuition Of the United States declares that this Constitu
ton and the laws Of the United States which shall be
made in pursuance thereof and all treaties made or phch
shall be made under the authority of the United States
shall be the supreme law Of the land" Now, let us look
for single into the treaty under which this ter
rtory was acquired claim the attention OF the senate
to one thing in the treaty, which has struck with
great force do know whether it has occurred to
other Senotors not but there is article in the
treaty made between France and the United States by
which the very territory in dispute was coded TO this
i country which declares:
cart Ill The inhabitants Of the ceded territory shall be
incorporated in the Union Of the united States and admit
ted as soon as possible according principles of the Fe
deral Constitution to the enjoyment Of all the rights adyan-
ages and immune OF citizens Of the United Sstesi and
in the time they shall be maintained and protected in
the free enjoyment Of their liberty property and the religion
which they profess"
Here is Constitution which declares that treaty
shall be the supreme law of the land and here treaty
in which it is positively declared that the rights of Pro-
pery should be respected in the territory thus ceded
Slavery did exist in that very territory at that time; and
law Of Congress abrogatng the treaty is in my udg
men null and void The treaty declares that the nha
bants of the territory shall be protected in the enjoyment
Of their property Slaves recognised property
under the Constitution The Constitution provides that
the treaty shall be the supreme law Of the land How
gentlemen get around this point is something which
| have not yet been able to perceive.
Both the Senators from Ohio in answering the point
made by the Senator from Illinois, who charged that the
Missouri proposed tobe extended through
the territories Of the United States to the Pacific
ocean, and which rejected by Northern votes excuse
themselves by saying that slavery did not exist there at
that time and that therefore, interfere with would
be legisate slavery into the Territories that agu
men is worth any thing must work both ways. Those
gentlemen themselves for voting against the ex
tension Of the Missouri compromise line to the Pacific
because ut the time of the acquisition OF the terri
tory from Mexico slavery did not exist there and they
would not agree to legsate it in there. WE'LL sir slave
did exist OF the time of the acquisition of the Territory
of Nebraska and you propose to turn round and le
gsate it out. What Of equality it? What sort of
frankness fairness iberalty patriotism is manifested
by such course You take shelter under that fact in
Territory and turn round and deny it in another If
justified you in voting against the extension of the Mis-
compromise line to the Pacific you admit that you
violate that sacred principle in this Territory of Nebras
where slavery did exist at the time OF its acquisition
and where expressly provided that it should be
protected.
Mr.. President, the Senator from Ohio, (Mr. CuAsE,)
who addressed few days ago. thought that it was
very strange that this bill should be supported by
bers of both parties who stood pledged the Baltimore
platforms, in which it declared that the question OF
slavery settled by the of 1850 and that all ag
taton upon the subject should cease He arraigned the
friends of this by saying You here to vio
late that sacred pledge and agtate that question Be-
fore that honorable gentleman and those who act with
him arragn they must first yindcate themselves
want to know if either of the Senators concurred in
those platforms! want to know if either of them gave
to those his assent approval? Both of them
have acquesced but the record shows that they did
aceuesce because here is the recorded vote of
each of them in favor repeating of those very
promise Of $50 But sir as for platforms,
matters with do not think there is any great
virtue in platforms way the other The only ques
ton before now this: Is there conflict between the
compromise measures of 1850 and the compromise OF
1920? will not pretend that the compromise measures
of 1850 repealed the compromise of 1920, because do
think it is mainainabe but this is what do assert
and maintain, and what think prove, that the
spirit the intention, and the principles of the compro
mise Of 1850 inconsistent with the act OF
1920 In what does that inconsistency exist? II con-
ssts in this The act Of 1920 prohibits only during
its Territorial existence but forever the introduction Of
slavery into the territory north of 36o SO 1t is per-
petual, unendng, undyng prohibition The whole spirit
Of the acts of 1850 declares that this is question which
the people themselves have right to settle. The doc
rne contained in the act Of 1920 directly inyades and
positively nnges upon the rights and sovereignty OF the
States
haye been endeavoring to satisfy the Senator from
Ohio doubt very much whether shall ever be able
to convince him of his should be most happy
do it, however should esteem it of the proudest
ruH,phs of my life if could only break the letters
which to environ the mind of that honorable Sena
tor who, in all his personal relations is Of the most
estimable gentlemen / say should esteem
it proud triumph if should be able by any means, to
introduce little light into his mind to produce some
enlargement of the generous feelings which know he
possesses other subjects. But confess have very
little hope of doing it. have known fanatcism
to be cured BY violence by denuncaon or by any other
1t is of those evils which, when it fastens
itself upon the mind and heart and conscience is as
dying the man himself have hope, therefore, of
convincing him but do hope to satisfy him OF few
plain truths the principal of which is that the acts Of
1850 in spirit antagonstca to the doctrines of the
act of 1920. r
The compromise measures of 1850 are antagonstical
to the act Of 1920 in great principle at least The
Of 1850 accord the States the right to settle this
question under their constitutions the other puts per-
petua and never-ening nterdict slavery Again, by
the Of 1890 in all that portion of country lying north
of S6o 30 slavery is prohibited forever enjoyment
Of equal rights by the South to be obtained
there. The doctrine Of intervention the part OF
the Federal Government not advocated at that tine
and seemed then to find existence in the public mind
but pervades every part and parcel of the whole series
Of compromise measures of 1886. -
The Senator says it is monstrous outrage that after
Of the South have enjoyed share of the contract
shall now when the time for the North to come in for
their share has arrived step forward and say No. you
cannot do it." Will the honorable Senator tell me what
the South have got by the compromise Of 1870? they
got than what the compromise measures OF lco
declared to be the naenabe right of the people IN every
State of the Union The States which formed out
of the Louisiana ccssion came in with constitutions per-
hitting slavery, which they had right to d. and which
the compromise Of 1850 declared that all the
States have right to do Not only have we not recelv-
ed than entitled but we surrendered by
that act greal deal to which we were entitled In TINS
territory which the Senator himself says an en-
pre- slavery did exist and recognised by treaty pre-
vious the of 1920 We had power to annu that
treaty he with injustice