The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-03-03
Extracts from Mr.. Stewards Speech.

Alter minute historical sketch VI the rise
and progress of slavery, and Of slave State,
from the formation of the confederacy 10 The
adoption Of the Missouri Compromise in
1920. Seward proceeds:
Such was The compromise OF 1920. Mis-
souIi came into the Union Immediately as
n slaveholding State, and Arkansas came
in rs n slavehoding State, without obiec.
lion, eight years aherward. Nebraska, The
part Of the territory reserved exclusiyeI,
for free territories and free States, has re.
manned wilderness ever since. And now
il is proposed here TO abrosa,e, not, indeed
the whole compromise, but only that part
il which saved Nebraska as free territory
TO be afterwards divided into non.slave hold
ing States, which should be admitted into
the Union. And this is proposed noiwilh
standing universal acquiescence in the
compromise by both parties, for thirty years
and its confirmation, over and over again
By many acts Of successive Congresses, ant
Notwithstanding that the slaveholding State,
have peaceably enjoyed, ever since j, wa.
made, all their equivalents, while, owing Il
circumstances that will hereafter appear
the non-slave.holding States have not prac
lically enjoyed any Of those guaranteed +,
them.
This is the question now before The Sen
ale OF the United States OF America.
II is n question OF transcendent impor
lance. The proviso of 1920 10 be abroga
gated in Nebraska, is the ordinance OF The
Continental Congress of 1887, extended
over new part OF the national domain, nc
CURED under our present, constitutions
IL is rendered venerable by lis antiquity
and sacred by The memory OF ,ha, Congress
which, in surrendering lis trust, after es,ab
fishing the ordinance, enjoned i, upon pos
teriiy always 10 remember that the cause O
the United States was the cause Of human
nature. The question involves an issue O
public faith and national morality and hon
or. II will be a sad day for this republi,
when such question shall be deemed un
worthy Of grave discussion and intense in
lerest. Even II j, was certain that the in
hiblilon OF slavery in the region concerncc
was unnecessary, and il the question was
thus reduced 10 mere abstraction, vet ever
that abstraction would involve the testimony
OF the United States on the expediency
wisdom, morality and justice of the system
Of human bondage with which this and OH
er portions Of the world have been SO lon.
afflicted, and !, will be melancholy day
Tor The republic and foI mankind when hcl
decision on even such an abstraction shall
command no respect, and inspire no hone
into the hearts Of The oppressed.
But II Is no snch abstraction. II was ne
unnecessary dispute, no mere comics, O
blind passion, lha, brousb, that compromis,
into being. Slavery and freedom were nc
tive Antagonists, then seeking for ascendanc,
in this Union. Both slavery and freedom
are more vigorous, active, and self acgran
dizing, now than they were then, or ever
were before or since tina, period. The con.
Test between them has been only pro,rac,ed
not decided. II is great feature in our ma.
iional hereafter. So the question Of adher.
ing or abIosa,ing this compromise Is no un.
meaning issue, and no comics, Of mere blird
passion now.
10 adhere, is TO secure 10 occupation by
!reemen, with free labor, oil region,
in The very centre of the continent.
capable Of sustaining, and in ,ha, even,
destined, though il may be only after far
distant period, TO sustain ten, twenty, thirty,
forty millions ofpeople, and their successive
generations forever.