Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-05-17

Mr.. President, inasmuch as the senator from
New York has taken great pains to impress upon
the public mind of the north the conviction thai
the act Of 1920 was solemn compact, the viola
tion or reputation of which by either party in
wolves perfidy and dishonor, wish to call the
attention of that senator Mr.. Seward to the fact
that his own State was the first TO repudiate the
compact and to instruct her senators in Congress
not to admit Missouri into the Union in compli-
ance>with itnor unless slavery should be prohibit
ed in toe State Missouri. afls
Mr.. SEWARD. That is so. ,.f...
Mr.. DOUGLAS. ] have the resolutions before
me, in the printed Journal of the Senate. The
senator from New York is familiar with the fact
and frankly admits it: II
estate OF New YoRK,
In ASSEMBLY, November l3, l820.$ bed.
"Whereas the legislature of this State, at the
last session, did instruct their senators and request
their representatives in Congress to oppose the
admission, as State, into the Union, OF any ter
ritory not comprised within the original bounda.
ries of the United States, without mukng the pro-
hibltion al fsavery therein an Indispensable eondi-
t!on of admission; and whereas this legislature ia
impressed with the correctness of the sentiments
so communicated to our senators and Representa-
tives: Therefore, '... ,sa.H l,a. .ls.
"ReSotued, Qf the honorable the Senate concur
principles contained in the resolutions of the last
session; and further, if the provisions contained
in any proposed constitution of new State deny
to any citizens Of the existing States the privileg-
es and immunities Of citizens OF such new State,
that such proposed constitution should not be ac-
cepted or conhrmed the same in the opinion oi
this legislature being void by the Constitution
OF the United States. And that our senators be
Instructed, and our representatives in Congress
be requested, to use their utmost exertions to pre-
vent the acceptance and confirmation Of any such
constitution"
twill be seen by these resolutions, that at the
previous session the New York legislature had
"instruCtedt" the senators from that State "to OPP
pose The admission, as a Stale, INTO the Union O
any Territory not comprised within the original
boundaries OF the United States, actthout mating
the prohibition Of siauery therein an indispensable
condition Of admission. +" ''''- ' ''
These instructions are not confined to territory
north of SO Q 80 min. They apply, and were i'll
tended to apply, to the whole country west of the
Mississippi, and to all territory which might here.
after be acquired. They deny the right OF Arkan-
sas to admission as slave holding State, as we'll
as Missouri. They lay down general principle
to be applied and insisted upon everywhere, and
in all Cases, and under all circumstances. These
es:lutons were first adopted prur to the passage
OF the act OF March 6, 1920, which the senator
now chooses to call a compact. But they were
renewed asd repeated on the 18th OF November,
1920, little more than eight months alter the
adoption Of the New York senators to resist the
admission OF Missouri as a slaveholding State,
notwithstanding the stipulatons in the alleged
compact. Now, let me ask the senator from New
York by what authority he declared and published
in his speech that the act of 1920, was compact
which could not be violated or repudiat without
u sacrifice of honor, justice, and good faith. Per-
haps he will shelter himself behind the resolu-
tons OF his State, which he presented this session,
branding this bill as violation Of plghted faith.
Mr.. SEWARD. Will the senator allow me u
word of fexplanaton!
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly, with great deal OF
pleasure, .t
Mr.. SEWARD. wish simply to say that the
State of New Y ork, for now thirty years, has re-
fused to make any compact ON any terms by
which concession should be made ior the eX-
tension of slavery. But by the practical action
Of the Congress of the United States, compro-
misses have been made which, it is held by the
honorable senator from Illinois and by the south
bind her against her consent and approval. And
therefore she stands throughout this whole mat
ter upon the same ground-aways refusing to en-
ter into compromise, always insisting upon the
prohibition OF slavery within the limits Of the
United States. But on this occasion, we stand
here with contract which has stood for thirty
years, notwithstanding our protest and dissent
and in which there is nothing left to be fulfilled
except that part which is to be benfcial to US
A II the rest has been fulfilled, and we sand here
with our old opinions on the whole subject o
compromises, demanding fultilment on the part
OF The SOUTH which the honorable senator from
Illinois on the present occasion represents.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President, the senator un-
doubtedly speaks for himself very frankly and
very candidly. a@ Il. '
Mr. SEWARD. Certainly do.
Mr. DOUGLAS. But deny that ON this point he
speaks for the State of New York. -. ,,..5.
Mr.. SEWARD. We shall see.
Mr.. DOUGLAS | will state the reason why
say so. He has presented here resolutions Of the
Stute of New York which have been adopted this
year, declaring the act of March 6, 1920, to be
"soemn compact" e
| ] read from the second resolution:
But at the same time duty to themselves and
to the other States of the Union demands tina
when an effort is making to violate solemn com
pact, whereby the political power oil the State ant
the privileges as well as the honest sentiments
ofits citizens will be jeoparded and invaded, they
should raise their voice in protest against tn,
threatened infraction of their rights, and declar
that the negation or repeal by Congress Of th'
Missouri compromise will be regarded by them a
violation of right and o faith, and destructive o
that confidence and regard which should attach I,
the enactments of the federal legislature.r ra.
Mr.. President, cannot let the senator off OF
the plea that /, for the sake ofthe argument, il
reply to him and other opponents OF this BILL hav,
called it a compact; or that other friends of Ne
braska have called it a compact which has beer
violated and rendered invalid. He. and his aboli
ton confederates have arraigned me for a viola
ton ofa compact, which, they say, is binding il
that the legislature OF New York, at its presen
session, has declared tito be ga solemn compact
and that its reputation would abe regarded b,
them as violation Of right and Of faith, and de
structiye Of confidence and regard" Ihave alst
Ishn1n flat II Il be slicls n cnmnact tie Stntn