The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-02
MISREPRESENTATION CONTINUED.

The Propagandists are alike destitute of can
dor and logic. A more fragrant game of mis-
representation and sophistry than they are now
playing, was never attempted in our political
history
"Tho organ " of this morning commences a
long editorial on Congressional Non-Intcrvon-
tion," with the assertion that
"The chief merit of tho Compromise of $50,
80 far as it relates to the question of Slavery in
the Territories of the United States, consists in
the fact that it denies TO Congress under the
Constitution, any more potcer, either TO legistate
Slavery into a Territory, or out of al, than 1t
possesses in regard TO the States"
This is utterly false, and every member of
Congress knows that it is false. There is not
a word in any of the acts Of 1850, that directly
or indirectly expresses an opinion on the power
of Congress over Territories. 1.-The organ !"
knows this-nor will it ever attempt to produce
q scrap of proof in support Of its statement.
The attempt was repeatedly made during the
struggle of 1s4s'5O, to obtain some expression
of opinion from Congress, against its po,oer to
legislate on the subject of Slavery in the Terri
tories, but always without success. The ma
jority in Congress believed that Congress had
the power to pass al act prohibiting Terrific
rial Slavery, and at first insisted upon the cxer-
cise of the power in other words upon the
passage of the Wilmot Proviso. At last, after
a protracted struggle; influenced by the coun-
sells of Clay and Webster, who always asserted
the power of Congress over Slavery in the Ter
ritories, but who, for reasons which need not
DO stated, urged the oxpedicncy of waving it's
exercise; rendered anxious by the threatening
attitude assumed by the South; wearied dis
gustcd, and overreachcd by the superior tactics
of their opponents; oonsOling themselves with
the fact that California would be received as
free State, and with tho assurance that New
Mexico and Utah were protected by natural
laws against the growth of slave institutions,
they finally conseated-to whatq To the do
NAL of the power of Congress to pass the Will
mot Proviso? never but--to the organiza-
ton of Territorial Governments for New Mex
loo and Utah, withcm insisting upon the policy
of the Proviso That was an The poDer Of
Congress was not denied-the exercise of it was
waived, for the reasons just stated.
As to the provision concerning the future ad.
mission of States, to be formed out Of the Ter.
ritories, that did not touch the question of the
power of Congress over the territorial conditioa
of tho iahabitants
Here is another false statement in the same
article of the organ"
at is fact of history that repeated propo
stions to stand by the Missouri Compromise
line were made and rejected during the pend
ENJOY of the agitation growing out of Our Mexi
can acquisitions"
When these men pretend 10 state q fact oil
history" why do they not give the authority
or evidence for their statement For the truth
of our statements we have appealed to the rec
ord, quoted the language Of the record, Official
and authoritative. They shan the record, ant
leave their assertions unsustained by a shadow
of evidence.
1t Is not "a fact Of history that repeated
propositions to stand by tho Missouri Compro
misc line were made and rejected daring tn,