Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-12-02

scrption rs A. Douglas the solitary exception" mean
ing thereby that was supposed TO be the only north
Of the Ohio river who willing to stand by and carry
out the Missouri compromise indefinitely westward
through entire possessions i was then fercey
and bitterly denounced for my support Of the Missouri
compromise as for my advocacy Of self govern
ment in lieu OF il. charged with the enormous
crime Of inconsistency in having supported that at one
time which have been instrumental in repeating at an
other. Well, il have changed my action upon this point,
presume those who arragn for it have also changed
theirs for when supported the Missouri compromise
they opposed it, and became reconcied to il until
proposed its repeal they had dene six years before
lLaughter.] If have changed, have they not also
And the only point to be settled between is simply
this which can give the best for their
changed my action because their combined forces de-
prved Of the power to maintain and carry out the
Missouri compromise lst. BY voting it down in the
House of Representatives.; and ID BY the union OF all
parties in the Northern States against at the Predn
ltial election These my reasons for abandoning it.
Wow what their reasons for supporting
which they declared infamous and caused to be
abandoned? When, in 1849 their assaults rendered it
necessary that should speak the State capital in vim
dicatop of my character and the motives OF my support
Of the Missouri compromise they denounced the compro
mise the speech and the sentiments and principles 1t
\contaned abandonment Of the claims OF freedom
qand the rights Of the North These denunciatons
kept up the very hour that brought forward the Me-
braska BILL when suddenly, If under the impulse OF
powerful conviction they stopped short in their
reer OF denuncation, and taking up this very measure
against which they had exhausted all their powers of vi
tuperaon and abuse, embraced it as thing canonzed
in the hearts Of the American people,, and my speech its
ables yindcaon and defence aud containing the only
orthodox principles in support of the sacred cause Of
freedom and in opposition the aggressons Of the slave
power
repeat that the abandonment Of the policy of settling
the slavery question by geographical nein the
have stated produced all the excitement and agitation
(Which ensued and created the necessity for mode
Of adjustment. The country suddenly plunged into
terrible sectional struggle The North and the South
each made to believe that tkeir respective rights
invaded and that their honor and safety required
them to marshal all their force in hostile array repel
the aggressions of the other This struggle continued
until the wisest and best men in the country became
fhred for the safety Of the Republic and the perna
aSncy of the Union The venerable and immortal Clay,
Who had retired to the peaceful shades of Ashland for the
tpurpose of preparing himself for another and better
sphere Of existence felt called upon to leave his retreat
and again make his appearance in the Senate the thea
tre Of his usefulness his rumphs and his glory From
the moment of his appearance amongst he ceased to
the gallant and resstess partisan leader Of former
Nays, aud the representative of the patriotism
Ind Union-loying sentiment of the country He was
hailed and recognised the leader around whom all
Union men, Wings and Democrats, North and South from
ali sections Of the country rallied their champion in
the glorious During that session Of Congress
there Wings andno Democrats such in the par
tsan sense but all Union men, with sound oonsti
tutional views and national sentiments in opposition to
the fanatics and agtators whose measures not ptrpo
ses led directly to dsunion and revolution Prolonged
applause.
With Clay leader and Cass and Webster az our
champions the Union struggled in that memorable
session of ten months for the adoption OF great una
mental principle rule Of action, in all future times,
Mn the organization of new Territories and the admission
+. Df new States. [Chcers
It having been found impossible TO adhere to and carry
out the policy Of geographical line naugurated by
the Missouri compromise imperative necessity exist
ed for the adoption of principle just and constitutional
and alike applicable every portion of widespread
country which would not only furnish satisfactory sou
ton of existing difficulties, butin all future time avoid the
occurrence of similar pers What was this principle !?
The recognition the part Of the Federal Government
Of the right Of every people to form and regulate their
domestic concerns and internal policy in accordance with
their views, with other limitation than that which
the Constitution Of the United States imposes
The result Of this principle to guarantee to the
people Of all new Territories and States coming into the
Union the right which it is believed the Constitution OF
the United States had already secured but which the
Missouri compromise had taken away Of determining the
question Of slavery for themselves irrespective Of their
Vocation north south of any parallel of latitude. APP
plause will weary you with detail Of the Incl
dents attending that long session and with whick the
country is familiar. may be permitted to remark how
ever that for than five months of that eventu Pc
rod we assembled each day in the committee room with
Clay in the chair and Cass and Webster upon the right
and Left to consult what plan of operations could be
adopted to thwart the mad schemes of tho fanatics and
asunionists until the great principle for which we were
contending should be carried and eventually triumph.
That principle did triumph in the adoption Of that sys
TEN Of measures known the compromise of 1850 Cali
forna was received into the Union with constitution
containing just such provisions upon the subject of slave
~ her people, when left free to decide for them
selves without any interference dication the part
Of Congress, saw fit to adopt. [Applause
Utah and New Mexico were organized with nm express
stipulation in their fundamental laws that said Terrific
re any part of either Of hen should be received
into the Union either with slavery without, their
constitutions should prescribe at the time Of admission
By looking into the boundaries of California, Utah. and
Sew Mexico, it will be that this principle ap
ped to them without any reference to the line Of 36o
derved That line cut California very nearly into equal
parts and yet the principle applied to the
yThole country.
Although Utah is situated entirely north of 36o 30
Ad embraced territory acquired from France under the
Aouisiana purchase to which the Missouri compromise
Hid apply, well territory acquired from Mexico yet
the compromise of 1850 guaranteed to those people the
right decide the question Of slavery for themselves in
every portion Of that territory Notwithstanding the Mis-
souri, compromise denied them that right in part and
the extension Of it would have denied them the right in
the whole of 1t.
New Mexico included large tracts Of territory both
sides Of the Missouri ne aad was divided north and
south by the Rio del Norte embracing large districts
quired from Texas well from Mexico together with
small tract which originally part of the Louisiana
purchase. In much of the country acquired from
Texas situated north Of 36o SO as was embraced within
ye limits Of New Mexico and upon which prohibition
o slavery had previously existed, there was guaranty
contained in the compromise Of 1850 that the people
should longer be deprived Of the right to settle the
savery question for themselves in any portion Of said
territory notwithstanding the stipulation Of the Mis-
sour compromise hatsavery should exist therein
Thus appears tha in the adoption Of the compromise
M 1850 respect paid to the fact whether the ter
ritory lay north or south Of 36o 30 to whether it
\ leriyed Mexico Texas. France. and whether