The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-06-30

Fugitive Slaves, and the act 81 The last |
Congress lor that purpose ineladed--
And that We dcprecaie all further agi !
tsiion Of questions embraced in the acts
Of the las, Congress, known n the Com.
promise, and ofquesiions generally con.
neeted with the institutions Of Slavery, !
as unnecessarily useless and dangerous.
A few months subsequently. the !
Democratic Convention met at Bali. |
more, and assuming to speak the scnti-
menls of the Democraiir party, set forth |
In lis platform, that the Democratic par
" viii resist all attempts at renewing .
in Congress or out of it. the agitation OF /
the Slavery question under whatever
color Ct shape the attempt may I've made. !
Soou afterwards another National Con. |
veniion assembled in the same city, |
and assuming the right 10 declare the
sentiments of the Wing party, said -
Va deprecate all furhur agtaiions
Of the questions thus settled as danger [
Gus TO our peace, and will discounicn.
aDce all efforts to continue or renew
such agitation whenever, wherever, or
however made"
The present Administration was elec-
ted on the principle of adherence 10
this Compromise, and the President re-
curing TO the same subject renewed
his pledge in his message 10 Congress
at the beginning of the present session
in the following words; But moth.
withstanding the difference OF opinion
and sentiment which then existed in re- /
lation TO details Of specific provisions.
the acquiescence of distinguished citizens |
whose devotion TO the Union can never |
be doubted, has given renewed yigor TO
our institutions, and restored a sense of |
repose and security to the public mind |
throughout the coniederacy: that this |
reposc is to suffer no shock during my
official term il have the power 10 avert
It, those who placed me here may be
assared."
Under these circumstances, the prop.
osition TO repeal the Missouri Compro- |
mise, was suddenly and unexpectedly
made by the same Committee on Ter
riiories, which. only ten DAYS before,
bad affirmed the sanction Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, and declared the
end OF agitation in the following explic-
II and unmistakeable language Your
committee do not feel themselves called
upon 10 enter into discussion on these
coniroverted questions. They involve
the same issues which produced the
agitation, the sectional strife, and the
fearful struggle Of 1850. As Congress
deemed IT wise and prudent to refrain
from deciding the matter in controver-
sy either by affirming or repeating the
Mexican laws, or by AN act declaratory
by 1t, to slave properly in the terrific.
ries, so your committee are not prepared
now to recommend departure from
course pursued upon that memorable
occasion, either by affirming or repeal
ing the Sth section OF the Missouri act.
or by any act declaratory of the mean
ing Of the Constitution in respect to the
legal points in dispute -
The abrogation has been effected in
pursuance of the demands Of the admin
islraiion itself, and by means of its in
fiuencc in Congress. In the House Of
Representatives, that body, which is
more Immediately responsible to the peo-
pie, the contest was more equal than In
the Senate; though il is due 10 Justice
and candor that il should be stated that
II could not have been carried in either
House without the votes of the Repre-
senta,lves from the free States, the mi.
nority resisted the attempt 10 arrest dis.
cussion on that grave question, through
struggle Of longer duration than any
known to Congressional history. Some
attempts were made TO siigmatize that
minority as factionisis. Yet we fear
lessly declare that throughout the whole
contest they resoried solely to the pow.
ers secured TO them by the law, and the
passage Of the measure through the
House was effected by the subver,ion
Of the rules by the majority, and the ex-
ereise OF n power unprecedented IN the
annals Of Congressional legislation.
The deed is done. II Is done with a
clear proclamation by the adfninisira-
iion and by Congress, that the principle
which il contains extends not only TO
Nebraska aud Kansas, bot 10 all other
territories nov belonging to the L. S,
and 10 all which hereafter may be- ne.
quired. it has been done unnecessari.
ly and wantonly. because there was no
pressure for the organization Of govern.
meni in Kansas aud Nebraska. neither
OF which territories contained one law.
ful inhahitant who was citizen Of the
u. s., and bscaase there was not only
no danger from dlsunion apprehended |
bat by this reckless measure the free
States have lost MI the gsarsnice FOR 4
freedom in the territories contained 81 /
iormer Compromises, while all the
Siars both slave and free. have losi The |
guarantee Of harmony and union wLieh /
these compromises afforded.
II seeins plain 10 la that, fatal as the 4
measure is IN these Fespeois. IL is only
cover for broader propagation in the
future. The Object Of tho s4ninisirs-
ton and the many who represent the
slave Stties is, as NC believe. 10 pre-.
pare lbe ~ay for Hnne1ins Cuba n