Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-05-05

ycntion was sitting at the same time IN the /
rtv of Philadelphia, at work upon the lcdc .
raj constitution. The two hudics were in .
constant communication with each other, and .
some leading members (as Mr.. Madison and |
Gen. llamiltpn) were members ui each, and /
attended hy turns in each. The constitution .
was finished in September, and received tn" /
fugitive slave recovery clause Immediately al .
ter il : insertion in the ordinance. 1t was the /
work of the same hands. and at the same
time. in both instruments and it is well
known that the constitution could not have
been formed without that clause.
Thus the compromise clause in the ordi
nance is.father to the compromise clause in
the constitution and the Missouri Compro-
mise results from both; ami all three stand
before me as founded in the same circumstan
ccs, induced by the same considerations, and
directed Nv the same policy. that of the peace,
harmony and perpetuity of this Union. In
point OF moral obligation | consider them
equal, and resulting from conditions which
render them Indispensable. Two of them
have all the qualities ola compromlse-those
OF the ordinance and of the constitution
They are founded in agrcemcnt-in consent
in compact--and are as sacred and invioahle
as human agreements can he. The third one
that of the Missouri anti-slayery line-was
not made upon agreement
1t was imposed by votes--by tho South up
on the North-resisted by the North at the
time-acquesced in afterwards and by that
acouiescenco became binding covenant be
tween both parties; and the more so on the
South because she imposed it. | repeat it
was an imposition. not compact. The South
divided, and took choice and now 1t will not
do to claim the other half on the ground of
| the original dissatisfaction Of the other par
tv. Brothers cannot divide an estate in that
wav-onc make the division, and take choice,
and afterwards claim the other half. The
south ha, her half. She gave itaWay once
! gave it to Spain and the North helped her
tp get it back, oven at the expense of war--
! without suSpccting that she was strengthen
! ing the South to enable it to take the other
| half But this attempt does not come from
/ the South, and finds resistance there.
! This bring, Us to the question of repeal or
| abrogation OF these compromises. The one
/ in the constitution cannot be got rid of with
out an amendment to that instrument, and
/ j. therefore, beyond the reach of Congress
. The other two. being i'll the form OF statutes,
are subjects Of legislation, and legally re-
pcalablc by Congress. Efforts were made to
impair one, that of l7N7, some fifty years
! ago. An effort is now made to repeal the
other and the history and fate OF the first
attempt may be advantageous in the consdc-
ration Of the second 1t was in the year
. lNO3. The then territory of Indiana had
been slave territory under the French govern
mrut and continued under the American
until l7H7 1t extended to the Mississippi,
and contained many slaves. Niuccnncs. Ca
hokia, Prairie de- Rochcr, kaskaskia, were all
slavcholding towns The inhabitants were
attached to that property, and wished to re-
tain it, at least temporarily; and also to IN
vtr Slaycholding emigration, until an ~
crease OF population should form an adequate
supply Of free labor; and they prtitloucd
Congress accordingly. The petition came
from a convention of the people, presided
over by Governor Harrison, and only asked
for the suspension of the anti->lavcry part O
the ordinance for ten years, and limited i'll it.
application to their own territory Tie peti-
ton was referred to select committee ul the
House Mr.. Randolph was chairman, and re-
ccivrd its answer in II report in these words
..Tmt the rapid population of the State of Ohio
sufficiently cyiucc,, in the opinion of yuur commit
toe that the labor of slave, l. not necessary I" sup
port the growth ami settlement of c"l"nlo- III tina
. region. That tui- Labor. drm"n,trahly the dchrc-
ot any. can only be employed To advantage III TIN
! cultivation of product, more valuable than an.
known in that quarter of the nitcd States tina
/ the committee deem it highly dangerous and mex
|
promote the happiness and prosperity of the north
western country. and to give strength and securit
to that extensive frontier. In the salutary opera
ton of this sagacous and benevolent restraint II
believed that the inhabitants of Indiana will, at
very distant day, find ample remuneration tor
temporary privatiOn of labor and emigration
This was the answer of the select commit
tee and it became the answer of the Hous
I of this House Just fifty years ago-whe
, the South was about as ably represented her
as it ever has been since, and when its rela
I tive strength was greater than it has eve
been since The answer is peremptory re
4 fusal to yield to the petition of the people {
= Indiana. even for ten years local susper
f SION of this anti-slavery clause, Highl
: dangerous and inexpedient to impair the
- provision" Yes, to impair that is the wor'
e and it is a refusal to weaken or lessen, IN th
j smallest degree. an act which the committe
n calls a ''benevolent and sagacious act ar
t which they recommend to maintain unimpai
c ed, because it is calculated to increase Il
d happiness and prosperity of the northwes
= and to give strength and security to its fro
/ tier" That Congress--and that without
Y vision between North and South-would n
II impair an act Of so much future good to 20
e terity, not even upon the mistaken apple
y tion of few present inhabitants
: But this was not the end of the petition
e The people of Indiana were not satisfied wi
J. one rerulse. They returned to the charg
and four times more. in the course of as maj
/ years, renewed their application for the t.
y wears suspension of the ordinance. 1t W
81 rejected each time and once in the Senat
III where the North Carolina Senator (Mr. Jcs
ie Franklin) was chairman of the commit
lie which made the report against it. Five time
'e in as many years, rejected by ConglcSs a
o- the rejection the more emphatic in some /
~ stances because it was the reversal by t
lo House of a favorable report from comm
- tee. And now, what inha'itant OF India
'il docs not rejoice at the dciyerance which t
IN tirmness of Congress then gave them, in sp
ld Of the request of its inhabitants fifty yea
II agol
Mt Thus five times IN the beginning of Il
ne century. five different times, and wltho
= any distinction between Northern and Sou
y crn members. did Congress refuse to i
q pair the Slavery Compromise Of IL
hc Notwithstanding it was five times ask
h for by the people OF the Territory. "u
rs suuattcr sovereignty, where were You then
NJ It was Il cause for YOU to have shown yu
l., head. to have arisen in your might and est,
'd li,hrd your supremacy forever, 1t was 81
'' of "A Convention of the soverelgnS themsch
IA aud neither this Convention nor the Congr
'n- had dream oi their sovereignty. The G.
q ycutlon petltoncd Congress, as ward wo'
nN its guardian, or children under age would
nee titiou their father, and Congress aswrrrd Ii
10 IL good guardian or good father that It Wo'
IN not give them AN evil, although they hcGl
'r- for it Benighted times thosr, and intnit
lch behind the present age,-thc mares nest !
'at not then been found. in which has been i
'y' the marvellous golden egg, out of which
been hatchcd the nondescript fowl yell
is squattcr sovereignty. Laughter, The
-, lustriou, principle of non-interyention
e>s not then been invented the lGnoramuses
cr- that day had never heard of it, though it
st now to be learned in every horn hook, AN
rs believe in nowhere else but in horn boo
liz Renewed merriment. FIVE times in the
,on ginning of this century did Congress ref
an to impair the slavery Compromise of