The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-07-01
THE PERRYSBURG JOURNAL.


and dangerous"
A few months subsequently, the Demo-
cratic National Convention met at Balti-
more, and assuming to speak the sentiments
OF the Democratic party, set forth in its
platform: That the Democratic party will
resist all attempt at renewing, in Congress or
out of it, the agitation of the slavery ques-
tion under whatever shape or color the at
tempt may be made. Soon afterward anoth-
er national convention assembled in the
same city, and assuming the right to declare
the sentiments of the Whig party, said -
"We deprecate all further agitation of the
questions thus settled as dangerous to our
peace, and will discountenance all efforts to
continue or renew such agitation, whenever
or however made" The present administra-
tion was elected on the principle of adher-
ence to this compromise, and the President,
referring to it in his inaugural speech, de-
clared that the harmony which had been Sc
cured by it should not be disturbed during
his term of office. The President, recurring
to the same subject. renewed his pledge in
his message 20 Congress at the beginning OF
the present session, in the following Ian
guage
But notwithstanding differences Of opin-
ion and sentiments which then existed in
relation to details and specific provisions,
the acquiescence of distinguished citizens
whose devotion to the Union can never be
doubted, has given renewed vigor to our in
stitutions, and restored sense of repose and
security to the public mind throughout the
confederacy. That this repose shall suffer
no shock during my official term, if have
the power to avert it. those who placed me
here may be assured"
Under these circumstances, the PROPOSE
tion to repeal the Missouri Compromise was
suddenly and Unexpectedly made. by the
same committee on Territories, which only
ten days before had affirmed the sanctity of
the Missouri Compromise, and declared the
end of agitation in the following explicit
and unmistakeable language.
"Your committee do not feel themselves
called upon to enter into discussion of
those controverted questions. They involve
the same grave 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 matters in controversy then, either by
affirming or repeating the Mexican laws, or
by an act declaratory of the true intent of
the constitution, and the extent of the pro-
lection afforded by it to slave property in
the territories, so your committee are not
prepared now to recommend a departure
from the course pursued upon that memora-
BILE occasion, either by affirming or repeating
the eighth section of the Missouri act, or by
any act declaratory of the meaning of the
constitution in respect to the legal points in
dispute
The abrogation has been effected in pur-
suance of the demand of the administration
itself, and by means of its influence in Con-
gress. In the House of Representatives, that
body which is more Immediately responsible
to the people, the contest was more equal
than in the Senate though it is due TO JUS
tice and candor that it should be stated, that
it could not have been carried in either house
without the votes of the representatives from
the free states. The minority resisted the
attempts to arrest discussion upon this grave
question, through struggle of longer dura-
tion than any other known to Congressional
history. Some attempt was made to stig-
Matte that minority as " factionists,' yet
we fearlessly declare that throughout the
contest they resorted solely to the powers
secured to them by the law and the rules of
the House, and the passage of the measure
through the House was effected through a
supervision of its rules by the majority,
and The exercise of a power unprecedented
in the annals of Congressional legisla-
80 H. i -.