The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-06-30

enduring monuments Of the wisdom Of the States
men Of the revolution. The foreign slave trade
was regarded as The source OF American slavery,
which il was believed would be dried up when
the fountain should be closed. cd RI
In adopting tho constitution II was 30 univcr.
SAIL; believed that the foreign slave trude would
be promptly prohibited, tha, all parties acquiesced
In stipulation pos,poning that measure till 1903.
The foreign slave trade was prohibited thus the
source Of slavery was understood TO be dried up
While the introduction Of slavery into the terri.
tories was prohibited the slavery question. so fur
as It was national one, was understood 10 be
finally settled, and at the same time the states
had already taken up and were carrying forward
system of gradual emancipation. ---
In 1903 Louisiana was acquired by purchase
from France, and included what is now known
as the states Of Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas
and the territories known as Kansas and Nebns.
ka Slavery existed at the time in New Orleans
and at 81. Louis, and so this purchase resulted in
bringing the slavery question again before Con.
grcss In 1919 the region Immediately surround.
ing New Orleans applied for admission into the
Union, under the name and state Of Louisiana,
with constitution toera,ing slavery, and tn G
free states ucquiesced.
Eigh, years afterwards the region connected
with ST. Louis demanded admission under the
name Of the state Of Missouri, with constitution
toleraling slavery. The free states reverted to the
principle OF 1857, and opposed the admission OF
Missouri unless she would incorporate into her
constitution an inhibition Of the further introduc.
lion Of slavery into the state. The slave.hoding
states insisted upon her unqualified udlnission,-a
controversy arose. which WIS sectional and
embiiirred, and which we are assured BY con-
tcmporancous history seriously imperled the
Union.
The statesmen Of that day settled the controver,
sy By compromise. BY the terms Of this COM
promise the free states assenied TO the admission
of Missouri with her slaveholdng constitution
While the slaveholdng states on their part yielded
the exclusion Of slavery in all the residue Of terri
tory, which lay north of $50 3O', constituting the
present territories Of Kansas aud Nebraska. The
slavehodng sla;cs accepted the compromise as @
triumph and the Tree states have ever since left il
undislurbed and unquesIioned.
Arkansas, part Of Louisiana, which lay South
of 800 30, in compliance with the implication
which was contained in this compromise, was ar
forwards admitted as slaveholding state, and
the free states acqLesced.
In ls45, Texas, AN Independent slaveholdlne
state, was admitted and annexed, with provis
i'm in the article of annexation for the subdivision
OF her territory into five states. The free states
though they regarded the annexation, with the
probable increase Of the number Of slave states
with great disfavor, nevertheless, acquiesced
again.
New territories were acquired by the treaty OF
peace, which closed the war with Mexico.
The people Of California forwarded a consti,u
lion inhlbi,ng slavery, and applied for admission
into the Union. Violent opposition was made b.
the slave states in and out Of Congress, threaten
ing a dissolution Of the Union # California should
be admitted Proceeding on the ground Of there
alarms, Congress adopted another compromise, the
terms Of which were that Ten millions of dollars o
the peoples money should be given 10 Texas, IL
induce her 10 rclinquish very doubtful claim OF
an inconsderable part Of New Mexico; that Uial
should be acquired without Inhibition Of slavery
and hat they should be Afterwards admitted
slave or free States, us the people, when FORMING
constitutions, should determine; that the puhli
slave trade in the District Of Columbia should b.
abolished, without affecting the existence OF slave
~ il. the District, and that new and rigorous pro
visions for the rccapiure Of fugitive slaves, Of dis
puted cons,tu,ionaiy, sh,uld be adopted, anc
miied as free State.
Repngnani Us this compromise was to the peo
pie Of the free States acquiescence was practically
obtained by means Of solemn assurances made on
promise was and should ever be regarded as a
final adjustment Of the slavery question. and of all
the issues which could possibly arise out Of it,
A new Congress convened in December, 1851. -
Representatives from the slave States demanded
renewed pledge Of fidelity TO this adjustment
and /, was granted by the House Of Representa-.
tves in the following terms:
Resoiped, That we recognize the binding cni.
cheney Of the compromises Of the Constitution,
and believe il the intention OF the people general.
", as we hereby declare II TO be ours individually,
to abide by such compromises and sustain the
laws necessary TO carry them out, the provisions
for the delivery Of fugitive slaves, and the last &c,
of the last Congress for tina, purpose included, and
that we deprcca,e all further agitation on ques.
tons embraced in the acts Of the last Congress,
known as the Compromise, and Of questions gen.
orally connected with the institutions Of slavery,
as unnecessarily useless and dangerous.
A few months subsequently, the democratic
Convention met at Baltimore, and, assuming TO
speak the sentiment Of the democratic party, set
forth in its platform that the democratic party will
resis, all attempts at renewing In Congress or out
of II, the agitation Of the slavery question under
whatever color or shade the attempt may be
made.
Soon afterwards another national convention as
scmbled in the same city. and, assuming the right
to declare the sentiment Of the wing party, said
1--WE deprecate all further agitation Of the ques.
iions thus settled as dangerous TO our peace; and
will circumference all efforts TO continue or re.
new such agitation whenever, wherever, or how.
ever made" ...
The present Administration was selected on the
principle of adherence TO this Compromise, and
the President, referring to il in his inaugural speech
declared that the harmony which had been SO.
cured by il should not be disturbed during his
term Of Office. The President, recurring TO the
same subject, renewed his pledge in his Message
TO Congress at the beginning ofihe present session,
In the following words: "But notwithstanding the