Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-07-07

80 R'tpNibi tihHif hfVh ob 'hRVAT
siderable part OF New Mexico; that
New Mexico and Utah should be or
ganizod without an inhibition OF slave
~, aud that they should afterwards
be admitted us slave or free states,
as the people, when forming consii-
tuilons, should determine that the
public slave trade in the District of
Columbia should be abolished with
out affecting the existence of SLAYER,
in the istrict, and that new and
rigorous provisions for the rccaplufe
OF fugitive slaves, of disputed consli-
tutionallty, should he adopted, aud
that on these conditions California
should be admitted as free state
Repugnant as this compromise was
to the people OF the free states, &C
quicscence nevertheless was pracll-
cally obtained, 10y means OF solemn
assurances made on behalf OF the
slavcliolding states that the compro-
mise was, and should be forever, re
gardcd as final adjustment OF the
slavery question. and all the issues
which could possibly arise out of 1t.
\ new Congress convened IN De
cember 1851 representatives from
the slave states demanded a renewed
pledge of fidelity TO this adjustment,
and 1t was granted 10y the House Of
Representatives, IN the following
terms:
RcSoired, That we recognize the
binding efficacy Of the compromises
of the constitution, and believe it to
be the intention of tie people gen.
orally, as we hereby declare it TO be
ours individually, to abide Toy such
compromises, and to sustain The laws
necessary to carry them out, tie pro-
visions for the delivery Of fugitive
slaves. aud the act of the last Con
gIess for that purpose, included and
that we dcprecate all further agiia-
ton Of questions embraced in the
acts ct the last Congress, known as
the COMPROMISE, and Of questions
generally connected with the instr
ton Of slavery, as unnecessary, use
less and dangerous.
A few months subsequently the
Democratic National Convention met
at Baltimore, and assuming to speak
tie sentiments of the Democratic
parry, sci forth in IT'S platform:
That the Democratic party will
resist all attempts at renewing IN
Congress, or out of it, the agitation
OF the slavery question, under what.
ever shape or color the ate npi may
/ he made.
soon aficc another National Con.
veniinn assembled IL the same city
and assuring the night to declare the
sentiments of the Wing party. said
" We dcprecate all further agila
ton of the questions thus settled as
dangerous 20 the peace, and will dis
confluence all effort TO continue OF
renew such agitation whenever
wherever, and however made"
The present administration was
( elected on the principle Of adherence
10 tins compromise, and the Presi
dent, referring to 1t in his inaugural
speech. declared that the harmony
which had been secured by ii should
not be disturbed during his term OF
office. The President, recurring to
the same subject, renewed his pledge
IN hts message TO Congress, at the
beginning Of the Present session, in
the following language
But Notwithstanding differences Of
opinion and sentiments which there
existed m relation to details and spe-
cihc provisions, the acquIescence o
distinguished citizens whose devotion
10 the Union can never be doubted
has gwen renewed vlgor TO our lnsll.
tutons, and restored a sense of re.
pose and security to the public mIua
throughout the country. That thu
repose is 10 suffer no shock during
my Official term, if have power /,
avert IT, those who placed me here
may be assured "
Under these circumstances III,
proposition to repeal the Missouri
omproul Use was suddenly and unex
pecledly made 10y the same Com
mitlee on Territories which only ter
days before had approved the sancli
ly OF the Missouri Compromise, anC
declared The end of agitation in til,
following explicit and unmlslakeablt
language
Your Committee do not fee
themselves called upon 10 enter into
a discussion of those controyeriet
queslions-ihey involve the sam'
great issues which produced The agi
talion, the sectional strife and til,
fearful struggle of 1850. As Con
gress deemed 1t wise and prudent Il
refrain from deciding the matters il
controversy then, either by affirming
or repeating the Mexican laws, or bl
an act declaratory of il as 10 the slay,
property in the Territories, ST. you
Committee are not prepared now Il
recommend a departure from lh'
course pursued upon that remarkable
occasion, either by affirming or re
pealIng the eighth section of th'
Missouri AcI, or by any act declara
tory of the meaning of the Conslltu
ton in respect To the legal points il
dispute" The abrogaiion has beef
effected in pursuance of The demand
of the Administration itself, and b,
means of It's influence on Congress
In the House of Representatives, tina