Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-06-15
g.o Eos-as a. I:l,.

lBe TroglSiorS OF t0e hacSnS Nenr2sk
Bill that has ius passed the House Of Represent
tves by vote of ll3 to 100, and which has created
so great an excitement throu ghcut country the
| Missouri Compromise passed in 1920. has been de-
clared inoperative and vol L. That comp1o1nisc
prohibited slavery in all territory north of the lire
of 33 deg 80 min which lire now forrnf the South
boundsry of the territories of kars4s and Me-
braska. It will at once be perceived that the OBJ
jeet of declaring the line inoper alive and vol "
was to introduce slavery into these future States;
Trough singular TO say .Houglass and his adherens.
backed up TOO by the Pierce Administration, de-
clare hat slavery can never exist there. owing 70
climate and other circurns. And when asked
wby.if it never could exis there.'hey wished to re-
pc n measure that under such circumstances. could
cause them inconvenience, they answered to
cure the wounded honor of the South - Thus the
.shoe country had to be again thrown into state
of ex ,itement-the vexei question, which was
thought to have been scttlel by the Compromse
Measures of 1880 had tc be again agitated d-the dy
ing embers of Northern and Southern fanaticism
again to be famed into fame,-and all for what !?
AS balm to the ina ginary wound on the honor of
the South
Strange.-passing strange that it was left for the
microscopic eyes of Mr. Douglass to discover this
honor, For thirty years Calhoun and Clay
could gaze upon that dark spot upon the honor OF
their Southern homes, and never once seek its re-
moval But now that both have passel away. the
mighty giant of the West arises the champion
and defender of fietr wounded honor! And to ac-
conp,ish his design, the Missouri Compromise the
work of our fathers, who pledg dged MetrhOHor in is
support-made sacred too it is by the name
,nI br nofH Or hal tO he tram
in the dust,
Nor anything of the kind sought by the
South. Mr.. Douglass volunteer acting upon
his own responsibility and to secure his own per-
sonal ends The Administration. TO recover is lost
Strength seized hold of the hobby with the design
of na.ionalizing itself and fell back upon the lii.
tie giant who thus become at the great ex-
ponent and embodiment of the principles of De-
mocracy, and the parliamentary leader of the
Pierce fac. ion in the Senate.
And what, may inquiries proposed to be ac-
comp,ished by this unasked for legislation? Why
to settle principle. they say,-the right of the
people in the territories to establish prohibit
slavery themselves. They ailege, that, under the
Constitution Congress has power to legisiate up
the question of slavery for the terrisories-that
the clause empowering them to make all needfdl
rules and regulations respecting the territory and
other property of the United States does not
apply to this question. Now it would seem very
singular indeed that the States could not do what
they please wi h their property; certainly a
very novel idea, that Congress has power to mark
lines, sell or give away any portion of it -exer-
else unlirniel soverei snty it in every other
respect, and yet have power to say whether sla-
very shall exist there not
Bu. the best evidence of the meaning of a law.
is the intention of the persons VIII framed it. be
gathered from surrounding circum as well
rs from The law itself Let US apply this rule to
the Constitution, and what is the result The or
dinance OF 1897 of Which the Hissouri Compro-
mise is sir1oiy extension was fraEel NJ tie
er:,i Cons --"ss-i by Cansress
then sitting in New York AMI the her fran
ed by the National Convention assembled for the
purpose in Philadelphia. which bodies we're in al
mos hourly communication with each other. and
leading members Of each, attending in both by
tarrs. Now, is it to be presumed for moment
that these would one day prohibit Congress
from legislating slavery in convention, and the
next, enter the Legislative halls and enacs a law
establishing slavery in portion of the terrific
ries and prohibiting it in another?
There can then. be 10 question as to the eonsti
tutionaIity of the Missouri Compromise; and far
from being the estgbiStRogRt of n principle, the
passage of the Nebraska Bill has been an utter up
roofing of all the compromises of the Constitution
yea, we light almost say, of that very instrument
Itself
What then il may be asked IS the position o.
the two great political parties Of the country on
the question! 1t is lie beloved o.Tspring of Doug
lass recently def.ated Presidential asrircnt, and
DoF the le der Of the hdmiis ration facior in the
Senate. 1t is supported by every Demo;rItic or
gan It was siiksl hy the resent State Conven
ton o: the harmonious Democracy but point.
If you to io;o.5-1 plpnr in the Common
we 4lth that denounces il 1t is then Demo ;rai
measure, fathere by Democrati; Presi ntill as
pirant. supported by Democratic Administration. |
and advocated by every locofJ;o org in she coun
try.
On the other hand the Whigs regsrl it ''as de !
liberatc breach of plighted fIi.h and publ !
compact-a high handed attempt to force slavery
into a vast territory free from IL by Iaw-as
reckless renewal Of qUeted agitation. that meets
the stern indi gnant an3 unanimous coa alemna'ion
OF the Whis Party OF the Comm onwelth Of Penn
sylvanil.
The estion IN PhiIaial oh:e.
Below will be found the oil i returns of the re-
cent election in Philadelphia. by which it will be