Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-16
A REVIEW 1897, 1864.

Congress Of the Confederation for the Govern
nient Of tho Northwest Territory, the claim to
which had been surrendered by Virginia, New
York, and Connecticut. That Ordinance con-
tanned a provision, in the form of u solemn
compact, forever excluding Slavery from the
Torrtory--the only Territory belonging to the
Confederation.
In 1887, in the Convention that framed the
Federal Constitution, power was conferred up
on Congress 10 prohibit the importation Of
slaves in the year 1908; but at that day the
universal opinion was, that to abolish the slave
trade, or prohibit the supply Of slaves, was q
measure involving the extinction OF Slavery it
self
In the same Convention tho utmost care was
taken to exclude from the Constitution the
word Slave" or Slavery" because obnoxious
% the great majority Of the members; and to
avoid the use Of any language that might i'm
ply that human bsings could be held as prop
eay Nor could the provision in relation to
slave representation, or fugitives from service
Or labor, have been carried in the Convention,
hut for the general understanding that Slave
nv was to be regarded as strictly local, to be
limited to The States IN tchich ii already eristed,
which, it was also believed, were about to take
measures for its extinction.
In the first Congress undeB the Constitution,
a memorial was presented, signed by Benjamin
Franklin and other Revolutionary patriots
praying that Congress would 60 to theyerge Of
its constitutional powers against Slavery. 1t
was received, respectfully referred, reported
upon, and made the subject OF general de-
bate--when, on melton, the report was ordered
to be entered upon the Journal of the House.
1t affirmed the non-existence of power in Con-
gress to legislate on the subject Of Slavery in
the States, but not elsewhere.
In 1908, the moment Congress had power, it
passed an act for the total abolition OF the slave
trade. Meantime, State after State put an end
TO Slavery within its limits Congress turned
a deaf ear to the memorials of discontented
persons who sought to establish Slavery in In
diana, and uniformly in the organization of
particular Territorial Governments in the
Northwest Territory, reaffrmed the Anti Sla-
very article OF the Ordinance Of 1897. Anti
Slavery Societies existed in majority Of the
States, including North Carolina, Maryland,
Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Delaware
The country was Anti Slavsry--the policy Of
Government was Anti Slavery.
The Territory Of Louisiana, having been pur-
chased from France, contained slaves, and the
settled portions lay along the borders of the
slave States. As Congress forbore to legislate
ON the subject slave institutions gradually, in
sidiously grew up in the Territory, until in 1920,
Missouri sought admission into the Union. IL
was attempted now to carry out the understand
ing Of those who had framed the Constitu.
ton, to pursue the settled policy Of the Govern
ment--fhe limitation Of Siarery--to incorporate
into the act authorizing the People Of Missouri
to form a State, Proviso excluding Slavery
But the Anti-Slavery Sentiment encountered
an opposition it ~as not prepared for. The
purchase Of Louisiana, the federation Of Slavery
therein, the growth Of the sugar cane and the
boldoned the Slave Interest. But bear this in
mind--so strong and well assured was the Anti.
Slavery Sentiment, that its attitude was that Of
superior. Freedom was evidently regarded
on all hands as the Law; Slavery, the excep-
ton. The object was 70 thrust Slavery out Of
United States Territory it's only demand was,
TO be suffered TO remain where il had no long
been tolerated
A Compromise was suggested by Northern
man--who but Northern man has always
struck the first blow at Freedom? That Com
promise proposed to permit Missouri, although
part Of il lay above s6 deg. 30 min, to come
in rs Slave State, but with the express con-
dition that thenceforth, to,sper Slavery should
be prohibited in all the Territory lying north
Of that line, comprising nearly all the unor-
gained Territory OF the Union
This was the first great check received by
tho. AntiSlavcry sentiment. From this mo-
ment, the march Of the Slave Interest was
UPWARDS: the popular movements against it
began TO relax: Anti-Slaysry Societies gradu-
ally died away in the slaveholding States
The revival Of the sentiment in 1899, and the
new movements that followed, were not stuff
cicnt to rcprcss the aggressive operations Of
Slavery. Texas, department Of Mexico, was
brought under tho control Of American adven-
turcrs who established Slavery there, in def
ancc Of Mexican Law. Rebellion arose, ending
in Revolution, which finally led to the annexa-
ton Of the Province, as State, to the United
States The Anti Slavery sentiment had again
rallied, though not 40 vigorously a. in 800; but
i was still strong enough to require OF least
the shadow Of a concession--and it was sol
EMMY enacted that in any State or States, that
might be erected out Of Texas north Of 36 deg.
30 min; Slavery should forever be prohibited.
What had been left, however, to implication in
1920 in regard to tho Territory Of Louisiana,
below 80 deg. 30 min, was in this case, owing
TO the increased power Of the Slave Interest,