The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-01

OF Representatives May 10, 1894
The House being in the Committee Of the Whole the
state of the Union
Mr. COLQUITT said
Mr. CHAlRaAs: It must be apparent 10 tho most casual
observer that the discussion of the question Of slavery upon
tbs floor fails TO excite unusual degree oil interest
II seems fill every mind with the most serious appreen
ious No matter with what temper Il Is approached dea
inc as il must necessarily with the constitutional rights
and domestic relations OF particular section OF TINS cou
nv il unquesonably full Of danger The doors o this
ona should be closed upon IT, The constitution places
Il beyond our reach and due regard for It's obligations
demands that il be exempted from discussion in any OF its
aspects ... - ,oro . .,,
saopon as basis of reconciliation and harmony by the
two great national parties their specihc sanction IN the
election Of the present Chief Magistrate gave reason TO
none that agitation and out Of Congress was at last put
70 rs Among the equivalents which the South was TO
receive for concessions made IN thai compromise was
nacsan exemption from the ncessant warfare that had
been made upon her and her institutions II was this con-
dotion more than any other which roconcled her TO it,
Coud IL have oreeen that we were purchasing re-
preye only that we making temporary truce with
faction and that another occasion had only 70 present ~
self when agitation would be renewed mistake the spirit
M onr people IL they had not withheld that acquescence
which has been generally conceded Peace, however
was promised There was nothing we desired more We
were anxious be relieved Of the irritating and annoying
assaults to which rights and property had been
tnually subjected Influenced by these considerations
and in the hope of better day. opposition ceased ex-
element subsidized camness ensued. Were hopes vain
and foolish Have been deluded in our expectations
because Of blindness and ignorance Have promised
ourselves more than ii intended should realize 2
Why those referred to in the cotemporae
Gus debates of those who gave them their hearty sanction
as Compromise settlement" "inal adjustment" a
ahnaty" if they not designed platform
upon which conflicting sectional opinions could be
We now hear---and that too from the lips OF who
commended them to the approval of the peoplehat
they only temporary in their operations, and that
having served their purpose in the admission of California
and in the organization OF Territories for Utah and New
Mexico they expire by virtue of their limitations 1t
is sad commentary the intelligence of the country, it.
after all the praises bestowed on the Compromise of 1850,
it proved to be short-sghted, tmeserving scheme of
pacfcation might refer to the fugitve-save BILL and
The provision for the admission Of States with with
out slavery evidence that this legislation looked not
only to present immediate exgences but also to those
which might arise in the future They impose obligations
which yet remain to be performed.
1t has been argued that the Compromise of 1920 did
extend other territory than that acquired Of France be-
cause Young America was not then born, and one
dreamed of the vast domain that TO be added to
country Sir, he was born in 1850. He had then won
trophies il expected that he would win still more; it
but the exercise OF reasonable forecast therefore,
that prospective arrangement should be made for their
fair division. If there Compromise of 1850, ~
principle established relative to the organization Of Terri
tories and we thrown back upon the Missouri Com
promise taking into consideration the which it
has received from those who claim for 1t especial
ncty we may, without incurring the reproach of bad
faith regard it original question shall not at
tempt enumerae the repeated instances Of the repudia
ton Of that compromise by the ant-savery sentiment of
the North 1t has been done specifically and ably,
by others than i can hope TO do it.
In the Of Missouri within few months after the
passage of the law her application rejected and
provision made before she admitted In the Of
Arkansas similar attempt was made to refuse her adms
sion into the Union, because her constitution did for
bid slavery; in the Of Oregon and the Territories
quired Of Mexico in which several instances il repu-
dated by the ansavery representatives from the North
On the contrary, there is single instance record
pf mar cd
willingness TO abide by the principle of that compromise
Why in 1850 You could have pleased better than by
running the line of 30 deg. 80 min. 10 the Pacific. There
was unanmity at the South that subject Not because
that secured to full and perfect rights but having
the prestige of age its side IL would be likely be
observed II It was dsregarded where the assurance
that other compromise would be held in good faith
The South therefore argued urged almost begged through
her representatives recognition Of that principle 1t
could not be obtained repudated il rejected
Now sir regarding this compromise as solemn compact
the strongest light in which II Is presented with these evil
denccs OF bad faith the part of those representing
hicing interest, with what propriety we be charged
with bad faith i we regard it as original question: and
10 consider whether II Is just fair aud constitutional and
either to approve condemn independent Of the consider
atoms which give it solemnity a compromised
1t Is not necessary however to honest and candid
support Of this bill TO deny the Missouri act because Of
the bad faith with which it has been treated any of the
obligations due TO subsistng unrepeaed law Of the land
tive II the sancty Of compact-throw around IT all the
claims which IL Is entitled "a precedent Of more than
thirty years standing, venerable for its antiqutyit is yet
opposed In principle TO the recent legislation of $50
with which II cannot be reconcied shall not contend
that the Compromise of 1850 repealed that Of ls20they
stand opposed to each other in principle and are de-
eide which prevails AT the time Of the adoption Of the
Missouri Compromise the alternative presented 10 the
south OF an abandonment of all her rights north Of 80 deg
50 min, or dissolution Of the Union She decided to
save the Union The North felt that IL TO her interest
10 divide the territory BY east and west line excluding
southerners from settling north Of that line while citizens
OF northern States might settle either both sides Of
t6e line This was in 1920 and established the principle
Of territorial partition
quarter Of century afterwards Texas applied for nd
mission into the Union Her territory was immense and
not loot Of II belonging TO the United States Forming
no part OF the territory acquired from France IL might
have been supposed that she would not be amenabe TO the
restrictive provisions Of the law Of 1920 but IL was con-
tended mat the principle Of territorial partition by fixed
geographical ne had been settled by that law and adhered
lof 'oufm OF century until II scarcely less bind
ing than the constitution The question was settled by
uecng Inc line OF 30 deg 30 min through the State Of
t leh Again in organizing government for Oregon,
ue norm Chained the whole of it, and the South recog
nsed her right by virtue Of the basis Of that adjustment
twas this consideration which induced Mr. Polk TO give
m sanction TO the bill providing territorial government
s t constrained IN deference TO the acts Of his prede
sor TO yield his acquiescence the TO which they
had gone in compromising this delicate and dangerous
question The establishment Of determinate geographical
ne beyond which slavery could not 90 the principle
upon which the legislation Of 1920 founded.
Now sir the evidences are manifold that in 1850 repeat
90 efforts were made have this principle inserted in the
compromise The South very Justly said that got the
worst Of the old bargain rights and the constitution
were invaded by IL and have lost territory by s ope-
tsuon but we have nevertheless adhered to IT, and we
e now wiling, for the sake Of peace TO extend the line to
e fae'he but il rejected end repudiaed and the
new Compromise of 1850 adopted. The result was that
Yornia, embracing the most valuable portion Of the
riitory acquired from Mexico, admitted into the
non - free State unshorn of her immense proportions
y aer admission the South with large majority already
anst her IN the representative branch lost the balance
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