Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-06-15
T,,e .yo'9-as a I:l,.


tives by of L l3 to 100, and which has created
great excitement throu gh crt the country the
| Missouri Ccmpromise passed in 1920. las been de-
clared .irorerative and vol L. That con,oro1riso
prohibite slavery in all territory north of the lire
of 33 deg 50 min. whclI line now forms the Soa-h-
ern boundsry of the territories of Ka-sas and Me-
braska. It will at once be perceived that the OBJ
ject of declaring the line imperative and vol y
was to introduce slavery into these future States
til hou gb singular 20 sayHougIass and his adhercns
backed M TOO by the Pierce Admins ration. de-
cl are that slavery never exist there. owing 20
climate and other circums.ancesI And when asked
wby.if it never could ex xist there'hey wished to re-
pc ii measure that under such circumstances. could
cause them inconvenience they answered to
| cure the wounded honor OF the South ~ Thus the
whole country had to be gain thrown into state
! of ex .itement.-the vexe1 quest which was
| thought to have been scttlei by the Compromise
Measures of 185O.ha to be again agitated the dy
| ing en- bers of Northern and Southern fanaticism
again to be famed into Hame--and all for what
As balm to the imaginary wound on the honor of
the South
Strange-passng strangc that it was left for the
microscopic eyes of Mr. Douglass to discover this
awful blemish on the fair escuteheon OF Southern
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-
noval But now, that both hare passel away the
mighty s.giant'' of the West arises the champion
and defender of ttetr wounded honor! And to ac-
comp,ish his design. the Missouri Compromise. the
work of our fathers, who pledged heirhoaor in lis
support-made saered too it is by the name
and the fame of HENRY CLAY, had to be trampled
in the dust!
l.. t1,a
South Mr.. Douglass volunteer acting upon
his responsibility. and to secure his own per
sonal ends. The Administration. to recover lis losr
Strength, seized hold of the hobby with the design
of nationalizng itself and fell back upon 'the lit
tie giant who thus become at the great
ponent and embodiment of the principles of Dc
mocracy, and the parliamentary leader of the
Pierce faction in the Senate.
And what we may inquire is proposed to be az
comp,ished by this unasked for legislation? Why
to settle principle they sly,-the right of the
people in the territories to establish prohibit
slavery themselves They ailege that, under the
Constitution Congress has no power to legisate up
the question of slavery for the territories-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 very
singular indeed, that the States could not do what
they pieasel wi, h their property; certainly a
very novel ilea that Congress has power to mark
lines. sell or give away any portion Of it -exer-
else unlimited sovereignty over il in every other
respect and yet have power to say whether sla-
very shall exis. there not,
Blu. the best evidence of the meaning Of law,
is the intention of the persons VIII framei it. be
gathered from surrounding circumstances. as well
es from the law itself. Let apply this rule to
the Constitution. and what is the result The Or
dinance OF 1897. of Which the Missouri Compro-
mise is sin0y extension was frame NJ tie SIM
time and by the sknr hInfs that fra,nni j. -.
er',i Cons ,as-s-i hy CnnNrass
then sitting in New York; AMI The other fram-
ed by the National Convention. assembled for the
purpose in Philadelphia which bodies in al
mos. hourly communication with each other. and
leading members of each, attending in both by
tnrns! Now, is it to be presumed for moment
that these men would one day prohibit Congress
from legislating slavery in convention and the
next enter the legislative halls, and enact a law
establishing slavery in portion of the terrific
ries and prohibiting it in another,
There can. then, be no question to the eonsti-
tutionality of the Missouri Compromise; and SO far
from being the eaz5iisiDsvt of a principle, the
passage of the Nebraska Bill has been utter up
roofing of all the compromises OF the CONSTITUTION
yea mi ght almost say of that very instrument
Itself
What, then, il may be asked IS the position o.
the two great poIisi,al parties Of the country on
the question. 1t is TIE beloved offspring of Doug
lass recently defeated Presidential asriront and
now the Ie der Of the adm Gsraron fl: ioT. in tic
Senate. 1t is supported by every Demo;rlsio or
gan Il was sLiikai ny the recent State Conven-
tion OF the "hlrmonious Demo ;r2ay,' but point,
if you can. to lo;oto.o paper in the Common
we slsh that atdenoGncas il It is then Demo ;rasi;
measure fAthege1 By Democrat; Presi nti1l as
pirant supported By Democrats Administration.
and advocated by every locofJ:o organ in -hs coUI'
try.
On the other hand the Wings regard it ''as de !
liberatc breach of plighted fIih and publ
compact,--a high handed attempt TO forae slavery
into vast territory free from it by law,-as 4
reckless renewal Of quietcd agitation. that meets
the stern. nd snnnt and unanimous condemnation
OF the Viii, Party OF tie CoInmonwe I!th of Penn
syvaGia.
The E'estion N Pbjla iel oh:e.
,ound the oil Il al oS tho