The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-27

state Of the Unon
| Mr. DOWDELL said
Mr., CHAmMAN; desire very briefly to give the
which win control my action upon the bill for the organ
zaton OF territorial governments in Nebraska and Kansas
However humble they may be, duty to my constituents
well justice to myself forbids my silence upon question
Of such delicate and deep Importance to the South and not
less vital to the peace and happiness of the whole country
trust sir that may be able, as certainly most earnest
y desire to bring to the discussion that kindness which
due regard for the feelings of others would prompt and
that camness and GOODNESS which the decacy and magn
tude of the subject before the committee eminently
demand Reason, not passion must characterize de-
lberaons if we hope to reach results peaceful and salts
factory TO attain this end should be the wish of
ALL il is certainly the sincere desire of every patriot
The history of legislation upon the very dangerous
subject involved in this discussion full Of admonton
The wise lessons to be learned from its study should at least
incline to moderaton should teach to refrain from
the taunt the jee and harsh ephe; should guard us
against the folly of elimination and recrimnaton, which
but to excite passions to obscure the reason and
cloud the Judgment and present obstacles to block up the
pathway to settlement thus weakening the social ties
which bind together as one people and without which
bond OF sympathy and affection common constitution Is
powerless for Union liberty. The great interests in
volved the character which sustain to the country
representatives the important consequences follow
action prudence and sound discretion all counsel
careful deberaton and demand GOODNESS in the formation
Of our opinions, and frankness in their expression
With feelings of the utmost kindness for all sections and
sincere desire TO promote harmony and achieve the
greatest good to common country engage IN this de-
bate 1t is proposed, by the bill now pending before the
committee to organize two territorial governments for the
remaining portion Of the territory acquired from France
under the treaty Of 1909 Over all this vast country out
side the limits Of the State of Missouri than ten times
large the State of Alabama the restrictive clause in
the Missouri Compromise extended expressly forbid
ding the introduction of slavery The proposed abrogaon
of the eighth section of that act containing this restrc
tionso nequitable and despoc in character and ncon
sisten with the usual fairness of American egsationhas
engendered all the bitter opposition encountered by the
bill in the other end of the Capitol and which ii is certain
to with in this House Yes sir it may be airly
suned that but for this feature difficulty would have
been experienced in its speedy passage through both
bodies.
Let us examine this clause little more closely South
of the line of SO deg 80 min the citizens who may pur
chase the public lands and settle the territory are left
der the operation of this law perfectly free TO constitute
government according to their will and regulate their
domestic affairs in their way, subject only to the
dton that the form of government established shall be
publican North of said line such discretion is allowed
by the terms of this law The people who invited
settle upon that portion of the territory not left free
to constitute government according to their will
and regulate their domestic affairs in their way sub
ject like condition only that the form of government
adopted shall be republican, but tied up and bound
down with a congressional restriction without limitation
of time reaching beyond their territorial pupilage and
fastening upon their sovereign rights after they shall
have been admitted into the Union as independent equal
States
Now sir let me ask why this discrimination, which
while dtrust the intelligence of the North at the
time is calculated to insult and wound the feelings Of the
South2 Can sound reasons be given for such mongrel
legislation in reference TO territory purchased with
common fund acquired under the treaty from the
same government and certainly, if rightly to be dis
posed of ruled and regulated in pursuance Of the same
constitution Are the peope who may chance to settle
above this arbitrary line to be presumed less intelligent
less moral less able govern themselves to choose their
own institutions and regulate their domestic affairs than
those who shall settle below the line2 IL not why then
refuse equal liberties rights and privileges TO them2 Such
discrimination sir in my humble opinion Us not only
pugnant to the honor and interests of the American
people destructive of the rights of the States and at
with the genius OF our free institutions but conrayenes
the first principles OF equality and common justice Can
IL be consistent with the federal constitution Sir ii
find color Of authority we are TO be controlled by pre-
cedent in the ordinance Of 1881 adopted under the old
confederation for the government Of the Northwest Ter
tory And that ordinance, has been most clearly
shown adopted in violation OF the articles Of coned
Grafton The Of nine States required by
the articles for the passage Of such law, when the ord
nance it is termed only received the vote Of eight
But sir, in vain shall look TO constitution for
grant Of power authorizing similar legislation. In
ming Its sacred pages and scrunizng its wise and we'll
guarded language find line of demarcation indicated
between sections parallel Of latitude or longitude sep
arang the North and the South the East and the West It's
too true that such line to be found marrng the po
cal map of country; but the hand Of patriotism
traced IT. the fathers and founders Of the republic
did not put IL there's under the pressure Of panic when
the overthrow Of newlyerccted government was
riously threatened by the unhaloWed and unconstitutional
demands Of faction the conseryato Of the republic and
lovers OF the Union in the vain hope Of purchasing peace
unfortunately submitted will not say consented to this
temporzng policy which nfrnges the rights and curtas
the privileges Of one-haf Of the States and comproms the
| safety Of the whole system.
The ansayery party Of that day conended for the ex
cuson Of the STAKEHOLDER from all vast domain Of
the MISSISSIPPI sovereign the consent OF iOn
gress bad prepared constitution and within the proys
ions Of the federal constitution applied for admission into
the Union Her application rejected because she did
in her fundamental law provide for the abolition Of
slavery within her limits. In this state of things
ber of the Senate from Illinois brought forward propo
on which allowed Missouri 10 come into the Union with
restriction but at the time designated this line Of
80 deg 30 min north Of which the institution Of slavery
be forever prohibited. In evil hour under the
sad alternative Of disuptng the government violating
the compact this proposition acoeded TO- and became
law. The rnomentous question involved in its passage
filled the heart Of the patriot everywhere with alarm and
fell upon the of the great Jefferson in his own graphic
language like fre-bel at night With fearful forecast
in letter TO friend shortly after its passage are shad
owed forth the dangers which he apprehcnded were 10 fol-
low. These arc his words In reference TO the question
81 considered II at the kne Of the Union Ii s
hushed indeed for the moments but this is teprieve only
marked principle moral and political conceived and
held the angry passions Of men, will never be obiter-
ated and every irritation will make IL deeper and deep
4 er."
Subsequent history sir has demonstrated that these
orebodings of evil not wholly groundess The pro-
phecy may yet be fulfilled unless returning sense of s-
ce in the American mind shall authorize repeal of this
odous act and enable 70 que tho dire spirit of nat-
cism which has carried far from the path Of safety
The policy which dictated its enactment permit me 20
say very different from that which controlled the
fathers for il only contadcts the letter but docs vo
| encc 10 the spirit Of the common charter
Let meuot be understood sir saying that no lines
arc recognised by the constitution There are lines and
strongly marked Ones traced by through our country
State lines sir the mmpars Of republican freedom scpa-
rating sovereign communities and designed TO bar each
from aggression and II sacredy preserved will forever
oonhne the 1era government to Its small and appropriate
nfs 81 The