The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-02-07
SHALL SLAVERY BE PERMITTED IN Me-
BRASKA.

AS SenatOrs anu Representatives IN tho
Congress of tho United States. it is our duty
to warn our constituencies whenever iminent
danger menaces the Freedom of our institu-
tions or the Permanency of our Union.
Such danger, as we firmly believe, now inn
pends, and we earnestly solicit your prompt
attention TO it.
At the last session of Congress, a bill for
the organization of the Territory of Nebraska
passed the House of Representatives, with an
overwhelming majority. That bill was based
on tho principle of excluding Slavery from
the new Territory. Ii was not taken up for
consideration in the Senate, and consequently
failed to become a law.
At the present session. a new Nebraska bill
has been reported by the Senate Committee
on Territories, which, should it unhappily re-
ceive the sanction of Congress, will open all
the unorganized territory of the Union to the
ingress Of Slavery.
We arraign this bill as gross violation OF a
sacred pledge, as criminal betrayal of prec
ious right; as part and parcel of an atrocious
plot to exclude from vast unoccupied region,
immigrants from the Old World. and free la
borers from our own States, and convert it
into dreary region of despotism Inhabited
by masters and slaves.
Take your maps, fcllow-citzens, wo cntreat
you, and see what country it is which this bill,
gratuitously AID recklessly, proposes to open
10 Slavery.
From the southwestern corner Of Missouri
pursue tho parallel of 30 deg. 30 min. north
latitude westwardly across the Arkansas across
the north fork of Canadian River, to the N.
eastern angle of Texas; then follow the north.
ern boundary of Texas to tho western limit of
New Mexico; then proceed along that western
line to its northern termination; then again
turn westwardly, and follow the northern limo
Now Mexico to tho crest of the Rocky Noun
tains: then ascend northwardly along the
crest of that mountain range to the line which
separates the United States from tho British
Possessions in North America, on the 49th
parallel of north latitude; then pursue your
course eastwardly along that line to the White
Earth river, which falls into the Missouri from
the north; descend II at river tn its confluence
with the Missouri; descend the Missouri. a
long the western boundary of Minnesota, of To-
wa, of Missouri, TO tho point where it ceases
to be a boundary line, and enters the State to
which it gives its name then continue your
southwark course along the western limit of
that State t. the point IRON which you set out.
You have now made tho circuit of tho pro-
posed Territory of Nebraska. You have trav-
ersed the vast distance OF more than three
thousand miles. You have traced the outline
of an area of four hundred and eighty five
thousand square miles; more than twelve
times as great as that of Ohio.
This immense region, occupying the very
heart of tho North American continent, and
larger, by lbirty-threc thousand square miles,
than all The existing FREQ States, excluding
C"lif,lrnia-this immense region well waiored
ana fertile through which tho Middle and
Northern routes from tho Atlantic 10 the Pa
ciiic must pass-this immense region. embra-
oipo all fl,u ,h.. .
ton, except the comparatively insignificant
district of Indian territory north of the Red
River and between Arkansas and Texas, and
now for more than thirty years regarded by
common consent Of tho American People as
consecrated to Freedom, by statute and by
cJmpact-this immense region, the Bill now
before the Senate, without reason and with
out excuse, but in fragrant disregard of sound
policy and sacred faith, proposes to open TO
Slavery.
We beg your attention. fellow w-ciizens, to
few historical facts.
The original settled policy of the United
States, clearly indicated by the Jefferson Pro-
yiso of 1874, and by tho ordinance 1884, was
non extension Slavery.
In 1903, Louisiana was acquired by pur-
chase from France. AT that timc there were
some twenty or thirty thousand slaves IN
this Territory, and most of them within what
is now the State of Louisiana; few. only
farther north on the west bank of the Missis-
sippi. Congress instead of providing for the
abo oishing of Slavery in this n Territory,
permitted its continuance. I'm 1912, the State
of Louisiana was organized, and admitted into
the Union with Slavery.
In 1918. six years later, the inhabitants of
the Territory of Missouri applied to Congress
for authority to form State Constitution, and
for admission into the Union. There were. at
that time in the whole territory acquired from
France, outside of tho State of Louisiana, not
three thousand slaves.
There was no apology in the circumstances
Of the country for the continuance of Slavery.
The original national policy was against it,
and not less the plain language OF the treaty
under which tho Territory had been acquired
from France.
Ii was proposed, therefore, to incorporate in
the bill authorizing tho formation of State
Government, provision requiring that the
Constitution of the new State should contain
an article provididing for the abolition of ex-
isting slavery. and prohibiting the further
introduction of slaves.
This provision was vehemcntly and pcrtina-
ciously opposed: but finally prevailed in the
House of Representatives by decided vote
In the Senate it was rejected, and. in conse-
IuNhNO NA tio NbdSictuicut DtJWccu Tue TWO
Houses, the bill was lost.
AT the next session of Congress the contro-
versy was renewed with increased Violence
II was terminated. at longth b. compromise.
Missouri was allowed to come into the Union
with Slavery but section was inserted in the |
act authorizing her admission, excluding Sla-
very forever, from all The territory acquired
from France, not included in the new State,
lying north of SO deg. 30 min.
We quote the prnhibitory section: (1)
"Sec. 8. BE 10 further enacted. That in all
that Territory ceded by France 10 he United
States, under The name of Louisiana, which |
lies north Of thirty degrees and thirty min
utes of north latitude, not included within the |
limits of the State contemplated by this act.
Slavery and involuntary seryitudc. otherwise
than as the punishment of crime, shall be and
is herr by forever prohibited"
The question Of the constitutonaity of this |
prohibition was submitted by President Mon |
roe to his Cabinet John Quincy Adams was
then Secretary Of State; John G. Calhoun was |
Secretary Of War; William H. Graz ford was
Secretary of the Treasury; aad William Writ |