Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-05

entirely, and forever out Of Congress, unless
Congress dragged it in by breaking down
the sacred laws which settled it. The ques-
ton was settled, and done with There was
not an inch square Of territory in the Union
on which 1t could be raised without breach
of a compromise. The ordinance of 80
settled it in all the remaining part Of the
northwest territory beyond Wisconsin: the
compromise line Of 30 deg. 30 min, settled
il in all country north and west Of Missouri
to the British me, and up TO the Rocky
Mountains the organic act Of Oregon, made
by the people and sanctioned by Congress,
settled it in all that region: the acts for the
government of Utah and New Mexico set
tied it IN those two territories the compact
with Texas, determining the number of slave
states TO be formed out of that state, settled
II there: and California settled for herself
Now, where was there an inch square Of
territory within the United States on which
the question could be raised Nowhere =
The question was settled everywhere, not
merely by law, but by fact. The work was
done, and there was no way to get at the
question but by undoing the work No way
for Congress to get the question in, for the
purpose Of keeping II out, but to break down
compromises which kept It out
now CAN 1T BENEFIT THE SLAVE STATES
What advantage do the slave states ex-
pect from this bill? Certainly they expect
the extension of slave power, and slave pop
ulation. That may prove fallaclous expec-
tation. The question of slavery in these
territories, if thrown open to territorial &C
ton, will be question of numbers ques-
ton of the majority for or against slavery:
and what chance would the shareholders have
in such a contest No chance at all. The
slave emigrants will be outnumbered, and
compelled to play most unequal game, not
only in point of numbers, but also IN point
OF states. The stakeholder stakes his prop
erty; and has to run it of, or lose il, if out
voted at the polls. | see nothing which
shareholders are TO gain under this bill-no-
thing but an equal aud vexatious contest, in
which they are to be losers. | deprecate
such a contest and did my part to keep 1t
out of the state of Missouri when her con
constitution was formed. ! was not mem
Der of the convention, bat was chief pro-
mOter OF the clause which forbid the legisla-
lure to emancipate slaves without the con
sent of their owners. promoted that clause
for the sake of peace-tor tle sake of keep
my the slavery question on. os her elections
ard legislation for the sake Of preventing
perpetual strife among the people. What
did for Missouri, would do for the terrific
ries and if II was an open question would
vote one way or the other to settle 1t; but it
is not an open question and cannot be open
ed without breach OF faith, and the do
struction Of the peace of the country.
IT IS UNFAIR TO rHE NORTH.
Sir, the question has been decided. The
free states are against this bill and 1t is an
I'll return tor their past generous conduct to
endeayor to force It upon them. They have
been not only Just, bu, magnanimous 10 the
slave states. What vas the condition OF the
slave states thirty years ago IN relation to
The use OF the soil within their limits De
barred OF a great part of It's use an Indian
population covering more or less of almost
every slave state, and preventing the expan
sion Of its population. What Is It now p
All relieved. The Indians all gone their
land all bought under the dominion of The
white mnn; and the erea Of slave population,
and of slave cultivation, greatly increased
to the extent of third or a fourth OF It's soil
in some of the states. How was this done?
Certainly by the help of free state votes, for
IL tOulu lQl nave uttn dOlt NlAlDAl tlrit
by the help of their votes in procuring the
appropriations, and ratliylng the treaties
which the removal of the Indians required.
Missouri got her fine southwest quaEer re-
lieved by these means. rhe same votes
gave us the Platte country: seven fine coun-
ties added to the state and that by alierng
the compromise line to include it, and actu-
ally converting that fine region from free soil
TO slave soil. Northern votes enabled It 10
be done northern votes altered above an
hundred miles of the compromise line for
nur benefit, upon request; and will never
be nngra.eiu 20 the North for IL, nor requde
il by breach of the line to their prejudice.
And how did we obtain the northern votes
which were necessary for all these measures
the appropriations and treaties for all these
Indian removals, and for that alteration Of
the compromise line which gave US the beau
tlml Platte country? How did the Missou-
ri delegation of that day the most amlaIlc
and talented DIR. Linn and myself, in the sen
ate, aud Gen. Ashley IN the House howdld
we obtain that great boon for our state p
Did we get those votes by belching aboh-
ii1nism against the North No no; we g1t
them by nppeaing to the justice and the fra
ternal feeling of our northern brethren, and
TO which we never appealed once IN valn.-
Who, IN the last hard trial to get the Chcro-
KEGS out of Georgia, gave US fourteen aiiir-
native votes to balance seven negatives from
the South, and saved the treaty by one vote z
And |, who was engaged in part Of these
Transactions, accustomed to solicit northern
votes aud express thanks for them, will not
now return them evil for good by attempting
to deprive them Of their share of a comprom.
Use which We imposed upon them.
NOBODY WANTS IT TO PASS AT THE SOUTH.
1t is now four months since this movement
for the abrogntion of the Missouri Compton,
Use commenced in this Congress. 1t begaI
without a memorial, without petition. with
out request from a human being. II has
labored long and hard IN these halls aud to
this hour there is not petition for IT FROM
the class of states for whose benefit the
movement processes to have been made =
not word 10 its favor from the smallest pub
lie meeting or private assemblage Of any
slave state. This Is the response of the
South to this boon, rendered To 1t by north
ern members, under northern President
1t is the response of silence more emphat
&c than words-and worthy Of especial note
in this debate. II argues well for the har-
mony of the Union, and goes to show, (what,
in fact, has been often seen,) that the troub-
les OF the country come from uneasy poiti-
clans sits safety from the tranquil masses.
The Gadsden Treaty as Il Passed The SEN
die.-W ashington, April 25. The Gadsden
treaty, as amended, was ratified by the
Senate 10 day by vote of 30 TO l3.
Mr.. Bells amendment with reference b