Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-04
SPEECH OF MR.. STEPHENS,
OF GEORGIA,
on THE NEBRASKA UFSTION


The House being in Committee of the Whole OF
the state of the Union
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia. said was very anxious
day before yesterday Mr. Chairman when the gentleman
from Vermont Mr.. MEAcHAM) and the gentleman from
New York my left (Air FESToN addressed the House
upon the subject of the Nebraska BILL to make some
marks upon the Same subject in reply to them desired
to do 80 at the me but the opportunity not afforded
And though have lost of the ardor Of feeling
which the occasion then excited yet think important
that these positions should be answered. and is for that
purpose that rise to address the committee to-day.
assure you shall be as brief as possible
The gentleman from Vermont, Mr.. MEAcHAM) if IN
dersood the train of his argument opposed the Nebraska
bill, as presented to the House. mainly upon the ground
that declares the eighth section of the act of 1870
paratory the admission Of Missouri into the Union
State, imperative because it is inconsistent with the
principles Of the Of 1885, known the compromise
Of that year This eighth section Of the act of 1920 is
that clause which, without any relation to the State of
Missouri prohibits slavery forever from all that part Of
the territory acquired by the Louisiana cession outside Of
Missouri north Of So So north latitude The argument
of the gentleman consisted of the following series of
sumptiols:
First That that restriction or prohibition was in the
nature of compact, or contract, as he called it.
Secondly That it had been continuously adhered to
from that time to this.
Thirdly That the measure now proposed would be a
violation of that compact.
Fourthy That this breach Of good faith would be
tended with disastrous consequences the peace, quiet
and repose of the country. '..
This sir was the outline Of his argument. Now, Ipro-
pose to take these positions and show to the House.
if not to the gentleman himself that in every particle
they untenable. .....
In the frst place that that eighth clause of the
preparatory the admission of Missouri into the
Union restricting slavery north of $50 30 never was
compact II had any of the requisites charac
terstics of compact. 4 compact between whom? Be-
tween the North and South?
Mr.. MEACHAM l used the word contract" not
'compact." .r... ....
Mr. STEPHENS. The gentleman from Vermont used
the word contract said but others have used the
word compact" and, in this connexion, they both
about the thing But what was about to
affirm is, that that great Missouri compromise which
Mr. Clay proposed and with which his fame is identified
had nothing do with this restrictive clause of the
of 1920. That compromise Mr. Clay's 1ras in the
ture Of compact" 1t compact between the
General Government and the State of Missouri | am
that the general opinion this subject is very
This Mr.. Clay fully explained in 1850 The
idea is that Mr. Clay the author of the pro-
Inhibition Of slavery north of 3Go 3 but such is not the
fact. lie did not vote for it, That proposition
came from gentleman from Illinois. The compromise
that Mr.. Clay offered afterwards Its history is
this The people of Missouri under the act of 9th March,
1920, went on and formed State constitution which
contained clause authorizing the Legislature to pass
law to prevent the mmig ration of free negroes and
when application made for admission State into
the Union Congress refused the admission unless that
clause should be expunged 1t then that Mr.. Clay
brought forward his measure. Here it is .s".
Resolution providing
certain condition.
OF nra n Crs ase That Missouri shall be admitted into
whatever. upon
the section of the third article Of the Constitution
sruod 70 authorize the passage Of any law and that no law shall he
States this Union shall be excluded the enjoyment
the The and Inn ns e which such rem entitled under
Of the said STATE solemn public act shall declare the assent of the
Presden the United States fourth Monday
whereof the President by rroamaon shall anncaneo the fact
shsreGen and Without any further on the part Of Con
deEed as complete. JoHs "; TAYLOR,
Sa'afe q The Ho .IanS q ! 5 20 sSn
President Of he Ss,'a.f, pro sso,,ne.
Approved, iIarch =, 1891 JANIS MoSnog
This proposition when submitted to the people Of Mis-
souri, and acceded to by them it may very pro-
pery be called compact" for there parties to
1.-THE General Government side and the people
of Missouri the other both agreeing to it. But not
with the eighth section Of the act referred to there
were such parties to it that nothing but law,
with greater sanction than other statute that may
give place to subsequent legislation. There was no com
pact about it. Missouri gave her sanction to it,
She could not have been any party to it, She had nc
right the territory outside of her limits She had
power authority to make any compact concerning it.
But the gentleman argued if he considered this
eighth section of the act Of 1920 fixing thene of 800 3
north of which slavery should be forever excluded and
which is commonly caledthe Missouri mpromse line,
contract between the North and South the parties
Hon. then, stand the facts upon this point of view How
did this eighth section get into the bill of 1920 1t
in this way the North insisted upon restriction against
the admission Of Missouri State which required her
to abolish slavery within her limits condition prece
dent to ner admission The House passed bill with such
restriction, to which the South in opposed In
the Senate, on motion by Mr. Thomas of Illinois, that
clause containing restriction the stricken
out and this eighth section inserted in lieu of it. The
South in mass opposed to the State restriction
have said; but many Of her members-a majority Of
two beeyevoted for the substitute the lesser ev
of the In this way the substitute carried
amendment to the bill. This amendment agreed &c
in the House by vote Of l3i TO A. Among these Il
noes be found the Of several of the most
prominent men Of the South In .his way this line Of
$50 so incorporated in the bill of 1920 preparatory
to the admission of Missouri State. And to this
tent, and other, it be called compromise,
tract, compact 1t literally forced upon the South
sagreeable alternative by superior numbers and in
this way went upon your atuebook any other laa
passed by majority of votes So much then, SIR fol
this compact" contract. Now let see, in the
cond place how is has been fulfilled adhered from
that day to this.
The gentleman says it has been acqucsced in and
formed 10 for thirty years. and he asks, with much
lemnty, if about to violate and ahrogae it!
have shown sir, that the South in party
to this Congressional restriction north of $50 30/, excep
yanquished party, being ouyoted the direct oues
ton protesting against it with all her ght and power
Yet, sir, Notwithstanding this and Notwithstanding
large majority Of her people from that day to this as
think may safely affirm, have held that clause Of the
Missouri act to be unconstitutional, it based upoI
the principle Of division Of the common territory be
tween the free States and slave States Of the Union 70
the sake of pence and harmony the South did patriot
oaly yield and willing for all time to to abid
By it say mas because Of This 90 Missouri compromise
and the principles upon which twas founded it may
be said " LRilaa faiL"