The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-21

ever by the agitation OF this dangerous subiectthai
memorable period, sir when Congress- for the first time
in history, undertook TO dictate domestic Institutions
10 an Incoming State.
MIR President when this delicate and dangerous ques-
lion first presented in the American Congress, II
northern movement against coun'eIacing southern
movement. The object of that movement was to say 10
Missouri, when she had the requisite numbers TO Do nd.
mtted Slale--when the Territory was originally
sayeholding teniorywhen the institution OF domestic
slavery already exised-he object was 10 say to that
State You shall not be admitted into this Union unless
by your own power, you forever abolish slavery within
your limits II Missouri had not come INTO the Union
she had sci up independent state. and knocked al
your DOORS and you bad refused her adattance ii she
had adhered 10 that institution and had come here and
said 10 you II We come in, come IN as coequa State,
with coequai sovereignty with every other State, and you
had insisted upon that dclaion, where would she have
| been and what would she have beeni State outside
OF The Union or in the Unioai foreign State, or .
State under the constitutions There was there dlfcut
and dangerous question and may be permitted to say,
with the best light have, that il tins confederation
which controlled the ultimate action and produced ut
maiely the well-known resist But sr,'what was this
proposition II What is almost universally ad-
mtied 10 be unconstitutional proposition. 1t was
usuIpalion OF power the part OF this government 1t
was an unconstuonal exercise Of power to undertake
TO Say to that STATE You shall not come ias this Union
unless you will frame your constitution we shall die
tate 10 you this elcae subject The attempt failed,
and il up again 10 another form, aud that was the
form in which il adopted, Here Territory ly-
ing north OF Missouri unnhabted, not likely to be occu
pied for great length OF time and me men who s,rug
4
South, not deemins II perhaps very important. allowed
the ac, pass Many OF then,-perhaps majortycon.
CURED in the passage OF it,
But this act as have already had occasion remark,
assumes the power OF debating Jreper domestic lnsti-
tuition TO that Territory and in that respect that law.
say more is clearly unconsiituonal and ought not
to remain upon the satute-book The act was against
what have shown TO be the constitutional principle and
policy OF this government universally applicable. and
designed to be applicable the action Of this govern
ment throughout and which did, in fact, apply to every
portion OF the original territory OF the United States the
Of Columbia and was not until you had acquired new
territory under the treaty making power that the govern
ment undertook depart from it, and TO exercise unlmit-
ed and despotic power over American citizens.
Now, sir with regard to that act, is said TO be COM
pact and that claim is pressed here by gentlemen Who
from the year 1920 down to this tmehose Iepresenedby
hem they themselves since they have been the stage
OF action-havc denounced unconstitutional exer-
else OF power Indeed, remembeI sir in my own state
that OF the senator's who voted I'M some stage Of tue
proceedings for this act. had the foune--which has
fallen to the distinguished senator from lllinosof being
burnt in hgy But he did not forfeit the confidence OF
The community by aIIude to it only to show that this
very act, which denounce containing an unconsltu-
ona usurpauon OF power, is now vindlcaied by those
who have always opposed il and denounced u Il mas
become their favorte Sir, acknowledge that DO not
Ike the act because II purports 70 prohibit on one sde
OF that description under this government have moi
been sent here TO have my principles bounded by par
alel OF latitude have not been sent here 70 look only
prevail aud TO close my eyes to the other section Of
the country. where does prevail. and where it did prevail
when our fathers united in setting up this common gov
ernment have not been sent here TO represent frac
ton OF this great country, TO close my eyes TO its broad
expanse and TO shut them against s future destiny
stand here, American senator; and without fear
favor, without regard anything but my constitu
ona duty, propose 10 act upon this subject and every
subject with strict regard 10 the equal rights OF every
portion OF our common country.
Now, sr you look al the act, you look at the rec
ord OF the act you will find compact there but you nd
act OF ordinary legislation accompanied by an under
standing Gentlemen from the North, and gentlemen from
the South in Congress, this the other branch ct that
me came TO an understanding that they would endeavor
in future legislation, 10 adhere TO division OF this kind
do no, ike that division any other division OF terri
tory under this government except division into States
where the constitution has drawn the line Now, if there
that understanding it is not compact binding on the
present Congress it does not paake OF the nature OF
compact and if you leok into the history OF that PERIOD
Mr. President. you will find that at that day 1t was
not regarded as binding compact, or as an honorable
compact although. TO certain extent there was this un
des,andng The very after this act was passed.
when Missouri presented herself for admission into the
Union, precisely in conformity with its terms, almost the
whole Of the North voted against her admission II there
compact, here attempt TO impose terms.
refer TO it, showing that the who upon
the stage a, that day did no, look upon in that light
| Well, sir. as you come down TO ls47, you find that
there motion made 10 The House OF Representa-
lives the 18th OF July, lsI7, by Mr. Burt, OF South
Carolina, 10 amend the Oregon bill by inserting the
words "inasmuch as The whole OF said territory lies
north OF 80 deg. 80 min north aii,ude known as the
Missouri Compromise ne," reason for introducing
clause into that bill prohibiting slavery and it vo-
Ted down by vote of l3 10 S2-ihe ll3 being princi-
pally northern men, and the 50 principally southern men,
II was upon the Oregon bill it upon part OF the ter
ritory that embraced within the louisiana purchases
and then the North would not admit that il should
be assigned simply reason and they utterly repuda-
ted il reason when the very restriction that
was introduced into that bill itself founded the
Missouri restriction
Again when in the Senate similar amendment was
adopted presented, believe, by the honorable senator
from Illinois, Mr. DoucLAsl undertaking TO continne
that ins the Pacific and ii went 10 the other House,
the South voted to concur but the North went against
il, and il again repudaied Then, sir, the question
came before the President upon the bill containing simply
that restriction and II presented TO that pure ana
upright paifio in whose time events occurred which
must forever render him and his administration ilustr
Gus speak what know when say that no question
was presented President Polk which embarrassed him
so much the question that arose upon that oregon
bill On the hand was ;Se unconstitutional nature oil
that reslrcon and on the other this understanding,
that then been utterly repudia,ed, and which the
South believed should carry that compromise line to the
Pacific And for the purpose Of preserving that
line, and moi seeming disturb IL that bill was al
lowed 10 But on signing il, he used the language
which was read by the honorable senator from Delaware,
| tMr CLArros.] He said:
"lt upon these considerations that at the close OF
last session, my sanction 10 the principle OF the
Missouri Com promise line, by approving and signing tho
bill to establish the territorial government OF Oregon From
desire the harmony o the Union, and
in the predecessors felt constrained
TO Weld my ncauiescence, the which they had
gone In com promising this delicate and dangerous
ton But il Congress shall the decision by
which the Missouri Compromise effected, and shall
south well north of the parallel OF % deg 30 min,
l,yl o n aud be regarded