The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-05-12

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towns. The inhabitants were attached 10
that property, and wished 10 retain il, a,
leas, temporarily; and also 10 invite a
slavehoding emigration, untilan increase
of population should form an adequate sup
ply Of free labor and they psiiiioned Con.
gress accordingly. The petition came from
a convention Of the people, presided over
BY Governor Harrison, and only ssked for
The suspension Of the anli-slavery part of
the ordinance for ten years, and limiied in
its application 10 their own ierrilory.-The
petition was referred 10 select committee OF
The House; Mr.. Randolph was chairman,
and received an answer in report in these
words
"Tha, the rapid population Of Ohio suf.
ficien,ly evinces, in the opinion OF your
committee, ,ha, The labor OF slaves is not
necessary 10 support the growth and settle.
ment Of colonies in tha, region, That this
labor, demons,rably The dearest OF any, can
only be employed 10 advantage in the cul.
,iva,ion of products more valuable than any
known in that quarter Of the United States !;
tha, the committee deem il highiy danger
Gus and ineYpedient 10 impair provision
wisely calculated 10 promote the happiness
and prosperity Of the northwestern country,
and 10 give strength ard security 10 that
extensive frontier. In the saluiary opera
ton of this sagacious and benevolent res.
,raint, il is believed that the Inhabitants Of
Indiana will, at no very distant day, find
ample remuneration for temporary priva-
lion of labor and emigration.
This was the answer OF the select com.
mi,iee; and ii became the answer Of this
House just fifty years ago-when the South
was about as ably represented here as il
ever has been since, and when It's relative
strength was greater than il has ever been
since. The answer is perempiory refu-
sal 10 yield TO the petition Of the people of
Indiana, even for a Ten years local suspen-
sion of this anli.slavery clause: "Highly
dangerous and ilexpedient TO impair that
provision.h Yes, to impair that is the
word and il is refusal 10 weaken or les
sen, in the smallest degree, an act which
the committee calls benevolent and sa.
gacious act" and which they recommend
10 maintain unimpaired because il is zeal.
culaled 10 increase the happiness and pros
peIity Of the northwest, and 10 give strength
and security to lis frontier" That Con.
gIess-and that without division between
the North and South-would not impair an
ac, Of SO much future good 10 posierily, no,
even upon the mistaken application OF a
few present inhabitants. T,.. '
But this was not the end of the petitions.
The people OF Indiana were not satisfied
with one repulse. They returned 10 the
charge and four times more, in the course
OF as many years, renewed their applica.
tions for the ten years suspension OF the
ordinance. 1t was rejected each time, and
once in the Senate, where the North Caro-.
lima senator, (Mr. Jesse Franklin) was
chairman Of the committee which made
the report against il. Five times, in as
many years, rejected by Congress; and The
rejection the more emphatic in some instan.
ces because il was the reversal Of The
House OF a favorable report from commil
Tee. And now, what inhabiian, by Indiana
does not rejoice at the delverance which
the firmness Of Congress then gave them
in spite Of the request of its inhabitants fl.
,y years ago.
Thus fivo times in the beginning Of this
ceniury-fve different times, and without
any distinction between northern and south,
crn MEMBERSHIP Congress refuse 10 "im.
pair" the slavery compromise OF 1887, not
wilhstanding five times asked for by The
people Of the territory. Oh, sgua,ter
sovereignty where were you them II was
a case for you 10 have shown your head
TO have arisen in your mighi-and esiab.
lished your supremacy forever. II was a
case OF convention of the sovereigns
themselves; and neither this convention
nor the Congress had dream Of their soy.
ereigniy. The convention peiiiioned Con.
gress as a ward would its guardian, or
children under age would petition their
father, and Congress answered like good
guardian, or a good father, that il would
not give them an evil, although they beg.
ged for il, Benigh,ed times these, and in.
linitely behind The present age. The mares
nest had not then been found in which has
been laid the marvellous egg out Of which
has been hatched the nondescript fowl,
yelept "squa,ier sovereignty" Laughter
The illustrious principle Of non-inlerveniion
had not then been invented. The ignora.
muses. of that day had never heard Of IT,
though now TO be learned in every horn.
book and, believe nowhere else but in
The horn.books. Renersd merriment.
HOW IT Is PROPOSED TO DISTURB THE
COMPROMISE.
Five times in the beginning Of this cen.
,ury did Congress refuse 10 mpair the slav-
cry compromise OF '87; and now, in the
middle OF the century. and after thirty years
Of peace under the Missouri Compromise
the offspring and continuation Of '87-we
are called upon, not merely 10 impair for q
season, but 10 destroy forever, q far greater
compromise-ex,ending 10 far more terrific.
ry, and growing out Of necessities far more
pressing. And how called upon! Not BY
The inhabilants-not by any one human be.
ing living, or expecting 10 live on the terri
tory TO be afected-but upon mo,ionl in
Congress--a silent, secret, limping ,halling,
creeping, squin,ish, impish motion-con.
ceived in the dark-mi1wifed in commit
lee room, and sprung upon Congress aud
the county in the style in which Guy
Fawkes intended 10 blow up the Parliamen,
house, with his five hundred barrels oi
Cuupowder hid in the cellar, under the
wood. .[Laughter. ." .'i
NV answer TO such motion is 10 be
found in the whole volume Of my political
life. Iihaye stood upon the Missouri Com
promise for above thirty years, and mean
to stand upon il to the end Of my life; and,
in doing SO, shall ACT, moi only according to
nv own cherished convictions Of duty, 'bu,
according 10 The often declared convictions
of tho General Assembly Of my S,a,e. The
inviolabiliiy Of that compromise line has Of.
len been declared by that General Assem-.
bly,; and, as late as 1S47. in,hese words
"Resolped, That The peace, permanency,
and welfare of our national Union depend