The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-12

hoe out VI uiuNi VIII
nit correction.
Mr. SMITH If the gentleman will not take ii out Of my
time shall be very happy to let him interrupt
i Mr. GlDDlNGS The gentleman will find that my
ory WAS greatly increased beyond the year before and
vastly beyond any ever given, either before since
Mr. SMITH Well my recollection is that the gentleman
mad obtained majority Of four thousand and that he only
got majority Of two thousand that occasion Atany
rate the gentleman did not get the resolutions repealed
lie came back here and had the grace actually to ask Con-
4 gress to repeal the resolutions.
Mr., GlDDINGS. Does the gentleman to make
such an assertion ~ that upon this door2
/ The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Virginia
yield TO the gentleman from Ohio?
/ Mr. SMITH. No. sir do not And, instead Of getting
the resolutions repealed the proposition received with
loud laugh and that thought to be the end of it.
/ Mr. GlDDlNGS. never made such proposition.
Mr. SMITH The gentleman from Ohio did not make
the proposition but Of his colleagues did, presume
with his consent However, let that pass.
Well, sir, was going to remark, that up to 1920
there was peace and since that period there have been dis
cord and distraction, and was utterly amazed when
heard gentleman who has lived through the whole Of this
period Of time since the introduction Of the Missouri resc
ton proclaim that there had been peace Why the gentle
man has figured in many storm and peril since that time
in connexon with this question of slavery and late
as 1850 most prominently and with his characteristic dis
tncton and ability Nor as he let it alone but
late as 1852 he upon this question, shall show
before close my remarks. Sir MS saying, this has
been the battle-ground upon which this question has been
fought well recollect the of l84 1912 and lS43
upon this floor Why sir such the active ncendiary
character of the antsayery sentiment originating in this
particular restrictive clause and encouraged by it into life
invasion of the sacred character Of the Post Office
mission Yes, sir they scattering all the
try ncendary publications. agitang the subject Of sa
yer and in way and form disturbing the repose and
peace of the country Nor that all. A great State
sent her missionaries into southern States, for the
purpose of raising questions to the consutonalty of
their police laws She issued manestoes all the States
Of tho Union arragning the States Of South Carolina and
Louisiana in consequence of their in reference to
those agents And the struggle of 1850 growing
Of attempt to put an end to this question, and which
shook the columns of Union to their very foundation
originated in this Compromise OF 1920 and it was then
hoped and believed that the adjustment then arrived at put
end to the question: and forever Yes sir; daily
told in solemn and impressive tones by of emnence
and distinction, that this Missouri Compromise the Pando
ras box OF this republic has brought peace and quiet the
! country
In 1920 however contrary to the brief constitutional
view which have presented of this queson--contrary
to the undoubted right of Missouri under the constitution,
when she applied for admission into the Unon which she
did in 1878 and then in 1919 what the then
pursued by the Northi The question of her admission
opposed by gentlemen representing slave interests,
by gentlemen from the North who took ground against
her admission unless slavery was prohibited within the
limits Of the territory acquired from France and who
qured that such territory should be forever afterwards
kept free from the influence Of slavery This the prop
osition have not time 10 refer the resolutions admitting
this Territory for the purpose of showing the truth of
what now state but am well aware that have
cason TO do SO, because the matter has been ably dis
cnsscd by the gentleman from Georgia Mr. STEPHENS and
the gentleman from Alabama Mr.. PHlLLIps as to com
mand my unqualified admiration. Their arguments
cred the whole ground, and their demonstrations
to this subject at any great length and shall only do
in very brief and rapid manner
What was the purpose and motive OF this movement? ?
Was it humanity No Was II for the right of the negro
Mo- II was for political power and humanity TO the negro
the under which il sought give strength
and interest the struggle IL is well known that the
northern and the States rather New England
States particularly, hostile for half century, at
least TO the growth OF the West and to the increase Of
western and southwestern interests. This hostility was
mboded in form by the Hartford Convention and in 1920
in the Missouri debate What did Mr. Rufus King of New
York say upon this subiect2 He says hnt interest
ought to be put into competition with political power fit
was as one of the original parties TO the compact he felt
himself in honor bound not to submit lie said
over that the admission OF Louisiana itself made new
oopfedcracy compaot and If the attempt extend sa
very beyond the Mississippi succeeded the people OF the
North ought not TO submit for any interest whatever
Yes sir here is gentleman acting under instructions and
who had taken oath to support the constitution Of the
United States, actually proelaming that il would be
matter Of honor for him TO disagree its sacred provisions
advert TO this because wish the committee and
try TO understand that this thing originated in love Of
justice and humanity, but in desire for political power.
This was the motive Of the orgnators ayowed by the
great men Of the North, and especially by Rufus King Of
New York; gentleman whose opinions always COM
manded the highest degree Of respect We all rccoect the
| close of this struggle
Well sir Il thought at the struggle had closed with
the passage Of the act Of 9Th March, 1920 And sir what
was this act2 Il consisted Of eight sections Of which
almost copies of other laws which had been passed
in relation TO the admission Of other States into this Union
There not in these clauses single reference
contract or compromise, agreement And il is little
has been said Is section which irrelevant to the balance
Of the BILL TO It's previous section and under the rules of
this House understood that section if offered under
similar circumstance would be ruled out not in order
say to this committee that il is remarkable fact that that
section wholly Independent of the legitimate object Of
the bill What had Missouri to do with the restriction
slavery IN the country outside Of her limits Why
say, that such bill that up, and this prop
osition submitted, by way of amendment the Chair
would rule IL wholly irrelevant to the body OF the
bin and the purpose for which the bin introduced
/ Now what the purpose Of the bill Of 9th March,
lS202 1t was TO allow TO Missouri permission TO form
constitutions and, If she furnished to Congress eydenos
that she possessed population sufficient Justify her adj
mission into the Union u the duty Of Congress not
only TO allow her the permission she asked but also TO ad-
NIT her into the Union upon equal terms with the original
Satesl repeat 1.-THE duty of Congress TO admit her
i Congress has power 10 withhold admission into the
Union Of States formed out of the territory Of the Union
with the requisite population provided such States have
in the language OF the constitutions republican form Of
government "New States may be admitted by the Congress
into this Union My here shal ton wcll-estal-
ished principles known 70 every intelligent lawyer and
statesman and within the limitation Of requirement be-
fore specified imposes obligation which Congress can
not constitutonay disregard II is not beneficial 10 the
Union for the government TO hold provinces even II con-
additionally competent to do but II Is beneficial TO adj
NIT States and Congress therefore, before stated must
admit them.
II Well Mr. Chairman this provision this eighth section
was inserted in the and the gentleman from Missouri
Mr. BENTON in his speech tho other day saysand be-
eve he says in his Thirty Years in the Senate that
that proposition compromise was imposcdyes sir he
said so in his speech the day before yosterdaygas n-
posed upon the North by the South Sir utterly deny
the correctness Of that historical statement The gentle
men 10 whom have refcrrcd-ihc gentlemen from eoroo
aud Alabama, Messrs STEPHENS and PHnhfslhave de-