The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-27

and passed BY the legislature Of Kentucky prior 10 Jana
AIRY 22 1920
In passing the following resolutions the general assem-
bly, refrain from expressing opinion either in favor
against the principles Of slavery support and maintain
State rights which conceve necessary be supported
and maintained to the liberties Of the people
these United States II its solemn conviction
States already coniederated under constitution
have not TO deprvenew States of privileges with
themselves and from contest OF this awful
quenees to The Union may be apprehended Therefore,
Re'ogsd By he general assembly Of he Commonwealth Of
heaey That the senator's in Congress this State
instructed and the representatives be requested their
eors 70 procure the passage OF law to admit the people Of
Missouri into the Union State whether those people will
sanction slavery by their constitution or not"
In the face of this condition Of the slave question on the
Missouri debate Mr. Clay obtained the floor and the 9th
OF February 1920, the National Intelligencer informs
u.s. rose and addressed the committee nearly four hours
against the right and erdieny of the proposed restriction
To that restriction il is however insisted Mr. Clay con-
fined himself and it is necessary see what amendment
was pending when he addressed the committee The amend
ment was as follows:
And shall ordan and establish that there shall be neither
slavery nor Involuntary servitudc in the said State other
wise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party
person escaping into the from whom labor service
lawfully claimed In any other State, such fugitive may be
or her labor Or service as aforesaid And porded also
That the sa provision shall not be construed to alter the
condition OF civil rights of person now held to service
labor in the said Territory" r
Now, this amendment nboaed the principle of exclu-
ding slavery from all territory where ii did that
time exist excluded the further immigration of slavery into
i
mothers after the passage of the act So that necessarily
involved the whole question of slavery and the distinction
attempted by the gentleman from Tennessee Mr. CuLLoM
and the plausible article Of three columns in length of the
National lnteigencer is not perceived That the whole
question of slavery discussed both sides under this
particular amendment by all who spoke upon the subject
whose speeches have been published, does not admit
doubt and il would be most remarkable that Mr. Clay Of
al men, should in four hours speech have treated this
great and exciting subject in limited and restricted
But Mr. Cays speech hasnev been published (athough
full notes oft have heard in the hands of the ed
tors of the National Intelligencer and cannot from
such authentic source state the grounds he actually
pied; yet we refer to the gentleman Mr.. Sergeant
who followed him in reply not only to the grounds ta
ken by Mr. Clay but also the general grounds taken in the
debate refer to the conclusive evidence OF Mr. Sergeant
with the greater satisfaction because of his high standing
and conslmmatc ability and because for those reasons
this speech selected for publication by the Inteligen
Ger and Niless Register, where it be found
shall be excused for making copious from and
it will be borne in mind that the speech is headed by the
amendment referred to.
On the 9th Of February, 1920 Mr. Sergeant in a most
elaborate speech delivered the following sentiments state
ments, &c;
i Anotber member, the gentleman whom the committee
had lately listened with so much attention. Mr. Clay after
depicting forciby and eoquent what he deemed the prob
phacay to Pennsy the unambitious Pennsyvanin
the Keystone of the Federal Arch whether she would
i Union"
Il After suudry remarks, Mr. Sergeant proceeded:
steadfasty Pennsylvania holds the position here taken
she viii not onicousy obtrie her opinions her sister
causes % her gratitude, that sAs had Aee powr
!, rAeiiA fsery she VIII not this scsret
judge for Others though she will rejoice they too, should
have the power and feel the inclination whenever the
question presents itself in where she has right to
Judge trust she will be true TO her principles and do
her duty. Such take to be the before the
mittee.h
That is according Mr. Sergeant the now before
the committee was the power TO abolish slavery lie
proceeds
''we about lay the foundation Of a new State be
yond the Mississippi and to admit that State into the Union
TO enter compact with the new State at her
which shall establish fundamental principle Of her govern
brought 'sidlin the State shaa Je jrec"
essential by the principles Of constitution to the chaac
ter of State thsit should have the power Of originating
establishing, or pepeuatng the condition Of slavery within
But when am told that there IL silent dormant prin
cple in the constutona ulen power that forbids
check the extension OF ayery confess to you that nvo
UNFAIRLY shrink from the process Of reasoning by which II
dcduced and revolt nvoluntary from the conclusion"
Most Of those who have opposed the amendment hay,
agreed with us in characterixng slavery evil and
To 5e %% a" w e %ebsr pesp o *
tuck, who last addressed the committee Mr Clay rather
regroyes h friends G Tor m, unqualified admission He say
e MASTER and he challenges TO deny tha, fellow
c5sns Ds are ash. 4, gopsS a1 a. patriotic s T public
are all this, and even more"
Did Mr.. Clay discuss the general question
81 beg leave further say that do consider this
profit itisdisguise argue you villa qucs
ton OF the extension o sary. 1t l. question too not fo
the present only but for future and the glorious
ample Of our ancestors admonbes make the sacrifice
sacrifice be, would have the blessings or curses
poserity Why should spread acknowledged evil o.
f Has really considered the this doctrine
II leads directly 70 the esiobhcf Of acey throughout ~
norid The reasoning that viii Justify the extension
r tension to another"
owe told however, that ID Il n
diffusion, that is TO be the effect"
al confess that do not well understand the distinction
with all its odious features and n certain
w Is not) that their numbers would increased
s It would be at least impoitic But for what purpose
y this diffusion to be encouragedg"
by eplsrging the limits for slavery thus pre-
pairing the Tor its indefinite increase extension
the result will be 10 keep the present savehodng States sup
piled their wishes with this description Of population
70 enable them 20 throw on the surplus Nth oH IL yosue
aud riag roceirs hsS To what extent you will In th
increase the slave population IL Is impossible calcu
late but that you will increase II there be doubt
u Is equally certain that the increase win be at the expens
screyoi times referred beoro tMr Cayl iasss that tti eel
|. not be the coscN
end ~
ynue"an from Keapoy tMr. CayJ tints he sees ho'e o
,c rsry when hHs .pread, is a' iosf 10 fud ~ end"
D. ne question is, indeed, important one, but III i'm
pofnce derived altogether from It's copnexion with the
\ Of frcomen." ~
= Admit the state without restriction the power gon
no WIN y are forever gone all the efforts that hay
eeh maze py the nonslaveholdnp States
y ings Of freedom" ~ - ~ ~ -
II win be remembered that this Il tho frs, .tep beyon,
7 he msssppIthe state OF Louisiana exception, fol
M m nm naxtl