Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-21

from the immediate discussion of the great
question it involved, afterwards, on the
motion Of Mr.. MERCER, of Virginia, its
consideration was postponed for several
weeks; all which, be il observed, is IN
open contrast with the manner in which
the present discussion has been precipi-
tated upon Congress. Meanwhile, the
Maine bill, when reported to the House,
was promptly acted upon. and sent to the
Senate. 'iH M 1l efe apilg1a8
In the interval between the report of
the Missouri bill and its consideration by
the House, Il committee was constituted,
on motion Of Mr.. TAYLOR, Of New York,
to inquire into the expediency Of pro-
hibiting the introduction of Slavery into
the Territories west Of the Mississippi.
This committee, at the end Of fortnight,
was discharged from further consideration
of the subject, which, it was understood,
would enter into the postponed debate
on the Missouri bill. This early effort to
interdict Slavery in the Territories by a
special law is worthy Of notice, on account
OF some of the expressions Of opinion
which il drew forth. In the course of his
remarks, Mr.. Taylor declared, that
He presumed there were no members, he
knew Of none, who doubted the constitutional
power Of Congress TO impose such restriction
on the Territories"
A generous voice from Virginia recog-
Missed at once the right and duty Of Con-
gress. This was from Charles Fenton
Mercer, who declared that
when the question proposed should come
fairly before the House, he should support the
proposition. He should record his vote against
suffering the dark cloud Of inhumanty, which
now darkened his country, from rolling on be-
yond the peaceful shores Of the Mississippi"
At length, on the 26th January, 1920,
the House resolved itself into Committee
Of the Whole on the Missouri Bill, and
proceeded with its discussion, day by
day, till the 28th Of February, when it was
reported back with amendments. But
| meanwhile the same question was present.
ed to the Senate, where conclusion was
reached earlier than in the House. "A
clause for the admission Of Missouri was
tackled to the Maine bill. To this an
amendment was moved by Mr.. Roberts, Of
Pennsylvania, prohibiting the further intro
duction Of Slavery into the State, which.
after fortnight's debate, was defeated by
~ nays to is yeas.
The debate in the Senate was of unusual
interest and splendor. II was especially
illustrated by an effort of transcendent
power from that great lawyer and orator,
William Pinkney. Recently returned from
a succession Of missions to foreign courts,
and at this time the acknowledged chief of
the American bar, particularly skilled in
questions of constitutional law, his course
as Senator from Maryland was calcula-
ted to produce profound impression. In
speech which drew to this chamber an
admiring throng for two days, and which
at the time was fondly compared with
the best examples Of Greece and Rome,
he first authoritatively proposed and de-
veloped the Missouri Compromise. His
mastery effort was mainly directed against
the restriction upon Missouri, but it began
and ended with the idea of compromise.
Notwithstanding" he says, " occasional
appearances of rather an unfavorable de-
scription, have long since persuaded N.Y.
self that the Missouri question: as il is cali
ed, might be laid to rest, with innocence
and safety, by some concihatory Compro-
mise at least, by which, as is our duty, we
might reconcile the extremes Of conflict
ing views and feelings, without any sacri-
flee of constitutional principles" And he
closed with the hope that the restriction
on Missouri would not be passed, but that
the whole question "might be disposed of
in manner satisfactory to all, By pros
pecfiue prohibition of Slavery in the Terri
tory to the north and oest of Missouri"
This authoritative proposition Of Com
promise, from the most powerful advocate
of the unconditional admission Of Missou-
ri, was made in the Senate on the 2lst of
January. From various indications, it
seems TO have found prompt favor in that
body. Finally, on the 18th Of February
the union Of Maine and Missouri in one
bill prevailed theree, by % yeas TO 81 nays.
On the next day, Mr.. Thomas, Of ILL.,
nois, who had always voted with the South
against any restriction upon Missouri, in
troduced the famous clause prohibiting
Slavery north Of SO deg. 80 min, which
now constitutes the eighth section Of the
Missouri act. An effort was made to in
clude the Arkansas Territory within this
prohibition; but the South united against
this extension Of the area Of Freedom, and
il was defeated by "a nays to 20 yeas. The
prohibition, as moved by Mr.. THOMAS,
then prevailed, by "a yeas to only 10 nays
Among those in the affirmative were both
tile Senators from each Of the slave States
Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Della
ware, Maryland, and Alabama, and also
one Of the Senators from each Of the slave
States, Mississippi and North Carolina, i'm
GLIDING in the honorable list the familiar
names Of William Pinkney, James Brown,
and William Rufus King.
This bill, as thus amended, is the first
Legislative embodiment Of the Missouri
Compact or Compromise, the essential
conditions Of which were the admission