The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-03-08


Texas passed. There was inserted in thai
a provision, suggested in the first instance
and brought before the House Of Represen
tatives by mys'if, extending the Missouri
Compromise line indefinitely westward
through the territory of Texas. Why did /
bring forward that provision? Why did
the Congress Of the United States adopt il?
No. because twas of the least practical in
port ance, so far as the question Of slavery
within the limits of Texas wa concerned;
for no man ever dreamed that it had any
practical effect there. Then why was il
brought forward? 1t was for the purpose
of preserving the principle, in order that Il
might exteded still further westward, even
TO the Pacific ocean, whenever we should
acquire the country that far. win here
read that clause ir the joint resolution foi
the annexation of Texas. It is the third
article, second section, and is in those
words:
"New States, of convenient size. not ex
ceeding four in 'nEmber, in addition to said
State Of Texas, having sufficient population
may hereafter, by the consent of said State
be formed out of the territory thereof, wniol
shall be entitled to admission under the pro
visions Of the federal Constitution. Ana
such States as may be formed out Of that
portion of said territory lying south Of 81
degrees f, minutes north latitude, common
ly known as the Missouri compromise line
shall BE- admitted into the Union, with OF
without slavery, as the people of each Statt
asking admission may desire. And in such
State or States as shall be formed out o
said territory north of said Missouri com
promise line, slavery or involuntary seryi
tude (except for crime) shall be prohibit
ed" @
1t will he seen that that contains very
remarkable provision, which is, that wher
States lying north of So deg. so minutes
apply for admission, slavery shal be prohib
tied in their constitutions. presume nc
one preteEds that Congress could have pow.
er thun to fetter State applying for admis
preserve the principle of the Missouri com
promise line, in order that it might after
wards be extended, and it was supposed
that while Congress had no power to impose
any such limitation, yet, as that was a com
pact with the State Of Texas. that State coult
consent for herself that, when any portion
OF the territory, subject to her own jurisdis
diction and control, applied for a constitution
is should be in particular form; but tina
provision would no. bs binding on the
new State one day after it was admitted in
to the Union. The other position was
that such States as should liz south Of 81
deg. 80 minutes should come into the Union
with or without slavery as each should dc
eide in its constitution. Then, by that act
the Missouri compromise was extended in
definitely westward, so far as the State o
Texas went, thatis, to the Rio del Norte
for our Government at the time recognized
the Rio del Norte as its boundary We rec
%. nizcd. in many ways, and ameng then
by even paying Texas for it in order that i
might be incuded in and form portion o
the Territory of New Mexico.
Then, sir, in lG43, we acquired from
Mexico the country between the Rio De
Norte and the Pacific ocean. Immediately
after that acquisition, the Senate, on my
OWN motion, voted into a bill pr DIVISION t
extend the Missouri compromise indefinitely
westward TO the Pacific ocean, in the same
sense and with the same understanding will
which it was originally adopted. That pro
vision passed this body by decided major
ity, think by ten at least, and went to the
House of Representatives, and was defeated
there hy northern votes.
Now, sir, let us pause and consider for 8
a moment. The first time that the princi
pies Of the Missouri compromise were eve
abandoned, the first time they we're eve
rejected by Congress, WAS by the defeat o
that provision in the House Of Representa-
tives. II was the defeat of that Missour
compromise that created the tremendou
struggle of 1850. 1t was the defeat of tina
Missouri compromise that created the neces
sity for making new compromise in 1850
Had we been faithful to the principles OF tn
Missouri compromise in l848. this question
would not have arisen. Who was it tina
was faithless? undertake to say it wa
THE very men who now insist that the Mis-
souri, compromise was solemn compac
and sheuId never be violated or departed
from. Every man who is now assailing tn
principles of the bill nnder consideration, 81
far as / am advised, vas opposed to th,
Missouri compromise in la&s. The yer,
men who now arraign me for q departure
from the Missouri compromise are the mel
who successfully violated it, repudAted it
and caused it TO be superseded by the com
promise measures Of 1850. Sir, it IL will
! rather bad grace that the men who proveC
false themselves should charge upon me ant
others, who were ever faithful. the responsi
biltios and consequences oftheir own trcach
iery. ea .a
: Then. sir, as | before remarked, the de
feat of the Missouri compromise in 1874
having created the necessity for the estab
) Iishment Of a new one in 1850, let US Sc
what that compromise was
The. heading feature of the compromise Z
1850 was congressional non.intervention a
, to slavery in the Territories; that thu
people of the Territories, and Of all .h
States, were to be allowed TO do as the
pleased upon the subject Of slavery, subje'
only to the provisions Of the Constitution 0
the United States. M
That, sir, was the leading feature Of Ii
: compromise uf 1850. Those measugel
therefore. ab lndoaed the idea Of a geogra
Z lphical line as the boundary between fire
Ststes and slave States; sbandonedit b
: cause compelled to do il from an inabilit
to maintain it; and in lieu of that, substitv
1ted great pr;ncip!s Of self-goyernmen
= which would allow the people to do as the
thought proper. Now the question is, whe
(, that new compromise, resting upon thu
! great Fundamental principle Of freedom. W.