The daily union., 1854-03-02
SPEECH OF HON. DANIEL MACE,
OF INDIANA /;

Delivered the House OF Representatives February IL.
1854 agains, the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
as proposed the Senate bill organize the Terrific
res OF Nebraska and Kansas.
The House being in the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union
MIR. MACE said
Mr. CHAIRMAN propose to offer few remarks in
opposition to the feature contained in the bill recently
roduced into the Senate similar TO the now pending
in the House, for the organization of the Territories OF
Nebraska and Kansas which contempaies repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise act
No one can regret than do that this unfortunate
and exciting question has been thrust upon Congress, and
consequently upon the country at large.
Ii has become quite fashionable and frequent in cer-
tain quarters, denounce all those who oppose repeal
OF the Compromise soits and abolition
iss but. sir, such cant has but little effect upoE me-
regard not, and shall continue, as always have, 10
treat II with contempt
In order tha, may be caechIsed is universally
the in the House. with regard 10 my past course con-
cernng the question OF slavery and the compromise acts,
proceed, as a notice 10 all, briefly to state my position
those subjects prior 10 the meeting OF the last Con-
gress which, however, need not be stated where nave
acted and am known
In 1s4s was acting as United States disc, attorney
Tor the State OF Indiana My democratic friends held
convention the seat OF government Tor the purpose OF
making the ordinary preparations for carrying on the
presidential campaign was not at that conventions but
was confined at home sick bed. My friends without
my knowledge consent selected me as one OF the
electors on the Cass ticket for the eighth congressional
district of Indiana Under the constitution Of the United
Staes II impossible iof me 10 serve as an eector and
ney Being anxious 10 promote the election OF General
Cass felt constrained, IN accordance with the wishes
OF my friends 10 resign The ofce which held under the
general 90 ernmen and 10 assume the position OF an
eiectof. | did resign took the stump In behalf oil
General Cass taking for my text as TO the question OF
slavery the position which he occupied in his Nicholson
letter not only made speeches in every locality within
the eighth congressional district OF Indiana but the deep
interest which felt in The canvass impeed me to make
speeches elsewhere throughout the State The contest
closed. By almos, superhuman effort we carried the
State OF Indiana for General Cass but he was defeated
in the Union
Al the next congressional nomination held in my dis
tric, my name was presented candidate for Con-
gress An ant-savery feeling sprang up IN that loca
y growing out OF the fact that the democrats there be-
eved that the South bad been unfaiihu TO Gen. Casss
election and had their votes for Gen. Taylor for the
reason that he large STAKEHOLDER, and a citizen oil
The extreme South. Purely because made speech
which the majority OF that convention supposed con-
tanned pro- slavery notions defeated in the nomi-
nation and they selected gentleman who in their opln
ion, would reflect distinctly the sentiments which
the members of that convention and the democrats oil The
district at that time entertained At the next nomna.
ting convention reaction, 10 very considerable ex.
tent, had taken place in The public mind on the subject
OF slavery growing out OF the adoption OF the Compfo
mise NV friends believed that had been unusty
dealt BY at the former convention and, with great
nimity, nominated for Congress over my compeii.
tor W ho was nominated over me two years before.
ia accordance with western usage, after being nomina-
ted, took the stump. endorsed all the compromise
measures, incl luding the fugitve.slave law ! went be.
fore my people in every locality, and urged them, with
all the power could command, to abide by those COM
promises II asmuch they final settlement Of the
slavery question My people believed with me that Y
pas final settlement and acted that belief them and
continue to act upon II now.
was elected 10 Congress by the usual democratic ma
iority During the last Congress- whenever the question
of endorsing the Compromise came up, | recorded my
name on The Journal OF the House in favor OF il, with
but one exception. When the vote taken on the
resolution declaring The Compromise hnaliiy, intro
duced by Mr.. Jackson, OF Georgia with the amendment
of Judge Hillyer, of the same State, absent On
that question my name s not recorded but so particular
not to be considered as dodgng that vote, which
was regarded important, that wrote a note to
the editor OF the Union, which was published the
next morning, stating that had voted in favor ol
bringing the House to test question every vote taken
while in my seat, and iha, necessarily abb
sent account OF sickness in my family, but had been
present, should have voted for the resolution intend
10 refer TO The resolution again before shall close my
marks.
During the excitement OF the presidential canvass,
took occasion to make speech in Congress in support
of the election OF General Perce and in that speech
dwelt at length the compromise measures and again
endorsed the whole OF them as dnality.
Thus far, presume, ! will not be charged with be
ing an aboliionis; and will here remark, that have
no epi,hets to heap on the South and shareholders
have no feelings Of hostility towards them They have
slavery in their midst, governed by their npnicpa
laws, and let them take care OF H. and do with it az hey
please. Ii is question which, conceive | have
no control or jurisdiction. | have thus, Mr.. Chairman
stated my position
/ will now proceed 10 show that the language used il
the fourteenth section OF the territorial bills for the
ganzaion Of the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas
instead OF containing just and truthful conclusion,
serts the opposite when il says that the Missouri-Com
promise net of March g. 1870, "superseded by III,
PRINCIPLES OF the gslaiion OF 1850, commonly called h
lcompromise measures" This is untrue, and is at wa
with the whole history OF the question OF slavery grow
ling out Of the Missouri Compromise and the Compro
mise OF 1850.
In order 10 demonstrate clearly my position, propos
10 quote The fourteenth section OF the territorial bills,
which have referred
$3.50 Ia That the constitution, and laws Of the Unite