The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1854-03-01

~ ne Csmmittes a. Territories, - !
speeding the power II legislation over
the subject VI slavery.
II i Supposed, by gentlemen on
bosh sides sf the Chamber. nat he
amendment made yesterday On the !
motion Of the hanarsble Senator from
IlIia0is. gives an entirely Objectionable
character IL the bill. and We are in
soked 10 refuse "a give IL our sanction
because Il involves a sissatisn a. the
plighted faith sf he nation. tits said
ihat this provision is repeal OF the
Missoari compromise that TO repeal
the Missaari compromise is 20 violate
\ common understanding By which
different portions Of this country be-
came bound 60 each other thirty years
ago; aud that. therefore. We cannot
adopt that provision consistently with
the principles Of good faith. II that
were so. 1. for one. say. without hesi-i
tation. that nothing can be comprn-
sation tn us for the violation of the
principles If good faith; but then we
have 10 consider whether any such VIC
Iaiion is involved in the bill. | pro-
pose TO show that it is not, and that
the language Of the amendment. as in
corporated into the bill, is true in fact.
and that the consequences deduced
from il in the particular provision is a
just consequence; and that the decla-
ration that the Missouri compromise is
imperative and void" is the appro-
priao method and language which
should be used for the purpose Of pro-
ducing the effect designed BY this mea-
sure.
Ii becomes necessary. ia order that
should do this. TO recall the atten-
ton OF the Senate somewhat 20 the ma
iure and history Of the Missouri com
promise.
Sir, the nature OF that compromise
has been. think. signally misunder.
stood. Itisan aciof legislation, to the
language of which il is necessary to re.
cur, in order to understand with clear.
nessitsintendcd operation and effect. II
is the last section Of the act passed ON
the 9th day Of March. 1920. entitled
San act to authorize the people Of
the Missouri Territory to form con-
stitution aud State government, and
for the admission Of such State into
the Union on an equal footing with the
original States. and 10 prohibit slavery
in certain Territories" The act au-
thorized the meeting of convention
ia the month Of June, after its'passage.
TO consider the prupriety of adopting a
State constitution aud il the conyen-
ton should deem it proper to adopt q
State constitution, and il that consti.
tuition were republican in its terms,
according to the Constitution of the
United States, the State of Missouri
should be admitted upon an equal
fuvting with the Original States, and
then, at the concluson Of the act, comes
his section:
Sec. g. Ind be IL further enacted, That ia
all that territory ceded by Frinre 10 The United
States, under the name of Louisiana, which lies
north Of 36o 3U north latitude, mt included
within the limits Of the Stale contemplated by
this act, slavery aud involuntary serviIude, other
wise than in the punishment Of crimes, whereof
the parties shall have boon duly convicted, shall
be, and is hereby, forever prohibited; |rorided
always, Thala any person escaping inioth same
from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed
IN any State or Territory of the United States
such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed. and con
vcyed 10 the person claiming his labor OF seivc,
as aforesaid
Nv honorable friend from Connect
cut, Mr.. Smith,, in the argument
which he offered here, said that thi.
prohibition was, upon the face Of i
intended to apply to territorial crgani.
cations, and not to States. Now,
say that it is plain that it was intended
toappIy to all organizations OF govern
ment, States or Territories. In the
first place, the expression is "all thai
territory" What territory? Not ;
territorial political organization, no
portion or district Of country, il
whicha political government had beer
establish under the authority of tn,
United States but obviously the wore
territory" was used in the sense o
land or domain and it meant all tina
domain which the United States &C
quired BY cession from France unde
the name Of Louisiana. In regard I,
all that territory, or all that domain
what is the provision Of this section
"That slavery and involuntary sersl
tube shall be-, aud is hereby, foreye
prohibited" without reference to an.
mutations in the political condition 9
the domain, but it is to be ioreve
prohibited
Again, aside from the absurdity q
surprising that this strong and empha
tic language. forever prohibited,
was intended to mean 8" until they be
come States" how, upon any systei