The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-06-22

peal Of such acts differ in principle iron
the repeal Of the eighth section Of the &C
of March 6, 1920. Is it in the fact tina
! the Missouri compromise was intended as
mere temporary enactment to settle pend
ling difficulties, without any intention on tn
part OF these who enacted it that it shoul
! be, and forever remain, the supreme law Q
the land Sir, | should dislike to imputt
such motives to the statesmen Of 1920
should hesitate long before making sucl
reflections upon the memories Of the illus.ri
ious dead. | should tremble for the honor o
my country, if made to believe that such wa:
the intention Of those who composed the
Congress Of 1920. No, sir; crisis hac
arrived in the history Of the country
struggle arose between the slave interesl
on the one part, and the advocates of free
territory on the other. The pending ques
ton being, shall Missouri be admitted into
| into the Union as slave State ! The prop.
osition called out spirited and angry debate
Men lashed themselves into fury, and then
as since, advocated disunion, and made all
sorts Of threats that they never intended tC
carry into execution. In the midst Of all
/ this excitement, this " bitter end" warfare,
! there We're men equal to the emergency
who, forgetting every thing but the danger
that surrounded, came forward in spirit OF
amity, and agreed that Missouri should be
admitted as slave state, and that all terri
tory north of 36deg. 3omin should, for ali
time TO come, be and reman free from the
institution Of slavery. That agreement be-
came an enactment Of the American Con-
gress, was placed in your statute book, sent
forth to the world, aequiesced in BY the
States Of this Confederacy, and became a
compact between this Government and the
citizens north of the said line Of 36deg
3omin., who had, or have since, settled
and acquired rights under it. And main
tain that, so long as man can be found
north of that line who is unwilling to ad-
nit slavery there, YOU cannot abrogate your
contract, or violate the rights OF those to
whom the good faith Of this Government
stands thus pledged.
Let US transpose the parties supposed t.
be at issue in this matter, and see, whose
.s. bull gored the OK Suppose that the act
of 1920 had said nothing about the territory
north of 35deg. 3oInn., bat bad enacted
that all territory south Of that line should
be open to slavery, and. when admitted into
the Union, might come in as slave States.
Our southern friends take possession Of the
territory take with them their slaves
their property. Confding in the good faith
f pdf d5f"tetF tetF ffgna ct%aff6Rt %af6 ug steansfsn
those rights were in danger from legislative
assaults, they suddenly find rampant non
Iinterventionist from the sunny south report
ing bill repeating the act, or declaring it
!. noperative." What response might we
1 = brafh
Mr.. Chairman, had rather imagine the
scenes that would probably be enacted iE
this Capitol, than witness the reality. The
South might well claim, under such state
! Of things, that Congress, by the act. held
out such inducements as authorized men to
take their slaves into the Territory and
even a repeal Of the act could not etiee'
their rights, and deprive them OF the power
Of holding their slaves. or invoking the It'd
Of the laws and officers of the Government
! in reciaimng their fugitves. Congress
might disregard those rights, but the courts
of the country could not.
| Mark you, sir, that in 1920, that part OF
the Louisiana purchase norh of 36deg. 80
min was uninhabi,ed by white men. and
consequently, without government The
| Congress of the United States had the sole
and exclusive jurisdiction over it, the sole
right to legislate for those who might sub
seq emily settle there; and by that leglsla-
ton every man who set foot npon the Ter
rjtorv was bound Then. sir, | maintain
that the legis lation of 1890, excluding sla
very in this Territory, became part OF an.
organic law that this Congress might subse
quently extend over it, and that no ruth
less hand or young America" progress
can frame an excuse that warrants this
proposed direct interrention with the rights
| of a portion of The citizens of this Republic
| Mr. Chlirman. have listened to no speech
upon this subject with more interest than
! did to the remarks of the gentleman from
MARYLAND, (Mr. FRayKL1N.) He; sir, met
the question like statesman and when a
legal proposition presented itself, he argued
it as such without attempting TO betog II
with defamation. Tie gentleman very
properly remarks:
.lt tbccomcs us - look hc legal consequences Of th
bill boldly in the face. and 10 meet them IKE men
am mol OF that school Of politicians who are Niing 10
leave this matter judicial tribunals OF the country
with the express understanding that they do not de
eide with us they wldissolve the Union. ! am Wi
ling 10 leave ill., better for WORSE TO the course
my country; and therefore wish acone 70 ts exam
ina OF its judicial CONSEQUENCE Win AZ. e:nes @
and cearness Of comprehension which us great imp
tance 50 emIentl. demands"
Yes, sir, let us "look the legal conscquen
ces Of this bill boldly in the face and II II
: he true, as contended for by gentlemen II
both ends Of this Capitol, that the " "Ailsscur
lCompro,nse" is and was unconstitutional
] let us send it to the judicial department o
this government, where it belongs, and no
I again agitate the intervention Of sount
] heads and warm hearts to present to us an
: other compromise.
f The gentleman from Maryland has mos
] Clearly demonstrated, in my Judgment, tina
: slavery is mere municipal regulation,
! and so held and treated by the founders o
( this Repubic--so adjudged by the hghes
judicial tribunal ofthe land. Tread from nj
speech:
-. Mr. Writ contends that Indians are naturally en-
aided 10 freedorr-so are nci But this does no
ur.yeat their being slaves. admit the night 10 maA
them slaves must depend upon positive ihstiatloh :
oar right is founded the uet of isseinoi. iof y"
. h.,t.r ROY erAulent Of servants and slaves,
Thus where II was 10 the interest OF ms eaus
Ma, n,int n,.,l the natural right to hold human o
inssa, slaves, he eeneedes the poih., ana D"se
hrra alone il eau never stand upon The POSITIVE u
] Hiei pal regulation OF eleh saiF'N 'N"''i ~ " r -.
II think sir have demonstrated tiiat me Ia" y "a
lpever carry slavery into the TERRITORY Oh Ne
rassa and Kansas or maintain and protect II whe
; there Southern gentlemen need mol .
J .,Iny that faierng nnction 10 thc!r sonts. 49,,
p IL proceed NOW 10 sho" mat luin as ttS !" u ~,
,pet Is to be expected from the Constitution OF VI
lfuitd States That blessed Instrument Wilt ProWt
sl.yrry and the rights OF shareholders, whertNef
cyiss. Wberey er the municipal laws oi any otate
rrrrtary recognize, tits broad ags WI! DC eH1ehue
but il IS powerless to establish and "Aase'e
ay H., he sentiments Of The North "s 10 the eAtei