The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-07-04

Do forever regarded as maj adjustments OF
the slavery question. and of all tho issues which
could possibly arise out Of it. A new Con.
gross convened in December 1861. Repre-
sentativcs from slave states demanded renew
ed pledge of fidelity to this adjustment. 1t
was granted by the House of Representatives
on til. following terms
RESOLVED. "That we recognize tho bidding
of efficacy OF the compromises of tho constitu-
iion, and believe it to be tho intention of tho
people generally as we hereby declare it to be
ours individually, to abide by such compromis-
es and sustain tho laws necessary to carry them
out, the provisions for the delivery of fugitive
slaves, and tho act of the law of Congress for
that purpose included and that we deprecate
oil further agitation Of questions embraced in
the acts Of the last Congress, known as the
compromise and Of questions generally con
nected with the institution slavery, as unnec-
essary, useless and dangerous"
A fow months subsequently, tho Democrat
c National Convention met at Baltimore and
assuming to speak the sentaments of the Dom
ocratlc party, set forth in its platform: That
the Democratic party will rosist all attempt at
removing, in Congress or out of it, the agita-
ton of the slavery question under whatever
shape or order tho attempt may bo made
Soon aftcrward another national convention
right to declare tho sentiments of tho whig
party, said: "We deprecato all further agita-
tion of the questions thus settled as danger
Gus to our peace, and will discountenance all
efforts to continue or renew such agitation,
whenever or however made.' The present ad-
minstration was elected on the principle of
adherence 10 this compromise, and the Prcsi-
dent, referring to it in his inaugural speech
declared that tho harmony which had been
secured by it should not bo disturbed during
his term of office. The President, recurring
to the same subject, renewed his pledge in his
message to Congress at the beginning of tho
present session, in the following languages:
"But notwithstanding differences of opinion
and sentiments which there existed in relation
to details and specific provisions, .he acquies-
ccnce of,listinguished citizens whose devotion
to tho Union can never be doubted, has given
renewed vgor to our institutions, and restored
a sense of rcpose and security to the public
mind throughout the confederacy. That this
reposo is to suffer no shock during my official
term, if l have Tho power to avert it, those who
pl ICED mo here may be assured
Under these circumstances, tho proposition
to repeal tho Missouri Compromise was sud
denly and unexpectedly made by the same
committee on Territories, which only ten days
before had affirmed the sanctity of tho Missouri
Compromise, and declared the end of agitation
in the following explicit and unmistakeable
language.
"Your committee do not feel themselves
called upon to enter into a discussion OF those
controvcrted questions. They involve tho same
grave issues which produced the agitation. the
sectional strife and tho fearful struggle of 49,
so. As Congress deemed it wise and prudent
to refrain from deciding the matters in contro-
versy then, either by Affirming or repeating the
Mexican laws, or by an act dcclaratory of the
true intent of the constitution, and the extent
Of the protection offorded by it to slave prop
orty in tho territories, so your committee are
not prepared noD to recommend departure
from the course pursued upon that memorial
occasion, either by affirming or repeating the
eighth section of the Missouri act or by any
act declaratory of the meaning of tho consttu-
ton in respect TO the legal points in dispute
The abrogation has been effected i'm pursu-
anco tho demand of tho administration itslf
and by means of its influence in Congress. Iu
the House of Representatives, that body which
is more Immediately responsible TO the people,
the contest was more equal than in the Senate;
though it is duo to justice and candor that it
should be stated, that it could not have been
carried in either house without tho votes of the
representatives from the free states. The mi
nority resisted the attempts to arrest discus
sion upon this grave question, through strug-
gle oflonger duration thanany other known to
Congressional history.
Some attempt was made to stigmatize the mi
nority as "factionists," yot we fearlessly dc.
clare that throughout The contest they resort
cd $, lely to The powers secured to them by
the law and the rules of the House, and tho
passage of tho measure throughthe House was
effected through supervision of its rules by
tho majority and the exercise Of power un-
precedented in the annals of Congressional To-
gislation. The deed is done. It is dono with
a clear proclamation by the administration and
by Congress, that the principle which 1t con-
tains extends not only 10 Kansas and Nebraska
but to ell the territories now belonging to tho
United States, and to all which may hereafter
be acquired. 1t has been dono unnecessarily
and wantonly, because there was no pressure
for the organization Of tho governments in
Kansas and Nebraska, neither of which ter
ritories contains one lawful inhabitant who was
citizen of the United States, and because
there was not only no danger of disunion ap
pretended, but by this reckless measure, the
free States have lost all the guarantee for free.
dom in the territories contained in former com
promises, while all the States both slave and
free have lost the guarantees Of harmony and
uh'oh WhSh eheoo SoWPiouiiocs oHoluOu' ~
seems plain to us that, fatal as tho measure is
in these respects, it is only a cover for broad
propagandism of slavery in the future. The
object of the administration, and of many who
represent tho slave Statas, is as we believe.
to prepare the way for annexation Of half a
dozen of tho States of Mexico, TO bo admitted
also as slave States These acquisitions are
to be made peaceab!y, If they can be purchased
at tho cost of hundreds of millions. Ifthey
capnot be made peacefully, then at the cost of
war with Mexico, and war with Spain, and
war with France, and at the cost of an alli-
ance with Russia scarce less rcpugnant. Un-
pistakeable Indications also appear Of apur-
pose to annex tho eastern part Of San Domin-
60, and to snbjugate the whole island restoring
II 10 the dominion of savery-and this is to bo
followed up by on alliance with Brazil, and
tho exten,ion Of Slavery in the valley of the
Amazon. II is for You to judge whether, when
slavery shall have made those additions to tho
United States, il will demand unconditional
submission on the part of the FREQ states, and
falling in that demand, attempt withdrawal
of the slave States and tho organization Of a
separate empire in the central region of tho
oot nd nuo