Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-02-03

Missouri COmprOmise.

horizon az suddenly AZ the small cloud before
the eyes of the prophets servant. Like that
it bctakencd storm The mutterings Of the
Tempest are already heard on every side.
W neither like that it will bring relief to
burthencd with sore evil may be
doubted. The fear is that it will only ex-
tend it and make its influences more disas-
trous.
Most Of those who took the deepest interest
in the contention which preludcd the admis-
sion of Missouri into the Union, have left
the busy scenes of life, and new generation
has come forward, The discussions which
are Ia come inevitably on the Nebraska bill
will we think, be better understood by many
of our readers, if some Of the remarkable .
points of those which filled the public eye and
ear for two years or more before the Missouri
question WAS disposed Of, shall be brought
before them. Some facts can he applied
more truly now perhaps than they could then,
and tho people Of these days may thus see
more easily where their danger lies.
By Treaty with France, April 1903, in con-
sheraton of paying to that Power &C, 00O, 900
francs and agreeing to pay to American citi-
zcns their claims against France to the
amount of 20 600 900 france more, the United
States acquired IA complete and uncmhar-
raised possession of all what was then called
Louisiana. 1t took i'll all the country between
the Mississippi River and the Mexican Pro-
vinces on the west. In transferring her
Al, e., ,I,.,,. ,l.y 4 ,,,l
tanto, mostly Spanish and French, then in the
territory, France made this provision in the
Treaty.
All 5 The inhabitants Of the coded Territory
sail be incorporated in the Union OF the United
States, and admitted as soon possible, according
t. the principles of the Federal constitution to the
enjoyment OF all the rights, advantages and immune
tics of citizens of the United States and in the mean
time they shall be protected in the free enjoyment Of
their liberty, property and the religion which they
profess.
Probably that clause did not cost the Com
missioners who formed the Treaty an hour S
time ; but it has been made a cause
throughout the country.
The Southern part of the country so ac-
quircd, was soon made the Territory Of Or
leans, and in 1911 became the State Of
Louisiana. The portion north of that was
called the Territory Of Louisiana till 1912. 1t
was then called Missouri Territory. In De-
cembor 1878, Congress was memorialized for
leave to form constitution for part of it,
to be admitted into the Union as the State
of Missouri. The rest was to remain Ter
ritory Of the same name. In February 1919
the bill passed the House Of Representatives,
having had inserted in it after much earnest
debate, clauses prohibiting any further in
PRODUCTION of slavery and Involuntary scryi-
, tudc except Tor crimes, and providing that all
,, children born in the State after its admission,
lrohibitory clauses were voted Tor by mem
bers from the free States with few exceptions
, Those from the Slave holding States voted
} against them.
On the lth of February the bill went &c
. the Senate. The Senate struck out those
g rrohibitory clauses, and sent the bill back tc
e the House. The House refused to concur
Both Senate and House adhered to their res
, pectivc posi- ions, and the bill was lost.
+, To understand the grounds on which thu
n parties stood, it is necessary to go back few
years. Part of the country coded by France
y, had been admitted as a State in 1912, viz TIN
c State of Louisiana. From lands once within
n the chartered limits Of Georgia, Mississippi
If had come into the Union in 1877. Beior
the Missouri question was finally settled, Al
Il ALBANIA from the same land came in also. o.
v the south side Of the Ohio River, Kentucky
: from lands once belonging to Virginia, cam
J. mo the Union in 1872; and Tennessee, frol
:, lands once belonging to North Carolina came
n in in l7J6,-al without any restriction 0
g the subject Of Slavery and all became slave
q holding States. Why then WAS Missouri l
- he restrained from becoming 50 To explai
THIS we must 80 to the Ordinance of 1877, CT
acted 10y the Congress Of the old Confederate
j, for the government Of what was called III
.d Northwestern Territory, being the countr
'y lying North Of Ohio, and East Of the Missi
la silpi, and including also the peninsula
at Michigan. The sixth article is as follows
~ ART VI There shall be neither Slavery nor i
ne voluntary scrytudo in said Territory, othcrwi
lis than in punishment of c.jmc, whereof the par
or shall have been duly convicted, provided alwa
Ia, that any person escaping into the same from who
~ labor service :. lawfully claimed in any one
u the original Sat,s, such fugitive may be lawful
&c reclaimed, and conveyed to tbs person claiming
W, or her labor or service rs aioressid.
n Three States had been formed out of tn
"a Territory, Ohio in 1902, Indiana 1876, II
~ nois in lSlS-al before the case Of Nilsson
ne, arose. (Michigan did not become State t
on 1860 In all these Slavery was forbidden.
~ A glance at the map shows that +
'cy @cuth Of the Ohio is nearly opposite t
ke southern boundary Of the State of Nilsson
!ey If then, there were any reasons why t
~ extension OF Slavery should be checked
md all,--rcasons Of either National or State p
,ud icy, or reason. founded on the natural rigl
up. Of man, end the duties Of men to each othe
,ho ana il Congress had any constitutional pow
the to do 80, whore 50 sizing place to begin
4. II L A.