Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-25
TO TIE EDITORS.

GENTLEMEN The pretension that the Missouri compro-
mise superseded by the legislation of 1850 to
have been abandoned The provisions Of the Texas
nexation act and the New Mexico actthe first reaGrm
ing the Missouri compromise, and the second declaring
the Texas annexation should not be thereby i'm
paired qualied-not only bring the nsw doctrine Of
supersedure into dsrepute in the estimation Of the intel
igent and the just but show that the Missouri compro
mise was in many words preserved by the legislation
| of 1850
The only pretenson now remaining to be resisted by
the opponents Of the proposed repeal which is urged by
4 the public press the public mind that is at oil
worthy pr examination, is that the Missouri compro
mise was and is unconstitutional. II that be So then
Congress has the power and the right and it is their
duty repeal It, unless subsequent events have impaired
to this Law rrepealable sanction. This pretenson of
the advocates of the repeal assumes that the law Of 1920
commonly known the Missouri compromise, is uncon
stitutona 1t has not been so declared by the judicial
authority Of the General Government The Missouri
compromise is the twin sister Of the ordinance of 1877
likeness, though not Of the birth but yet whilst
the Missouri compromise is the undispnted child Of Con-
gress it is equally certain that the ordinance Of 1887
the adopted child OF Congress Soon after the ordinance
Of 1857, and when many If the same men who framed
the Constitution in Congress- they adopted sup
plement to the ordinance. Ohio and Indiana ad
mitted into the Union upon the express condition that
their constitutions should conform to the ordinance Of
i 1887. So have other States been admitted Thus we
have the solemn act Of Congress- and the absence of u
dical Reproduction and contemporanoous exposition and
long acquescenc aad the practical action of the United
States IN undenabe array IN support OF the constitutions
atty Of the Missouri compromise This is not quite all
if indeed any individuals conduct may with propriety be
brought into this array of higher evidences When in
1913 President Polk Democratic Southern slavehold
ing President communicated to the House of Represen
tayes the fact that he had approved and signed
establish the Territorial Government of Oregon
he assigned his ch reason and the only constraning
nducement the profound and unbelievable Difference due
by himself and his country to "the Missouri and Texas
! compromises
Yet, and notwithstanding ell, at this later day, and
with no thicker to protect the pretenson from the
piercing winds OF the patriots phlosophic scorn is
sought to repeal the Missouri compromise assumed
ground of its unconstitutionay. And must the long
established and acquiesced in" Compromise to use Mr.
PoLKs language in his special message of August a.
ls4S give way to punctilious worship of strict
construction of the Constitution? If it is principle
which must be observed that governs them, what will
they do with the purchase Of Louisiana II the principle
is MEMORABLE and appeasable only by repeal at all ha
yards then Louisiana must be given and back out of
the Unon and the exclusive right te the navigation Of
the Mississippi be surrendered and the boosted glores
of the memorable Sth of January Of battle
the soil of State of the Union be Slotted out and
celebrated longer. MIR. JEFFERsoN the author and
defender of the measure, admits in letter of August
II, 1909, that it unauthorized" by the Constu
ton, and that the Executive, in sezng the fugitive
currence of the opportunity Of making the acquisition
of Lousiana (which much advances the good of the
country have done act beyond the Constitution The
grafaJrs, he said, very willing to pluck feathers
from MONROE, although not fonu OF SUCKING them IN
LSasToNs coat whilst, he said, each of them had
rendered peculiar services in accomplishing that unau-
thorized" act =
II the Missouri compromise be repealed still the pur
chase Of Louisiana will be >the way Of the principle
that will not endure unconstitutional acts.
PUBLIUs.
PETERSBURG (vA.) Fee Is, 1854.
GENTLEMEN have attempted with all possible brevty
chiefly by stating facts to show off in their true coors
Al. ~ 49, .ry
the Missouri Compromise. The Texas and the New
Mexico prove by their express and most explicit and
imperative provisions that was the intention Of Con-
ress and not to qualify or mpsir the legs
laop of 1920 The unusual special message OF Presi
dent Polk in 1913, when he approved the Oregon bill,
proves his profound appreciation Of the solemn and
cred obligation resting and abiding the General Gov
eminent to refrain from infringing the legislation of 1920
That firm stand taken by Mr. Polk when is considered
that he Democratic slave holding President cannot
this time rightly fail to be regarded wearing pc
cuarly potential import unless indeed, all past events
honor Of truth and justice to be utterly disregard
ed and the imaginary future interest OF former priri
ege oycradow the hitherto received and reverenced
opinion in this country that it is much meaner thing
to be unusy great than honorably good am unable
to comprehend how those who will forget the memories
Of the past and fail to be true to them feel genuine
attachment to principle of no "richer blood than they
am unable to comprehend how they who will forget to
be just and true claim to be impeed by DEVOTION
in this matter to the nobler principle Of
which is the only other groud which it is sought tc
declare the living compromise of 1920 inoperatiye and
E void" word in examining this ground shall here
suffice. a. =
Now all admit that the principle Of sefgoyernment i:
Of great value in American politics Like other ngrc
dents and incidents Of civil liberty in the abstract thai
principle in its dfused enjoyment must yield to the posi-
tive provisions Of the constitution The practical eHee
and actual enjoyment scarcely co-extensve Will
the scope Of abstract principle. Behold the inhab
tants Of the ten miles square, DO they enjoy the
inesnabe right of representation! And must the posi-
tive provisions OF the constitution give way to diffusion
of the practical effects of this principle? 1t is idle fol
Of the South to insist the right of self
for the inhabitants Of the Territories, behoding, they
do the people Of the District bere Of the right Of
sentatioa, and making effort secure it for them
yet claim that it is rremissble duty principle which
drives them in behalf of lfgovernmcn for the nhs
biants of the Territories.
But suppose the compromise OF $40 declared inoper
alive and Void, would the inhabitants of the Nebrasks
and Kansas Territories be RENTED to lfgovernment
Let it be shown that the practical effect of the abstrac
right Of scfgoverment would be difused to my valu
able just extent by the repeal Of the Missouri Compro
mse and then the advocates Of the repeal this ground
may make the claim that they to that extent impel
led by principle, and that their design is merely
excite the popular preudices the subject Let it b.
| confessed that il would be well enough TO apply th
principle Of self government TO any wlyacquired ter
ritory If there any such, that the inhabitant
should decide whether slavery should be introduced
or excluded and yet the objections to applying thu
principle Territories which have already been parcel
led out freeso to the slave power abide unaffected
and il Is insisted should abide il for other
on either side, for this both Sides by the
sent of each in Difference TO the others rights il b.
tfa thao Il.