Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11

host but ne now threw his great soul into the work
He objected to motion print the renort IN m
ground that 1t would imply q determination In En-
House to delay decision Of the subject to-day wbic
he had hoped the House was fully prepared for.n Tn
question then came on striking out the restriction in III
Missouri BILL The report in the National Intelligence
says:
"Mr Lowndes spoke briefly in support of the
recommended by the committee of conference and urge
with great earnesn9ss the proprety of decision which
would restore tranquility to the country, which was demand
ed by every consideration of discretion of moderation
wisdom, and Of virtue
"Mr Mercer, Of Virginia. followed on the same side will
great earnesness and had spoken about half wher
he was compelled by indisposton to his seat"
Such efforts pressed with Southern ardor, were moi
unayang In conformity with the report of the com.
mittee the whole question forthwith put at rest
Maine and Missouri each admitted into the Union
Independent States The restriction Of slavery in Mis-
souri, abandoned by vote in the House of 90 yeas
to 81 nays and the prohibition of slavery in oil Terri
tories north of $50 S0 exclusive Of Missouri was SUBJ
sttuted by vote of 134 yeas to AZ nays. Among the
distinguished Southern names in the affirmative are Louis
McLane Of Delaware, Samuel Smith of Maryland VIM
Lowndes of South Carolina and Charles Fenton Mercer
of Virginia The title of the Missouri bill was amended
in conformity with this prohibition by adding the words
"and to prohibit slavery in certain Territories" The
bills then passed both Houses Whout dDision and on the
morning Of the Sd March, 1920 the National Intelligent
contained an exulting article entitled "The Question
| Settled" NJ
Another paper published in Baltimore, Immediately
after the passage of the compromise indicated it as
perpetual compact which could not be disturbed The
language is SO clear and strong that will read it, al
though it has been already quoted by my able and most
excellent friend from Ohio, (Nfr. CHASE:
at true the compromise supported only the letter of
the la repeatabe BY the authority ohch enacted tho
Of The give this TAO equal
that Of positire proUisio the Constitution zoe do not
Both parties have sacrificed much to Cancellation
We 'ei,a q see .he COMPACT Kept IL good faith and trust
Of the country. s--yiies's Regster. -
q: -
oil from the South. As early February 1919 Louis
McLane, Of Delaware, had urged it upon Congress- by
some compact binding upon all subsequent
was in 1920 brought forward and upheld in the Senate
VIM. Pinkney, of Maryland and passed in that body
by the vote Of every Southern Senator except two,
against the vote of every Northern Senator except four
In the House welcomed at once by Samuel Smith
Of Maryland, and Charles Fenton Mercer of Virginia
The Committee Of Conference, through which it finally
prevailed, filed on the part Of the Senate with in
flexible partisans of the South such as might y repre-
sent the sentiments of its President John Gaillard
Senator from South Carolina the part Of the House
it was nominated by Henry Clay, the Speaker and Rep
resentatve from Kentucky This committee thus con-
stituted drawing its double life from the South was
unanimous in favor Of the compromise private letter
from Mr. Pnkney written at the time and by
his biographer shows that the report made
by the committee came from him:
The bill for the admission of Missouri into the Union
restriction as to slavery may be considered passed
That bill back again this morning from the House
ch the restriction Slavery The Senate voted to amend
it by striking cut the restriction 7 and proposed as
another amendment Tat Ihaue al along been the adrocae Of
restriction upon the racdt territory NORTH and West
sare Tonight the House of Representatives have agreed
to both Of these amendments in opposition their former
votes, and this affair is settled Tomorrow shall of
from our amendments to Maine four object
being effected and both States viii be admitted. This hap
py result has been accomplished by the conference Which
oas member on the part Senate aud which proposed
the report which has been made"
Thus again the compromise takes its life from the
South Proposed in the committee by Mr.. Pinkney, it
was urged on the House of Representatives with great
earnestness, by Mr.. Lowndes, of South Carolina and
Mr. Mercer Of Virginia. and here again is the most per-
suasive voice of the South When passed by Congress
next came before the President James Monroe Of yr-
gina for his approval who did not sign it till after the
unanimous opinion in writing Of his Cabinet composed
OF John Quincy Adams, William H. Crawford, Smith
Thompson, John c. Calhoun, and William Writ, o majo-
ry OF whom were Southern men, that the prohibition of
slavery in the Territories constitutional Thus vet
again the compromise takes its life from the South
AS the compromise took its life from the South SO the
South in the Judgment Of its statesmen at the time
and according to unquesonabe facts was the conquer
ing party It gained forthwith its darling desire the
first and essential stage in the admission Of Missouri az
slave state successfully consummaed at next SEES
and subsequently the admission of Arkansas also
as slave State From the crushed and humbed North
it received than the full consideration stipulated in
its favor On the side of the North the contract has been
more than executed And the South refuses to per-
form the part which it originally proposed and assumed
in this transaction With the consideration in its pocket
it repudates the bargain which it forced upon the coun-
try This, sir, is simple statement of the present
question
subtle German has declared that he could find here.
sizes in the Lords Prayer and believe it is only in this
spirit that any flaw be found in the existing obiga
ons Of this compact As late lS48 in the discussions
OF this body the Senator from Virginia. who usually sits
behind me- (Mr MAsoN but who isnot now in his seat
while condemnlng it in many aspects says:
Ye as It was agreed to compromise by the South for
the sake OF the Union ooud be the last disturb
Globe, Appenais, lss soth Cong Vol 10, p ss7.
Even this distinguished Senator recognised it as an obi
CATION which he would not disturb And though disbe
ievng the original constitutionay Of the
he was clearly right know, sir, that it is in form
simply legislative act but as the act of settlement in
England declaring the rights and liberties Of the subject
and settling the succession Of the Crown has become
permanent part Of the British Constitution rrepealable
by any common legislation this act under all the cir
cumstances attending its passage also by long acau-
escence and the complete performance Of its conditions
BY one party has become part Of fundamental law
irrepeaable by any common legislation. As well might
Congress ut this moment undertake to overhaul the ORR
gna purchase OF Louisiana unconstitutional and now
on this account thrust away that magnificent heritage
with all its cities, States and Territories teeming with
civilization The Missouri compact in its unperformed
obligations to freedom stands this day as prepnable
as the Louisiana purchase
appeal to Senator's about me not to disturb IT, an
peal to the Senator's from Virginia to keep nviolate the
compact made in their behalf by james Barbour and
Charles Fenton Mercer. appeal the Senators from
South Carolina to guard the work Of John Gailard and
land to uphold the compromise which elected the con-
slant support Of Samuel Smith, and was first triumphanty
pressed by the unsurpassed eoquence of Pnkney ap-
peal to the Senators from Delaware maintain the land
mark Of freedom in the territory of louisiana early
espoused by Louis McLane. appeal to the Senator'S