Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-30
SPEECH OLE MR.. BLNT0N
IN OPPOSITION TO the RESTORATION OF tue MISSOURI
COMPROMISE.

COMPROMISE.
Mr.. Oliver, cf Missouri, by request yesterday
read the following bl.ot speech for Mr.. Benton,
prepared previous to his leaving the Capitol for the
North:
Mr.. Chairman; The member from Indiana Mr..
Mace who made the speech and gave notice Of
The motion to bring in the bill which gave rise to
the discussion, set out with declaring that it WAS
his intention to restore things to what they were
twelve months agO--tO restore the harmony OF feel
ing in this House, and IN the country, to what it
was at the conclusion Of Tie last session Of Con-
gress. This is u good intent, and the man who
b. can accomplish it will Justly be entitled to the
character Of Il public bencltctur bat | do not
think the measures he proposes will accomplish
this purpose; on the contrary, may make matters
worse which arc bad enough.
What are his measures? They are first to re-
peal the clause in the Kansas Nebraska act which
abulishes the Missouri Compromise line; secondly
to oppose the admission Of the state # Kansas
into the Union if she presents herself as a slave
holding state.
Now, | do rot think either Of these measures
advisable. even If practicable; and will give my
reasons for that opinion. With respect to the first
one, | DO not think it could be passed ut t&ia ses-
sion, and its agitation cunld only diSquet the set
tiers in Kansas, and perhaps rctard its Popu ation;
and with me, the rapid settlement Of the territory
is an overriding consideration, as promoting HlC
construction Of the central road to the Pacific.
and IS giving protection 10 e~migrants now travel
ling through the wild domain, without u road ct
any kind made by the government, and exposed
to murders and robbers, which the United States
military posts can neither prevent cor uycnge.
The present agitation IF the repeal could, there
fore, effect no repeal, anu might have a lal effect
upon the settlement Of the territory, ana cUnSe-
Qucntiy upOn the contemplated rOa0 and upon the
facilities due TO the emigrants. And these cotsid-
e%rdtions, | think, might disposed Of the motion for
the present session. Vt the next | think,it will be
ripe Tor n state government, and he dCmlnding
admission into the Union. The member from
Indiana then proposes to resist the admission if
she has established slavery. This, in my opinion
will be resisting a right, holding MS | do, that the
state will he entitled to admission (having the 9th
cr requisites) with or without slavery as she pleas
es. And this not 10y virtue of any act Of Congress
to that effect, nor even lay virtue Of the coEstitu-
tion-l mean All inherent right Of state sovereign
(. ty, possessed Before the constitution WAS made, not
surrendered TO the federal government when it
was made; and, therefore, retained by the states
, add to this q treaty right 80 the same effect Kan
I sas is a part of the former province Of Louisiana,
q acquired by Mr.. jefferson, and has right under
/ that treaty to he incorporated in the Union as soon
: as it can be done according to the principles Ct the
: federal constitution. The third article OF the trca-
Il ~ i explicit to that effect. THc right Of the state
- to admission will be absolute under her sovereign
= ~ and the treaty without any regard to her conSti
tuition in relation to slavery.
MIR. Chairman, there was elimination, and re
q criminatiol. the other day, on this subject between
the member from Indiana and my colleague from
! the Northwest District. Mr.. Oliver The mem
| Der from Indiana charged that citizens Of Missouri
had crossed the line to vote in Kansas at the iatc
/ delegate election. ! believe both were about right;
= aud ~ to this stimulated emigration, | had my
=. opinion Of it ut the time it was announced, and
: made known that opinion to some members of the
eastern states now present, and that 1t would pro-
! lupp IrpciSply the object th If has ippu Sppu-rUtlSp
and eXaSperatc the people of the Missouri frontier.
and lead to the scenes which have occurred. Why
:. did | think SO? Because J know something oi
4 human nature, and that foreign interference is a
+ thing which it will not endure. OF this, Missouri
has been once before a signal instance. At tho
time uf the formation Of the constitution it WAS
f. question among the people y whether the constitution
4 should he expressed or silent on the subject of sla
very. Fulcign interference decided that question
and occnsioacd n clause TO be introduced prohibit
ing the legislature to emancipate slaves withou
the consent of the owners. J, an enemy to the eX
tension of slavery, was the chief promoter Of tha
clause. Aud why? Because foreigners, that is
o citizens Of other states, had intericred and agita
II ted the country and filled it with IL great disturb
ance and for the sake of peace, and to prevcH
L. the annual recurrence Of such a1itations. | dceme
~ it best, land that became the opinion Of the con
n vcntion, to cut up the evil by the rOot-to take tn
subject away from the legislature-and cons,
qucntly to exclude il from our elections: whic
n was done. Ali tue state, ullucf lIlaJ cliStllull'I
ga al inhibition, had been free from the slavery agit,
III ton until carried there in year 1929, and furthe
+, innamed by the events Of the past year. ! WA
- not a member of the convention which framed Il!
,s constitution, but promoted The INTERCHANGEABLE
clause and | mention my own case PARTICULAR
~ that, being opnOsel to the extension Of slavery,
o. vet i~nstigated n provision against enamel patton, t
81 prevent foreigners from coming to agitate us; an
# verify believe, if it had nut been for that lntel
Ie ference, the constitution would have been silcr
,. on thai subject. This is an instance of the effect
- of foreign Interference in the same state, and Of
40 the same sdhjCct; and what is now taking p!ac
a ON the western frontier Of that state is only n ne,
n manifestation Of tie feeling which prevailed i
nci the wear 1880? And such is human Lature, ant
in all relations Of life, both as individuals an
: communities. A stranger cannot interfere in
family dispute without uniting the family again'
~ him, nor in n state dispute without mining til
n, state against him. What has happened, and wa
forseen by some and deprecated at the time.
condemned that society emigration at the time
~ and there are members now present TO whom
- fOretold its bad effects, such as have been seen l
bo everybody. If any emigrants came from the fire.
~ states in the usual Nay, they would be kindly an
respectfully received; but sent by societies, thC
-, would meet with i'll will and opposition. And
think the recriminatior of my colleague is bat
, fair set of to the elimination Of the member fro
ne Indiana, and this is all | have to say, confirm
"a myself, as | do, to the two measures proposed by tt
~ member from Indiana, and condemning his rem
dies. while auplauding lis desire 70 cure the di
ease his desire to put an end to agitation, and !
~ store the House and the country to the happy sta
70 of tranquility and fraternal feeling which preya
ne ed twelve months ago, and which has been SO
= mentally, and, | fear, so durahly impaired.
no AMERICAN ME1UODISM ILLUSTRATE,