The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-24


scribing boundaries to the limitation of free
institutions, and Of slave institutions, by q
geographical line, in order to avoid all con-
troversy in Congress upon the subject!
Hence they extended that geographical line
through all the territory purchased from
France, which was as far as our possessions
then reached. /; was not simply to settle |
the question ON that piece OF country, but 1t |
was to carry out great principle, by exten-
ding that dividing line as far vest as our ter
ritory went, and running it onward ''on each
new acquisition of territory. True, the ex-
press enactment of the eighth section OF the
Missouri act, now called the Missouri COM
promise act, only covered the territory ac-
quired from France; but the principles of the
act, the objects OF its adoption, the reasons
in is support. required that it should be ex-
tended indefinitely westward, so far as our
territory might go, whenever new purchases
should be made.
Thus stood the question up to lS45, when
the joint resolution for the annexation Of
Texas passed. There was inserted in that
provision, suggested in the first instance
and brought before the House Of Represen-
tatives by myself, extending the Missouri
compromise line indefinitely westward
through the territory ,of Texas. Why did I
bring forward that proposition! Why did
the Congress Of the United States adopt it!
Not because it was Of the least practical
importance, SO far as the question OF slavery
within the limits Of Texas was concerned,
for no man ever dreamed that it had any
practical effect there. Then why was it
brought forward 1t was for the purpose OF
preserving the principle, in order that it
might be extended still further westward,
even to the Pacific ocean, whenever we should
acquire the country that far. | will here read
that clause in the joint resolution for the an
nexation of Texas. 1t is the, third
article, second section, and is in these words
"New States, Of convenient size, not ex
ceedng four in number, in addition to sale
State of Texas, having sufficient population
may hereafter, by the consent of said State
be formed out OF the territory thereof, which
shall be entitled to admission under the pro
l visions OF the Federal Constitution. An,
such States as may be formed out OF that por
tlon of said territory lying south Of SO 81
north latitude, commonly known as the Mis-
ouri compromise lne shall be admitted int
the Union, with or without slavery, as tn
: people of each State asking admission ma,
: desire. And in such State or States as shal
be formed out of said territory north of sal,
Missouri compromise line, slavery or involun
tary servitude Except for crime) shall be pro
hibited."
1t will be seen that that contains yer,
remarkable provision, which is, that whei
States lying north Of 36 80 min apply 70
admission, slavery shall be prohibited in thei
constitutions. presume no one pretend
that Congress could have power thus to fet
ter State applying for admission into thi
Union; but it was necessary to preserve tn
principle of the Missouri compromise line il
order that i; might afterwards be extended
and it was supposed that while Congress hat
no power to impose any such limitation, ye
as that was n compact with the State Of Tex
as. that State could consent for herself that
when any portion Of her own territory, sub
ject to her own jurisdiction and control, ap
piled for constitution, 1t should be in par
ticular form; but that provision would no. b.
binding on the new State one day after 1t wa
admitted into the Union. The other provis
ion was, that such States as should be soutl
Of SO Q 80 min. should come into the Union
with or without slavery, rs each should dc
eide in its constitution Then by that &C
the Missouri compromise was extended indie
fnitely westward, so far as the State of Tex
as went, that is, to the Rio del Norte; for on
Government at the time recognized the Ri,
del Norte us its boundary. We recognize,
it in many ways, and among them by ever
paying Texas Tor il, in order that t might bt
included in, and form aportion of, the Terri
tory of New Mexico.
Then, sir, in lSIS we acquired from Mex.
) leo the country between the Rio del Nurte
and the Pacific ocean. Immediately after
that acquisition, the Senate, on my own mo-
ton, voted into bill provision extend
the Missouri compromise indefinitely west
ward to the Pacific ocean, in the same sense,
and with the same understanding with which
it was originally adopted. That provision
passed this body by decided maority-I
think by ten at least-and went to the House
OF Representatives, and was there defeated by
northern votes.
Now, sir, let us pause and consider for
moment. The first time that the principles
OF the Missouri compromise were ever aban-
doned, the first time they were ever rejected
by Congress, was by the defeat of that pro-
vision in the House o! Representatives in
lSIs. by whom was that defeat effected.
By northern votes, with Free Soil proclv-
ties. II was the defeat of that Missouri COM
promise that re.opened the slavery agitation
with all its fury. 1t was the defeat of that
Missouri compromise that created the tire.
mendous struggle of 1850 1t was the defeat
OF that Missouri compromise that created the
necessity for making new compromise in
1880. Had we been faithful to the princi-
Piles Of the Missouri compromise in IsIs, this
question would not have arisen Who WAS
It that was iaithless! | undertake to say il |
was The very men who now insist that the
Missouri compromise was II solemn compact,
and should never be violated or departed from.
Every man who is now assaling the principle
OF the bill under consideration, SO far as am
advised, was opposed to the Missouri com.
promise IN lS4S. The very men who now