The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-16


done 1t in Judgment in another place" Boa@ias Rep.
h SIC.
Thus i viii be that slaves recognised prop
er not only by the laws Of the States in which slavery
exists bui by the constitution OF the United States the
laws OF Congress and by the Supreme Court If then
slaves are recognised property by the constitution and
laws OF The country there can be doubt Of the right OF
the Shareholder 20 carry with him his slaves and hold them
lin any Ierritorythe property OF all--wheIe
there is no law 20 prohibit il
And this brings to the thrd objection which IS that
The passage OF this bill will produce agitation OF the slavery
Question This objection has heen urged in the country
with more elect than any other or perhaps, all Others
raised against The measure Agitation has been mannfae-
ured 70 order and then urged objection 20 the bill
am not one Of those sir who believe this Union will
lever be dissolved by the agitation of any question local
sectional or general
n deeply regret tile agitation Of any sectional question:
and particularly the question Of slavery which is eacula-
ted more than any other 10 begct strife, contention and
l-ieeng between the different sections Of country
But how ask 10 prevent IT, in this free country,
where every man has right 10 think he peases and
speak what he thinks?
Il Ii has been resorted 10 by the nboonists and free
soiier on every occasion since the foundation OF the gov
tcrnment, when amy measure pending before either
house OF Congress for the execution Of the guarantees OF
the constitution for the protection Of southern Institutions
Yes sir the agitation Of this question commenced with
the formation of the federal constitution and will in my
Judgment continue in form other long as that
constitution has an existence.
The passage Of the ordinance Of 1884, by the Congress
OF the Confederation produced no excitement in the coun
try Notwithstanding il excluded slavery from ali the ter
tritory northwest Of the Ohio river That ordinance
reported ny committee OF four, consisting Of one mem-
Der from New York. one from South Carolina, and Two
from Virginia, and was passed unanimously.
But under the articles of confederation the individual
colonies retained many of the attributes of independent
nations And hence having sufficient power to protect
themselves against aggresons from the conedcraed gov
eminent they had apprchensioiis from the passage OF
this measure excluding slavery from Territory the soil
climate and productions Of which made it probable that
slave labor in it could be profitable When, how
ever they to draw closely the bands Of union
and to part with most not the whole Of their nationality
the southern States demanded condition precedent
the recognition guarantee and protection Of the institution
of slavery This was granted, and the constitution
adopted by and became binding npon m the Suites of the
| Union
! Thus stood the question: so far us agitation
cerned, until the admission OF Louisiana in 1912.
lfgenemen Will 20 back to that time and examine the
records Of the country they win find that the hue
and cry was raised in opposition to the admission Of that
State into the Union is raised against the passage
Of this bill Yes sir il declared this floor by dis
tngused representative from the State of Massachusetts,
Hon josiah QUINCY then representing the Boston dis
tric that the passage OF that bill would free the States
from moral Obligation and, it would be Me right et all
it would be the duty of some TO prepare for separation
peaceabiy ghtey could torcibiy They must At si
And here sir ii worthy OF remark that the
who made this declaration in 49, is yet living, and
the most prominent actor al what was called the great
meeting in the city OF Boston, few days ago. 10 denounce
end oppose the passage of this bill
Louisiana was however admitted. and the Union was
not dissolved But two Years after and while this country
was engaged in with Great Britain convention,
composed of New England federass assembled in the
celebrated under the of the Hartford Convention
One Of the principal objects OF the meeting OF this
ton was TO procure amendment TO the constitution Of
w6ci nfi ~ as TO strike from II that provision
TO il provision requiring the concurrcuce sA
both branches Of Congress to the admission Of any
State into the Union Recommendations accordingly
made The several States This done not because Of
the sympahes Of the mebers Of the convention with the
slave in his bond condition but because of the additional
strength they gave to the South in the House of Repre-
sontaves in voting upon questions OF war; taxation and
cmbnrgoes
| Failing in this means, however to procure amend
ment TO the constitution to strike from II the pro-
vision which allows slave representation this floor and
10 add to Il provision which would prevent the admis
sion OF slave States into the Union the abouonists
resorted 10 appeal TO the sympathes passions and
preudices Of the people of the North in behalf of what they
termed the oppressed and downrodden slave of the South
and by their hypocrtca cry Of freedom TO the ensaved
enabled TO produce that intense excitement in 1920
and 1884, which created in the public mind much appre
henson and alarm for the safety Of the Union The excite
men consequent upon this agitation lasted about two
years and resulted in the passage Of the Missouri rerc-
ton OF 1920 and the Compromise of 1921 The question
was again settled, and the Union was not dissolved
From 1920 TO ls4s there agitation excitement
on this question apprehension in the public mind
SO soonhowever the fact became probable that the gov
ernmen would acquire territory from Mexico at the erm
nation of the late with that nation the same classes Of
individuals who had started the agitation all previous
occasonsthe aboitonsts and freesoilers Of the North
again raised what they called their banner Of freedom and
proposed 10 exclude the South from any participation in
the territories to be acquired from Mexico.
This agitation continued from s4s to 1850 and resulted
in the passage Of the compromise measures the principles
4 OF which are recognised in this bill
who will take the trouble 10 examine the his
tory and legislation Of the country this subject viii
that the agitation Of the slavery question every
sion when II has produced excitement and strife and
Cry discussion in the country since the adoption OF the
federal constitution commenced by the classes before
referred in the northern States and never by the
4 South
In all this controversy from the adoption OF the cons
tuition the preon me the South has asked for egis
laon on this subject All she asked be lei alone
in the quiet enjoyment Of her peculiar institution and
Observance Of the guarantees Of the constitution for the
protection Of that institution. And another agta-.
tion-another excitemcntis attempted and for whaY To
ntdatc the national legislature and TO prevent us from
passing law which believe to be right TO appeaso the
camor Of aboltionists in the New England States who
from the time Of The Hartford Convention In 1914 ye dc
erned To use every In their power TO weaken the
/ South in both branches Of the national legislature.
Il The gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. CHANDLER, In
his remarks to-day appealed 10 the wings Of the North
this floor TO stand firm in their opposition TO this
Sir they to pursue any other course IL would be in
consistent with the whole Of their past conduct in relation
to the question Of slavery II Is expected that this bin will
orn States This fact however which has been hcraded
by the opposition press throughout the country brings
crors 10 the minds OF the friends Of the bin Sir when
speak of the North speak Of it not section standing
In opposition 70 southern interests II has been said here
that the North repudatcd the Missouri Compromise and
attempted TO asen upon tho territory acquired from Mex
leo the Wilmot proviso These statements though true
without explanation may do injustice 10 that gallant band
of patriots IN the northern Sates who Notwithstanding
the dcepcated prudice Of their constituents naned by
the preaohngs and wangs of the liocs the Beecher The
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