The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-20

q sUUEETN MOftnefn NJ,
commonly called eastern States and the southern the
influence slavery should exercise in the government
agree with the gentleman from Massachusetts Mr. Up
HAN who last addressed the committee that that struggle
did exist but must be permitted 10 differ with him
the ground upon which il existed and the concu-
sions which he drew from il do not find, in my reading
oil the history OF that time that the struggle settled by
compromise 10 give the Northwestern Territory 70 the
free States and the slayereeamaon clause the south
ern States The former was regarded and treated as al
ready concluded and fixed, and the struggle related TO
questions that yet remained to be settled What the
compromise made in the convention at that time think
can point 10 very different from that which
pointed by the gentleman from Massachusetts South
ern claimed that slaves should be included In the
meraon of persons upon which was 10 be based the ppor
tonment Of representatives Northern opposed this,
because as they urged il would give prepondeance 10
zouthern influence in the councils Of the Union, which
The idea that seemed prevail the tendency OF
population TO the savehodng States invited there by
the greater richness and fertility of the SOIL and that in
time not far distant they would acquire the larger proper
uon Of inhabtants Hence the struggle Ii then,
what is demonstrated that there antagonism
between the sections growing out Of the institution Of -
very The war had already commenced 1t threatened to
dissolve the convention and to remit the States 10 the
anarchy which hung about them like deyourng pesti
lence But again the spirit of fraternity ruled the hour
The South yielded something; the North sonething and
E2re resulted the compromise by which TO slaves the
three-ffths basis adopted
Can any suppose after reviewing the history Of that
strugglecan the gentleman from Massachusetts, suppose
that the South would have been willing to go st further
and yield her coequa right in the territory If
given up vast territory in the Northwest but notwith-
standing this evidence of her liberal purposes she
found herself engaged in controversy about the balance
of power in which it charged that by permitting her
slaves to enter into the basis of representation she would
obtain undue ascendency That the gravamen Of
the contest and have said something yielded by
both in the hope doubtless that if in the future
the other should gain ruling acendency she would hold
herself bound to the high motives and the same for
bearance taught by example Instructive and pa
| triotc
1t is evident to my mind from the history of that time
whatever may have been the feeling the fact year
two before mean when the ordinance of 1877 adopt
ei that he greatly misunderstands the position of the
South who believes she would have been willing concede
more than plainly appears upon the face of the compact
And il would have been strange indeed if the North fight
ing earnestly and vigorously against an apprehended
preponderang influence the part Of the South, had
been content to leave unrecorded anywhere the victory
since and alleged to have been in the concession
of the power claimed for Congress Sir she had no thought
that such victory was won between them was the
mutual trust and belief that they had arranged to live
together equals she still had hope lingering in her
bosom OF superior influence in the future she rested upor
that other hope which looked the gradual extinction OF
slayeryan extinction not 10 be effected by any act OF
hers, of the government but by the untra-
meed preference and act Of each State where il existed
maintain then, that the trainers of the constitution
seeing the eaousies and ambitions views which prevailed
feeling the necessity all fear Of these and all the
means by which they could operate and seeing that
Union could be formed sustained which did not reco
Mise the principle Of equality, wisely withheld from Con-
gress the power to interfere with that equality Had they
not done 50 their abors would have ended in failure and
the glory of their achievements in bursting the feers OF
foreign dependence would have been swallowed up in the
shame Of their incapacity TO govern themselves.
Let US now leave these great with their work fin
ished though not without the ven~ation and gratitude
which should mark mention Of them and 20 for
ward thirty years in the history Of the people for whom
they labored and suffered, and sacrificed. What
do we witness Here again. the anagonism between the
sections because Of slavery aroused and they
ed against each other in hot and angry strife On
side the lessons Of the past unheeded The memory
the per and trials through which their Liberties bad been
snatched from the grasp Of tyranny and through which
also the constitution had been thrown them
tie TO hide aye to smother jeaousies and ambitious pre-
tensions had faded away. Power not granted claimed
for Congress and the demand vehementy urged that
State should come into the Union shorn OF sacred right
which belonged 70 every otherthe right 10 regulate for
2 herself her domestic affairs and Institutions.
Will any man Of this day assert that when the people Of
Territory forming constitution the Congress OF the
United States nterpose and dictate the provisions they
shall adopt TO their domestic concerns Grant this and
the sovereignty Of the people Of the newborn State would
be but mockeryher equality with other States but
empty Yet these the rights full and complete
undoubtedly secured BY the constitution, and secured amid
The struggles and throes 10 which have anded threat
enng defeat the formation of Union What became
Of these rights in the minds Of those who for refusing
admission 70 Missouri until she without slavery
thereby denying 70 her people the privilege TO judge for
themselves what should be her internal poty Disre-
garded and contemned II they could have controlled
the action Of Congress Missouri would have into The
Union with her win thwared, her rights overridden, her
| sovereignty emAsculated.
II understand the position Of pariee now representing
every shade Of opinion in the country there bu
extreme aboitioniss who win deny 10 the people OF the
States Of the Territories when forming States the right
to adopt what regulations they please in reference sla
very and all other domestic relations This the doctrine
Of nonniervention which all agree 1t is the principle
which separates the local from the general government
mitted BY many Of the opponents Of the NebskaKansas
bill 70 be correct But how regarded when the effort
= made to prevent Missouri from taking place In the
Union If her people did not first abolish slavery? Why
e sir, as known only TO bc Tepudiated.
We have here however, the foundation Of the alleged
Compromise Of 1920. Northern seeking 10 impose
terms upon Missouri which few hold they had author
ity to impose and abandoning the effort for considera
ton which prohibited slavery north Of % deg 80 min
Yes sir ready 70 usurp authority not given, ready vio
late the constitution ready TO rampe under foot the sacred
rights most alonsy reserved 20 the States 10 the peo
III pie thereof they had the extraordinary beraty yiet
compromise by which she agreed press her de
sign provided the South would permit wall be bail
north Of which her citizens should assert the
rigusl Is this the compact we 80 earnestly et
hOred 10 maintain Indignantly warned not 70 violate
this the compact in which t4e South has received lie
share OF The consideration, and has only 10 let ID
North receive hers What H. The splendid boon
ernitSioH gracious pcrfaissOg to enjoy right ALREADY
hers and which could not bc taken away from Der wthou
violating every pledge upon which she consented 70 be
n come part Of the coniedcracy She might keep wa
y hers but not unless she would assign and par
with what would be hers future dayl Wonderful
y the justice Of such compact Not wonderful
though thsh 70 hear southern gentlemen raising thei
voices in this hall 10 bid reverence lis sacreanoss r
the south received nothing the consent Of the Nor
Of TO abandon her ageresons upon Missouri and upon h
territory south Of 50 deg 30 mn aud that consent ha
u been abundany shown by other gentlemen, would
have been observed bot for the sound patriotism OF IN
"a Spartan few whom have always found ready hgroica
II TO throw themselves in the breach