The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-03-07

Consent. The Ordinance was agreed to unan
imousIy. Virginia, in re-affirming hor cessio
of the territory, ratified il, and the first Con
gress held under the Constitution solemnly re-
newed and confirmed It.
In pursuance Of this Ordinance. the severa
Territorial Governments successfully estab
lished in the Northwest Territory wore organ
lied with prohibition of The Introduction O
Slavery, and in due time, though at successive
periods, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, an,
Wisconsin, States erected within that Terrific
ry, HI We come into the Union with Constitu
tions in their hands prohibiting Slavery and in
voluntary servitude, except in the punishmon
of crime. They are yot young; but, neverthe
less, who has ever seen elsewhere snch States
as they are! There are gathered tho young
the vigorous, the active, the enlightened som
Of every State-the flower and choice Of every
State is this broad Union; and there the emf
grant for conscience sake, and for freedom.
sake, from every land in Europe, from proud
and all-conquering Britain, from heart-broker
Ireland, from sunny Italy, from beautiful
France, from spiritual Germany, from chival
rous Hungary. and from honest and brave old
Sweden and Norway. Thence arc already
coming ample supplies of corn, whoat, and
wine, for the manufacturers If the East, for
the planters of the tropics. and even for the
artisans and armies Of Europe: and thence
will continue 10 come in long succession, rs
they have already begun to come, statesmen
and legislators for this continent.
Thus. il appears, Mr.. President, that il was
the policy of our fathers, in regard to the O.
rignal domain of the United States, to pre-
vent the introduction of Slavery, wherever it
was practicable. This policy encountered
greater difficulties when it camo under consid-
Grafton with view to its establishment in 70
gions not included within our original domain
While Slavery has been actually abolished al
ready, by some Of the emancipating States,
several of them. owing to the great change 10
the relative value of tho production of slave
labor, had fallen off into the class of non
emancipating States; and now the whole fam
lily of States was divided and classified as
slaveholding or slave States, and non slave
holding or free States. A rivalry for political
ascendency was soon developed, and, besides
tho motives Of interest and philanthrophy
which had before existed, there was now on
each sido desire to increase, from among the
candidates for admission into the Union. the
number of States in their respective classes,
and so their relative weight and influence in
the Federal Councils.
The country which had been acquired from
France was, in 1904 organized in two Terri
tories, one of which including New Orleans.
as it, capitol, was called Orleans, and the 9TH
er having st. Louis for its chief town. was
called Louisiana. In 1912, the Territory of
orleans was admitted rs new State, under
the name OF Louisiana. Ii had been an old
slaveh"lding colony in France, and the preven.
ton of Slavery within it would have been
simple act Of abolition. At the same time. the
Territory of Louisiana, by authority of Con-
gross, took the name of Missouri; and in 1919.
the portion thereof which now constitutes the
State of Arkansas was detached, and became
a Territory. under that name. In 1919, Mis-
souri,, which was then but thinly peopled, and
had an inconsi6erable number of slaves. applied
for admission into the Unon, and her application
brought tho question of extending tho policy
OF the Ordinance of 1897, to other new State.
in the region acquired from Louisiana, to a d.
rect issue The House of Representatives in
sisted on prohibition against the introduc.
ion of Slavery in the State, as a condition of
lcr admission. The Senate disagreed with
he House in that demand The non. slave
holding States sustained the House, and the
'lavcholding States sustained tho Senate
The difference was radical, and tended towards
revolution.
One party maintained that the condition de-
handed was constitutional, and the other that
was unconstitutional. The public mind be-
'ame intensely excited, and painful apprehen-
ions Of disunion and civil war began to pre-
'ail in the country.
In this crisis, majority of both Houses a.
freed upon plan for the adjustment of the
controversy. By this plan. Maine. a nom
laveholding State was TO be admitted Mis-
ouri was to be admitted without submitting
o the condition before mentioned: and in all
nat part ct Territory acquired from France.
which was north of the line of 80 > 80 of north
Slavery was to be forever prohibited. |
LOUISIANA. which was part Of that Territory,
lad been admitted as slave State eight years
'etore, but Arkansas, which was south of that
inc, by strong implication, was also TO be ad- |
nitted as saveholding State. 1 need not
Indicate what were the equivalents which the
espective parties were to receive in this ar |
angement further than to say that tho slave
olding States practically were to receive
lave States, tho free States to receive des-
rt, solitude. in which they might, il they |
0uld, plant the germs Of future free States
This was adopted. IL was a great national |
first of class of transactions |
'hlch have como to be thoroughly defined and |
'ell understood, under the name of compromi.
es: MY own opinions concerning them nre
veil known, and are not in question here
according to the general understanding, they
re mari rked by peculiar circumstances and fea-
nres, viz
First there is difference Of opinion upon
ONE vital national question between tho two
louses OF Congress, which division is irrecon.
liable, except by mutual concessions of inte-
ests and opinions, which the Houses deem
Institutional and just
Secondly, they are rendered necessary by
npending calamties. TO result from the fail
re of Legislation, and to be no otherwise a
erted than by mutual concessions, or sacrif-
90.
Thirdly. such concessions are mutual and
lual, or are accepted as such, and so become
'nditons or arrangement.
Fourthly, by this mutual exchange of condi-
ons, the transaction takes on the nature and
'ndi.ion of a contract, compact, or treaty, be.
veen the parties represented; and so, accor
ing to well settled principles of morality and
nblic law, the statute which embodies IL is
nders:ood, by those who uphold this system
legislation, to be irrevocable and irrcpeala
e, except by mutual consent Of both, or of all
10 parties concerned. Not, indeed, that it is ,
but that il cannot be repealed ,