Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-07

had uniformly voted with the slave States
against all restriction. IL was adopted on the
nth Of February, 1920, as an amendment to
the Maine and Missouri bill, by "a ayes
against 10 noes*
Mr.. HUNTER. think that the provision
passed without division in the Senate.
Mr.. CHASE. The Senator is mistaken
Fourteen Senators from the slave States, and
twenty from the free States, voted for that
amendment. Eight from the former, and two
from the latter, voted against it. No vote by
ayes and noes was taken when the same
amendment was engraftcd upon the separate
Missouri bill, few days later; tho sense Of
the Senate having been ascertaincd by the for
mer vote
This was the condition of matters when the
Committee Of Conference, for which the Sem
ate had asked, made their report The mem
bers Of the committee from the Senate were
Of course, favorable to the Senate amendments
In the House, the Speaker HENRY CLAY, was
also in favor Of them, and he had the appoint
ment of the committee. OF course he took
care, as he has since informed the country, to
constitute the committee in such manner and
Of such persons as would be most likely to se-
cure their adoption. The result was what
might have been expected. The committee
recommended that the Senate should recede
from its amendments to the Maine bill, and
that the House should concur in the amend
ments to the Missouri bill. Enough members
from the free States were found to turn the
scale against the proposed restriction Of Sla-
very in the State and the amendment Of the
Senate striking it out was concurred in by
ninety yeas, against eightysevcn nays.
From this moment, successful opposition to
the introduction of Missouri with Slavery was
impossible. Nothing remained but to deter
mine the character Of the residue Of the Louis
lana acquisition; and the amendment prohib-
iting Slavery north Of 36 deg. 30 min. was con-
CURED in by one hundred and thirty-four yeas,
against forty-two nays. OF the yeas, thirty
eight were from slave and ninety-six from free
States; Of the nays thirty-seven were from
slave States, and five from free. Among those
who voted with the majority was Mr.. LowNDEs,
of South Carolina, whose vote, estimated by
the worth and honor Of the man, outweighs
many oppositcs.
Now, for the first time, was geographical
line established between Slavery and Freedom
in this country.
Let us pause, and ascertain upon what prin-
ciple this, Compromise was adopted, and to
what territory it applied. The controversy
was between the two great sections Of the
unoccupied country, embracing the whole ter
ritory west Of the mississippi II was territory
in which slave law existed at the time of ac-
QUESTION The compromise section contained
no provision allowing Slavery south Of 36 deg.
80 min. 1t could never have received the sane
ton of Congress if it had. The continuance of
Slavery was there left to tho determination Of
circumstances There was an implied under
standing that Congress should not interfere
with the operation of those circumstances
and that was all. The prohibition north of
36 deg. 80 min. was absolute and perpetual
The act in which it was contained was submit
ted by the President to his Cabinet, for their
opinion npon the constitutionality Of that pro-
hibition. CALHOUN CRAWFORD, and WIRT,
were members Of that Cabinet Each, in a
written opinion, affirmed its oonstitutionality,
and the act received the sanction Of the Presi-
dent.
Thus we see that the parties to the arrange
meut were the two sections of the countryside
free States on one side, the slave States on the
other. The subject of it was the whole terri
tory west Of the Mississippi, outside Of the State
of Louisiana; and the practical operation Of it
was, the division Of this territory between the
institution of Slavery and the institution Of
Freedom
The arrangement was proposed by the slave
States. 1t was carried by their votes. large
majority Of Southern Senators voted for it q
majority Of Southern Representatives voted for
it, 1t was approved by all the Southern mem
bcrs of the Cabinet, and received the sanction
Of a Southern President The compact was
in single bill, containing reciprocal
provisions The admission of Missouri with
Slavery and the understanding that Slavery
should not be prohibited by Congress south OF
36 deg. 80 min, were the con siderations Of the
prohibition north Of that line; and
that prohibition was the consideration Of the
admission, and the understanding The slave
States received u large share of the considera-
ton coming to them, paid in hand Missouri
was admitted without restriction, by the act
itself Every other part Of the compact, on the
part Of the free States, has been fulfilled to the
letter. No part Of the compact on the part Of
the slave States has been fulfilled at all, except
in the admission Of Iowa and the organization
Of Minnesota; and now the slave States pro-
pose to break up the contract, without the con-
sent and against the will of the free States and
upon doctrine Of supersedure which, il sane
toned at all, must be inevitably extended 30 az
to overthrow the existing prohibition of Slave
ry in all the organized Territories.
from Niles's Register, published in Baltimore
March | 4, 1920, which shows clearly what was
then the universal understanding in respect to
this arrangement:
"Thc territory north Of SO deg. 40 min. is
sforever' forbidden TO be peopled with slaves,
except in the State Of Missouri The right
then, to inhibit Slavery in any Of the Terrific
ries is clearly and completely Acknowledged
and il is conditioned, az to some of them that
even when they become States, Slavery shall be
forever prohibited 10 them. There is no
hardship in this. The Territories belong TO
the United States and the Government may
rightfnlly prescribe the terms on which it will
dispose Of the public lands. This great point
was agreed to in the Senate, SO votes to II;
and in the House Of Representatives, by 1874 to
~, or really lac to 81 And we trust II is de-
forever in respect to the countries
now subject to tho legislation Of the General
Government
aoL a-l.n IL L.. l.