The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-19
a REvIEW-l7s7, 1854.

In 1887, an Ordinance was passed by the
Congress OF the Confederation for the Govern
ment of the Northwest Territory, the claim to
which had been surrendered by Virginia, New
York, and Connecticut. That Ordinance con-
tanned provision, in the form of solemn
compact, forever excluding Slavery from the
Territory-the only Territory belonging to the
Confederation.
In 1857, in the Convention that framed the
Federal Constitution, power was conferred up
on Congress to prohibit the importation of
slaves in the year 1908; but at that day the
universal opinion was, that to abolish the slave
trade, or prohibit the supply of slaves, was
measure involving the extinction Of Slavery it.
self
10 the same Convention the utmost care was
taken to exclude from the Constitution the
word Slave" or Slavery" because obnoxious
to the great majority Of the members; and to
avoid the use Of any language that might i'm
ply that human beings could be held prop
eTfy Nor could the provision in relation to
slave representation, or fugitives from service
OF labor, have been carried in the Convention,
ry was to lie regarded as strietiy local to lie
limited 10 the States an iskich IL already erided,
which, it was also believed, were about to take
measures for its extinction.
Ia the first Congress under the Constitution,
memorial was presented signed by Benjamin
Franklin and other Revolutionary patriots,
praying that Congress would go to the verge of
ITS constitutional powers against Slavery. 1t
was received, respectfully referred reported
upon, and made the subject OF 4 general de-
bate-when, on motion, the report was ordered
80 be entered upon the Journal Of the House.
Ii affirmed the non-existencs Of power in Con-
gress te legislatc on the subject of Slavery in
the States, but not elsewhere.
10 1908, the moment Congress had power, it
passed an &c. for the tota! abolition of the slave
trade. Meantime Safe after State put an end
TO Slavery within its limits. Congress turned
deaf ear to The memorials of discontented
persons who sought to establish Slavery in In
diana, and uniformly, in the organization OF
particular Territorial Governments in the
Northwest Territory, reafirmed the Aut-Sia
very article of the Ordinance of 1877. Anti
Slavery Societies existed in n majority Of the
States, including North Carolina, Maryland,
Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Delaware
The country was i-Slavery-tho policy Of
Government was Anti Slavery.
the Territory of Louisiana, having been pur-
chased from France, contained SLAYER, and the
settled portions lay along the borders of the
enoiave States. As Congress forbore to legisate
nation Of satiect, slave Institutions gradually, in
,dariiousiy grew up in the Territory, until in 1920
Missouri sought admission into the Union. II
was attempted now to carry ont the understand
ing Of tho=e who had framed tie Constitu
ton, to pursue the settled policy Of the Govern
nlent-the Hm'tdifon of Slauery-to incorporate
into the act authorizing the People of Mssour
TO form State, Proviso excluding Slavery
But the Anti-Siavery Sentiment encountered
an opposition it WAS not prepared for. The
purchase Of Louisiana, the liberation of Slavery
therein, the growth of the sugar cane and the
culture Of cotton, had strengthened and en-
boldened the SLAVE Interest. But bear this il
mind--so strong and well assured was the Anti
Slavery Sentiment that its attitude was that o.
On al hands rs the Lay; Slavery the excep
ton The object was 10 thrust Slavery out o
United States Territory; its only demand was
70 be suffered to remain where it had so lon,
been tolerated.
A Compromise was suggested by a Norther
mau-who but Northern man has Away
struck the first blow at Freedom! That Con-
promise proposed to permit Missouri, althoug
part Of it lay above 80 deg. 80 min, to com
in as Slave State, but with the express cor
dition that thenceforth, forerer, Slavery shout
be prohibited IN sill the Territory lying mort
Of that line, comprising nearly all the unol
gained Territory of the Union.
This was the first great check received b
the Anti Slavery sentiment. From this mt
ment the march of the Slave Interest wa
EDWARDS: the popular movements against
began TO relax Anti Slavery Societies gradr
ally died away in the slaveholding States.
The revival of the sentiment in 1888, and tn
new movements that followed, were not suft