The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-20
CITY OF WASHINGTON, SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 90 1854


Il they but follow their course yet insist that they do
not mean 70 50 there suffer themselves be carried
there Let me remind them that history abounds in in
stances where weli-meanng men, by committing slight
rors have been forced into the dangerous eKoesses
error and the widest denominations Of mrue and anarchy
Mr. Chairman slavery be restricted by Congress
because u Is wrong il can with the propricy, be
abated where II exists Neither be done without
disegardlng the highest right and If such be the aim il
would DC more manly TO strike at al the constitution
which protects ii This teahy opening Of bitches along
which Is 10 move the force TO attack the citadel before any
4 war Is declared does not become the honor OF frank
fearless and bie-toned antagonist Give us open war or
give us peacel Direct your batteries straight against the
barrier that now rsrans your progress withhold your
fire altogether Say with the extremists whose lead you
follow, unwilling you believe IL that compact
which protects wrong is itself wrong and should be
destroyed or amended else yield TO It's obligations in
every particular and without murnurs moral reserya-
ons Plain eovennnted right cannot be broken for
opinions sake The agreement must be rescnded before
opinion interfere And only surprised that gen
tiemen who acclaimed eoqueatly about plighed
faith exhibit such oneness to forget the highest pledge
which can be made between man and man.
This remark brings consider another given
for excluding property from the Territories
seeking organize In addition general considera-
hons which would exclude il from all new Territories and
which applicable to Nebraska and Kansas any
others IL urged that the Missouri restriction forms bar
TO these which cannot be removed without violation of
good faith that il compact to be sacredy observed
may suggest that in this matter some Of the opponents
Of the Nebraska bill should be found utierng their erce
denuncations against themselves we certainly ought not
TO complain for IL is remark that those who
greatest effect 1t has been proved here again and again.
that in every instance of action by Congress since the date
OF the Missouri Compromise involving adherence thereto
northern with honorable exceptions have arrayed
themselves againstts binding 1t has been proved again
and again that whenever the question has arisen touching
slavery south OF 36 deg 80 mn the Compromise has
restrained the efforts OF northern aggression Not content
with the restriction imposed and not willing 10 regard the
privilege saved to southern citizens free from attack
subject to no future limitation many and often majority
of northern have been found invariably opposing this
line hnality These things proved from the
ords of Congress and though the effort made by the
gentleman from Ohio Mr. BALI, they have not BEEN and
cannot be- successfully conuoyered; and while shall
repeat the evidence may safely speak Of il coneu-
svely showing that until the Missouri line has
been regarded by the North endowed with any sancty
superior that Of other ordinary legislative regulations
Else why has she always cast her votes in utter disregard
ft2 Sir the honest explanation is that she held it
she held all other laws subject 10 repeal modification AT
/ the pleasure Of the body which enacted IT,
This WAS in effect conceded by the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts, Mr. WALLES when in reply to the gentleman
from Georgia Mr. STEPHENS he admitted that his State
opposed the admission Of Missouri year after the Com
promise because she unwilling permit slavery south
Of SO deg 30 min, and by the gentleman from Maine Mr.
AsHBuRs when he said that the principle Of the Missouri
Compromise the restriction Of slavery. While these
views might in their minds have justified the North in
disregardng the Compromise territory south Of the
line ask what they furnish her for disregardng
il established by sacred compact tho faithful
observance Of which both parties bound by every
principle which appeals TO integrity good faith and honor
II would require Juggling to show that what nvio
liable may yet be constantly violated without affecting its
character This however is the idea Of those who justify
past violations OF the alleged compact and AT the same
time present il 10 us pure aud holy thing 10 be
touched by no sacrilegioas hand
Now sir it is evident that the law preparatory the
admission OF Missouri into the Union regarded
by the North Of greater sancy than other lava III
settled no principles II established no policy u simply
drew arbitrary line TO mark the boundaries Of slavery
which satisfied neither party. unwilling 70 impute
such agrant dishonesty the North be deduced
from her conduct II her understanding of she
were different i alleged BY her advocates That
the COMPROMISE served TO relieve country in a danger
Gus crisis win be admitted That II has ever since been
looked act in history Of than usual inn
portance will he admitted That il inspired certain de-
gree Of veneration viii also be admitted But whyG Not
because for in human action substituted the rule
Of higher wisdom; not because any great doctrine Of
political philosophy was announced or liked not because
any path for human progress defined but be-
cause BY that had been wresed from angry
cloud the thunderbolis which threatened cleave the
Union in twain II through that cloud had penetrated the
sunlight Of the constitution IL would have revealed
remedy much to be commemorated than the boaed
Compromise II removed present emergency, that
all The mistake q acting upon arbitrary basis rather
than upon principle has ented upon us many serious
nrischief.
But whatever the Importance or value of The adjustment
IL passed like other laws and be treated Ike other
laws II has higher sanction any greater force
The North has is treated il since within year Of its
passage and we only ask that the seal Of eprobaon
which she has stiyen to stamp upon il may be stamped
upon il By the authority which gave II form and
being The South finding i dishonored by those who
forced II upon her prefers back 10 her original rights
and there 10 stand or fall But hers is course Of straight
forward action She faithfully observes the adjustment
while remains upon the statute-book and only offers
disregard when II is removed The comparison Of such
conduct with that which eShor good ith while
stantly violating Ii is which bring blush Of
shame upon the checks Of her sons,
i Mr. Chairman this CRY keep the pghted faith
il comes from the lips Of gentlemen has very much
the sound Of preenoe owe too much respect 10 all
here say that is pretence but II has twang that
way which must strike every Suppose you end those
gentlemen when the father OF the COMPROMISE OF 1888 him
self proposed that the authority which passed IL
should repeal Il applaudng and sustaining the prop
oston That Compromise brought healing 10 its wings.
and saved the Union in another crisis Of awful por
tent The only difference to sacredness between that
and the former, which propose 10 repeal, Is.
that the former has been repeatedly violated the
latter never until s repeal DO gentlemen SAY that in
proportion party disregards solemn compact there
created additional obligations the other 70 main
tain IL But again Suppose you find these gentle
men, when the South claims the enforcement OF compact
fundamen tai in its character and Of far higher authority
than any congressional enactment refusing by their votes
90 grant IT, Did any who express abhorrpnce that
rude violence is about to be done pghed Aith so
speak II Is not for expose them Sir when you
member the facts he not astonished that marvel
little al the newborn zeal for the observance Of compacs
j which is now witnessed
viii admit that the bad faith OF others win not Justify
bad faith in What have sad after showing that Ia
fact faith is involved different from that which attaches
ordinary laws intended 10 confirm this view by the
construction which northern themselves have placed
upon BY their practice There be two opinions
this head unless upon the supposition that the South
was understood as having bad The weakness and folly 10
accept compact by which she lost all north OF % deg
min aud c all south Of that the mercy Of future Con-
crosses pretty compact surely, yielding half her rights