Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-07-01

uliiAN . NhiN lHN IhbitN 0AbNN tooN 80 "
of Columbia should be abolished without affecting
the existence of slavery in the district and that
new and rigorous provisions Tor the re-capture of
fugitive slaves, of disputed constitutionally, should
be adopted, and that on these conditions Cali
fornia should be admitted as n free state. Repug-
nant ms this compromise was to the people Of the
free states, acquiosccnce was nevertheless practi-
cally obtained by means of solemn assurances,
made in behalf Of the slaveholding states, that the
compromise was and should be forever regarded ms
a final adjustment of the slavery question, and of
all the issues which could possibly arise out of it.
A now Congress convened in December, 1851
Representatives from the slave states demanded n
renewed pledge of fidelity to this adjustment. 1t
was granted by the House Of Representatives on
the following terms:
Resolved, That we recognize the binding efficacy
of the compromises of the constitution, and believe
1t to be the intention of the people generally, as
we hereby declare it to be ours individually, TO
abide by such compromises and sustain the laws
necessary to carry them out, the provisions for
the delivery of fugitive slaves, and the act of
the law of Congress for that purpose included, and
that we deprecate all further agitation Of questions
generally connected with the institution Of slavery,
rs unnecessary, useless and dangerous.
A few months subsequently the democratic Ma
tional Convention met at Baltimore, and assuming
to speak the sentiments of the democratic party,
set forth in its platform; "That the democratic party
will resist all attempt at renewing. in Congress or
out of il, the agitation of the slavery question UNI
der whatever shape or color the attempt may be
made" Soon aiterward another national conven-
ton assembled in the same city, and assuming the
right to declare the sentiments of the whig party,
said w deprecate all further agitation of the
questions thus settled as dangerous to our peace,
and will discountenance all efforts to continue or
renew such agitation, whenever, or however made"
The present administration was elected on the
principle of adherence to this compromise, and
the President, referring to it in his inaugural
= speech, declared that the harmony which has been
A., secured by it should not be disturbed during his
term of office. The president, recurring to the
same subject, renewed his pledge in his message
t to Congress al the beginning of the present session,
in the following language;
. "But Notwithstanding differences of opinion and
sentiments which there existed in relation to de-
tails and specific provisions, the acquiescence OF
! distinguished citizens whose devotion to tho Union
can never be doubted, has given renewed vigor to
our institutions, and restored a sense ~ofrepose and
security to the public mind throughout the confeder-
acy. That this repose is to suffer no shock during
my official term, If l have the power to avert it,
those who placed me here may be assured"
Under these circumstances the proposition to re-
peal the Missouri Compromise was suddenly and
unexpectedly made by the same Committee on
Territories, which only ten days before had affirmed
the sanctity of the Missouri Compromise, and de-
clared the end of agitation in the following explicit
and unniistakable language:
"1our committee do not feel themselves called
'ENH w 'NSA NV ~ Va Oie Vi lCu
questions, They involve the same grave issues
which produced the agitation, the sectional strife,
and the fearful struggle Of 1850. As Congress
deemed it wise and prudent to refrain from deciding
the matters in controversy Men, either by affirming
or repeating the Mexican laws, or by an act declar-
atory of the true intent of the Constitution, and
the extent of the protection afforded by it to the
slave property in the Territories, so your commit
9 tee are not prepared noI0 to recommend a departure
from the course pursued upon that memorable oc-
S coston, either by affirming or repeating the eighth
e section of the Missouri act, or by any act declara-
' tory of the meaning of the Constitution in respect
to the legal points in dispute"
+. The abrogation has been effected in pursuance
f of the demand of the administration itself, and by
means Of its influence on Congress. In the House
4 of Representatives, that body which is more imme-
: diately responsible to the people, the contest was
more equal than in the Senate; though it is due to
justice and candor that it should be stated, that it
= could not have been carried in either house without
the votes of the representatives from the free states.
. The minority resisted the attempts to arrest dis
cussion upon this grave question, through q struggle
of longer duration than any other known to Con-
gressional history. Some attempt was made to
stigmatize that minority as "factionists," yet we
fearlessly declare that throughout the contest they
resorted solely to the powers secured to them by
the law and the rules of the House, and the pas
E sage Of the measure through the House was effected
3 through a subversion of its rules by the majority,
and the exercise of 4 poUer unprecedented in the
Q annals of Congressional legislation. The decd is
| done. 1t is done with a clear proclamation to the
Q administration and by Congress, that the principle
-, which it contains extends not only to Kansas and
q Nebraska, but to all the other territories now be-
: longing to the United States, and to all which may
hereafter be acquired. 1t has been done unneces-
sarily and wantonly, because there was no pressure
G for the organization of governments in Kansas
and Nebraska, neither Of which territories contains
!. one lawful inhabitant who was n citizen Of the
IIniraI StotoS nn1 Iaaou { thara ,roc not only M
c danger Of dissolution apprehended, but by this
= measure the free States have lost all the guarantees
n contained in former compromises, while all the
n States, both slave and free, have lost the guarantees
6 of harmony and union which these compromises
i afforded. 1t seems plain to us that, fatal as the
measure is in these respects, it is only n cover for
t a broader propagandism of slavery in the future.
: The object Of the administration, and of many who
represent the slave States, is, as wesbelieve, to pre-
' pare the way for annexing Cuba at whatever cost,
= and a like annexation Of n half n dozen of the
n states of Mexico, to be admitted also Us slave
$ States. These acquisitions are to made peaceabiy,
a if they can be purchased at the cost Of hundreds
: of millions. If they cannot be made peaceably,
then at the cost of a war with Mexico, and , wal
/, with Spain, and a war with France, and at the cost
g of an alliance with Russia scarce less repugnant.
Unmistakable indications also appear Of q purpose
= to annex the eastern part of San Domingo, and SO
@ to subiugate the whole island, restoring it to the
d dominion of slayery-and This is to be followed ur
. by an alliance with Brazil, and the extension Of
d slavery in the valley of the Amazon. 1t is for you
d to judge whether, when slavery shall have made
these additions to the United States, it will demand
unconditional submission on the part of the free
90 States, and failing in that demand, attempt &
ri withdrawal of the slave States and the organization
G. of q separate empire in the central region of the
continent. From an act SO unjust and wrongful il
Ii itself, and fraught with consequences SO fearful
we appeal to the people. We appeal in no sec
ne tionai spirit. We appeal eqnally to the North anC
a to the South, to the free States and to the slave
1T holding States themselves. 1t is no time for exag
a geration or for passion, and We therefore speai
III calmly of the past, and warn you in soberness o
a. tn future. 1t would not become us, nor is it nee
as essary, to suggest the measures which ought to b
adopted in this great emergency. For ourselves
we are ready to do all that shall be in our power I
restore the Missouri Compromise, and to execut
d. such further measures as you in your wisdom shaI