The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-25
CONGRESSIONAL
SPEECH OF HON. e. M CHAMBERLAIN,

OF INDIANA,
! AGAINST The repeal OF the Missouri Compromise I; de.
l Iyered il The House of Representatives, Monday.
j Match 49, 1854.
! The House being in the Committee OF the Whole on
be state Of The Union. and having under consideration
the deficiency bill,
l Mr. CHAMBERLAIN said Mr. Chairman. II ls now
more than three months since this the first session OF
he Thirty third Congress convened, Assembled here
uirom every portion OF our widespread Union-the repre-
sen,aves Of people unparalleled e, their prosperity
devotion to that Union, and sentiments OF harmony and
mutual respect, which 50 happily everywhere prevailed
oS Sa y f'oa our bfoyeS country depend had us
mated triumph in toe Inauguration OF that man Of me
people, Franklin Pierce without precedent in the po-
llica history Of the country Inc spirit OF compromise
on which, in The nature oil things, our republic was
founded and must depend for its peTpeluy, vpdicaled
in that very triumph the sincerity OF our devotion TO those
principles
The Missouri Compromise which cast lie oil upon the
troubled waters OF 1870, had quie,sd forever all aga
ton OF the slavery question throughout the residue OF
The Louisiana purchase and the spirit OF patriotism and
peace, which il had its origin, had again been success
fully invoked, in 1850, in behalf OF newiy-acqpired
empire OF territory; were cultlsatng those semi.
ments OF mutual respect alike grateful 10 our feelings,
honorable to human nature, and indispensable to the
proper discharge OF responsible dues as the repre-
senla,ives OF this mighty brotherhood OF sovereign
! States
Thus our session began and thus, until recently, il
has continued Sir. il is with feigned emotion that
ask what has SO suddenly and so sadly matred this most
deemed mad 10 have anticipated the fearful change
which has been wrought aud, worse Than this cir, TO
have cour,ed is fearful responsibilities The "croak
ing" of northern fanacsm had ceased; the retort OF
threatened vengeance from the South had also ceased 10
pain The public ear and all disturbing appehensons had
subsded into general Tepose.
But suddenly, sir, as il startled by the midnight war
whoop, the public is more bent this way lis
,ening in almost bea,hess CONSERVATION, al The angry
din which is disturbing our deliberations.
And why is it so Why has Ibis scene SO changed
Why now these angry bTows Why this language OF
denunciaon and defiance as il the very demons OF pam
Why is because of this threatened wrng and outrage
TO involving cherished recollections
OF the past and hopes for The future AT least answer
ish all lls institutions love the constitution and all lis
compromises And, dearer than The preservation Of hie
do regard the preservation OF all Me Isghts il garanes
stop not here TO inquire into the morality OF the nsuu-
lion OF negro slavery that question settled by
immortal ancestors 1t is enough for me 10 know that
the constitution recognises lis exsieoce and further
thai without such recognition that constitution Itself
could never have existed.
But here, sir, my ground, enduring and mpregna-
bic the eternal principles OF truth and Justice which
lume and consecIaie the pages OF that sacred record
lhave said that the consult uon recognised the ersncs
of slavery. Ii did not esablih IT, Il only provided for
the protection OF eIsng rghtsthe rights OF the owners
OF property in slaves, on territory where 1t existed,
whether thai territory was organized or uDorganlzed
States; but for its extension upon free territory,
except by virtue of express les al enacimen,s THIS in
depreciation OF the constitution is not debaabe ground
has ever been so uniformly aquiesced 10, that is not
seriously moo'ed question.
There is difference between property IN slaves and
other chsel property. The very fact OF The necessary
recognition OF sneh property by the constitution ITSELF BY
the clearest implication, establishes that distinction and
every law thai has been passed upon the subject
snce ihe ioundaiios o the government Is an express
recognition OF the truth of this conclusion. Well then,
the extension OF slavery upon free territory not ques-
ton right, aGd IL matters not whether such territory has
arays been free, the result OF compromise has been
made so by express legislative enaclneus. In either
case and tqHaiy IN eheI, II can only be thus extended
hp ltattnp larn tho k.in
Nebraska rs now free; you demand OF that By ex-
press legislation we shall remove all barriers 10 The ex'
tension OF slavery over that territory now while is ter
ory and SUBJECT 10 that respect oeh as ia oil others,
10 legislation Is this erpsdent7 hat is the ques-
gn and ns only n0 a Use
mere repeal OF the Missouri prohibition is not virtual
legislation Tor the admission OF slavery there. Then.
what do you ask That territory slave is tree By
virtue OF that prohibition alone Wha, is The converse
Of this proposition il this Remove that prohibition
and it 10 slave again II this IS not then again, sir,
demand what do you ask Has all this tempest OF
element, which IS this moment agaiing continent
been raised about mere shadow, much moon
sbnei Sir, am not 50 crednlous OF lhe gulbbty OF
the Soulh II this Is not the nearing Of the last clause
OF The fourteenth section Of the original BILL what does
IL mean Here IL is
" That The constitution, and all laws Of the United State,
wnsa are .o g2 ossg sGs hsyS m l1e sas
elsewhere within the United States. except the eighth
into The Union approved March g. Is1o which super
seded by the principles OF the legislation Of eighteen hu
dred and hily, commonly called the oompromise meas
utes, and IL hereby declared imperative"
The gentleman from Virginia Dir. SMITH more than
deprecates, be denounces the thought that representa-
tvts from The North should "skuk" behind their con-
stituen,s upos this question. Well sir, if"skuking' is
the word and this is not sufficiently explicit repeal OF
The Missouri Compromise soi, let US have It Now IL
the lime, err And II the repeal Of that act does ad-
init slavery and thereby isgtiois II into the territory and
if that ia what the South demand and II II be that
we now settling these vexed questions "ioreyeT,
too Let us have ''ssulking" behind ambigui-
lies. call upon The gentleman from North Csrolina
MR. KERR now 10 answer bere that u may 20 upon
the record before The people, whether i IL not the end
you in The proposed legislation 10 be permitted "a
90 nio Nebraska with your slsyesi To this question
ask categorical answer, yes OF no, and then will
see who stands FIRE.
MIR KERR The object aimed at is 10 get clear OF the
unjust aud unequal principles which Congress has here
Mr CHAMBERLAIN Very well The object il
70 get clear Of The unjust and unequal principles which
Congress has heretofore been acting npoB Tor the op-
pfession o The SOUTH hal is, TO "gel clear of lie
.tecl o The acknowledgements restricon which
cludes slavery from Nebraska What conclusion fol-
lowsi This of course, that you may be permitted to 10
there with your slaves.
Let us have occasion hereafter 10 this beau.
iu piece OF patchwork BY the insertion OF ugy explain
soD wovisifns, like the following expiration Of an
explanation TO tue bull reported from The senate, which
y y ny gu, apprehension, oply leaves confusion wore
being 'hc latent and mt anng II III, act moi 10
spVery iuo any Territory Safe, exclude
~ u ba, % leave the people thereof perfectly free
80. SUI FRhlale thetf domestic tBstiiutuns ~ ihet
States" = - N