Washington sentinel., 1854-05-05

has been manufactured to order, and then
urged as an objection to the bill.
j am not one of those, sir, who believe this
Uniou will ever be dissolved by the agitation of
any question, local, sectional, or general.
deeply regret the agitation of any section
al question, and particularly the question OF
slavery, which is calculated, more than any
other to beget strife, contention, and i'll feeling
between the different sections of our country.
But how, ask, are we to prevent it in this free
country, where every man has right to think
as he pleases, and speak what he thinks?
1t has been resorted 10 by the abolltlonlsts
and freesoiers on every occasion since the
foundation Of the government, when any mea-
sure was pending before either House of Con-
gress, for the execution of the guarantees OF the
Constitution for the protection of southern IN
stitutions.
Yes, sir, the agitation Of this question COM
menced with the formation of the federal Con
stitution and will, in my Judgment continue,
in some form or other, as long as that Con-
stitution has an existence.
The passage of the ordinance of 1877, by
the Congress of the confederation, produced no
excitement in the country, Notwithstanding 1t
excluded slavery from all the territory north
west Of the Ohio river. That ordinance was
reported by a committee of four, consisting OF
one member from New York, one from South
Carolina, and two from Virginia, and was passed
unanimously.
But, sir under the articles OF confederation
the individual colonies retained many OF the
attributes of independent nations. And hence,
having sufficient power to protect themselves
against aggressions from the confederated gov
ernment, they had no apprehensions from the
passage of this measure excluding slavery from
Territory, the soil, climate, and productions OF
which made it probable that slave labor in 1t
never could be profitable When, however,
they came to draw more closely the bands OF
union, and to part with most if not the whole
of their nationality, the southern States de-
manded, as o condition precedent, the recognl-
ton, guaranty, and protection of the institution
of slavery. This was granted, and the Constr
tuition was adopted, and became binding upon
all the States Of the Union.
Thus stood the question, so far as agitation
was concerned, untilt the admission of Louisiana
in 1912.
If gentlemen will 90 back to that time and
examine the records of the country, they will
find that the same "hue and cry was raised
in opposition to the admission OF that State
| into the Union, as is now raised against the
passage of this bill. Yes, sir, it was declared
on this floor by distinguished representative
from the State of Massachusetts,, Hon. Josiah
| Quincy, then representing the Boston district,
that the passage of that bill "would free the
States from moral obligation, and, as it would
be the right Of all, it would be the duty, OF
some to prepare for a separation -pedcea0tg
If Mey could, torcibly, If they mast"
And here sir, it is worthy OF remark, that
the same man who made this declaration in
1912 is vet living and was the most prominent
actor at what was called the great meeting IN
the city Of Boston, few days ago, to denounce
and oppose the passage Of this bill.
Louisiana was, however, admitted, and the
Union was not dissolved but two years AFTER
and while this country was engaged IN war
with Great Britain, convention, composed OF
New England federalists, assembled in the city
of Hartford, State Of Connecticut, which has
become celebrated under the name of the
/" Hartford Convention" One of the principal
objects of the meeting of this convention was
to procure an amendment to the Constitution
Of the United States so as to strike from 1t
that provision which allows slave representa-
ton on this floor, and to add to it q provision
requiring the concurrence of two-thirds OF both
branches of Congress to the admission OF any
new State into the Union. Recommendations
were accordingly made to the several States.
This was done, not because OF the sympathies
of the members Of the convention with the
slave in his bond condition, but because of the
additional strength they gave to the south in
the House of Representatives, in voting upon
questions of war, taxation, and embargoes
Failing in this means, however, to procure
an amendment to the Constitution, SO as to
strike from it the provision which allows slave
representation on this floor, and to add to it a
provision which would prevent the admission
of new slave States into the Union, the aboli-
8, cd 70 IN 10 m
pathies, passions, and prejudices of the people
of the north, in behalf Of what they termed
the oppressed and downtrodden slave of the
south and, by their hypocritical cry of " free
dom to the enslaved," were enabled to produce
that intense excitement in 1920 and 1871,
which created in the public mind much appre-
hension and alarm for the safety of the Union.
The excitement consequent upon this agita-
tion lasted about two years, and resulted in the
passage of the Missouri restriction of 1920
and the compromise of 1921. The question
was again settled, and the Union was not dis
solved.
From 1920 to lS48 there was no agitation
or excitement on this question to create appre-
hension in the public mind So soon, however,
as the fact became probable that the govern
ment would acquire territory from Mexico, at
the termination of the late war with that ma
started the agitation on all previous occasions
the abolitionists and freesoilers of the north
again raised what they called their banner of
freedom, and proposed to exclude the south
from any participation in the territories to be
acquired from Mexico.
This agitation continued from 1913 to 1850,
and resulted III the passage OF the compromise
measures, the principles of which are recog.
nised in this bill
Any one who will take the trouble to ex-
anime the history and legislation of the coun-
try on this subject will see that the agitation
of the slavery question, on every occasion
when it has produced excitement, and strife,
and angry discussion in the country, since the
adoption of the federal Constitution, was COM
menced by the classes before referred to in the
northern States, and never by the south.
In all this controversy, from the adoption of
the Constitution to the present time, the south
has asked for no legislation on this subject
All she asked was to be let alone in the
| quiet enjoyment of her peculiar institution,
and an observance Of the guarantees of the
| Constitution for the protection of that institu