Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-02-18

Sarery north Of 3Go 3O>
The bill for the organization Of the Territories
Of Nebraska and Kansas being under considera.
ton
Mr. CHASE submitted the following amend
ment;
Strike out from section ii the words was super
eeded by the principles of the legislation of 1850
commonly called the compromise measures, and =
so that the clause will read
THAT the Constitution, and all the laws of the
United States which are not locally inapplicablc
shall have tho force aud effect within the said
Territory of Nebraska as elsewhere within the
United States, except the eighth section of the act
preparatory to the admission of Missouri into the
Union, approved March G, 1920, which is hereby
declared imperative"
Mr.. CHASE said:
Mr.. President, had occasion, q few days ago
to expose the utter grouudlessness of the personal
charges made by the Senator from Illinois MIR
DouoLAsl against myself aud the other sgncrs Of
the Independent Democratic appeal. / now move
TO strike from this bill u statement which | will
to-day demonstrate to be without any foundation
in fact or history intend afterwards to move to
strike out tho whole clause annulling the Missouri
prohibition.
i enter into this debate, Mr.. President in no
spirit of personal unkindness Tho issue is too
grave and too momentous for the indulgence Of such
feelings i SEQ tho great question before me, and
that question only
Sir, these crowded galleries, these throngcd lob
bies, this full attendance of the Senate proves the
deep, transcondent interest Of the theme.
few days only have elapsed since the Congress
OF the United States assembled in this Capitol.
Then no agitation seemed to disturb the political
elements. Two Of the great political parties Of the
country in their national conventions, had an
nounced that slavery agitation was Mt an end, and
that hcnccforth that subject not to be discussed
in Congress or outof Congress. The President; in
his annual message, had referred To this state Of
md GxaI 90
maintain as far as any responsibility attached to
him. the quiet of the country
The agreement Of the two old political parties,
thus referred to by the Chief Magistrate of tie
country, was complete, and large majority of the
American people seemed to acquicsce in the lcgis-
lation Of which he spoke.
A few of us, indeed. doubted the accuracy of
these statements, and the permanency Of this re-
pose. We never believed that the acts of 1850
would prove to be permanent adjustment of the
slavery question. We believed no permanent ad-
justment of that question possible except by a
return to that original policy Of the fathers Of the
Republic, by which slavery was restricted within
State limits and freedom, without exception or
limitation, intended TO be secured to every per
son outside OF State limits and under the exclusive
jurisdiction Of the General Government
But sir, we only represented small, though
vigorous and growing party in the country. 0ui
number was small in Congress. BY some we werc
regarded as vsionaries-by some rs factiouists
taken.
And so, sir, the country was at peace. As the
eye swept the entire circumference of the horizon
and upward to midheavon not a cloud appeared
TO common observation there mist or stain
upon the cearness of the sky.
But suddenly all is changed. Rattling thunder
breaks from the cloudess ornament The storm
bursts forth in fury. Warning winds rush into
conflict
"Eurus, Notusquc ruunt, ere bcrquo proccllis
Africus."
Yes, sir, ''creJer proceLis Africus"-thc south
wind thick with storm. And now we find oursclve,
in the midst Of an agitation, the end and issue o.
which no man can foresee.
Now, sir, who is responsible for this renewal o.
strife and controversy Not we, for we have in
troduced no question of territorial slavery into
Congress-not We who are denounced as agitator,
and factionists. No. sir the quietsts and the final
lists have become agitators; they who told us tha
oil agitation was quoted, aud that the resolutions
of the political conventions put final period to the
discussion of slavery.
This will not escape the observation of the coun
try 1t is slavery that renews the strife. 1t il
slavery that again wants room. 1t is slavery, viii
its insatiate demands for more slave territory anC
more slave States.
And what does slavery ask for now? Why, sir
it demands that time-honered and sacred compac
shall be resclnded-a compact which has endured
through whole generaton--a compact which ha
beeD universally regarded as inviolablc North an,
'b0utnr-a compact, the cOnSututOnallty oil Mhlcl
few baye doabted, and by which oil have consented
to abide.
1t will pot ipswer 10 violate such q compac
without pretext Some plausible ground must b.
discovered or invented for sneli an act; and such
ground ID supposed TO be feond ia the doctrine
which was advanced the other day by the Senate
from Illinois, that the compromise act of 1885,
"superseded" the prohibition Of slavery north o
36o 30N, in the act preparatory for the admission
Missouri. Ay, sir, superseded is the phrase
"superseded by the principles of the Legislation o
1885, commonly called the compromise meas
ures." 10
II is against this statement, untrue in fact AM
without foundation in history, that the amendmen
which have proposed is directed.
Sir, this is novel idea. At the time when thes
measures were before Congress in 1880 when tn
questions involved in them were discussed fror
day 10 day, from week TO week, and from month :
month. ID this Senate Chamber who ever hear
that the Missouri prohibition was to be superseded
Wbst man, at what time, in what speech. ever sue
gested the idea that the acts Of that year were
effect the Missouri COMPROMISED The Senate