The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-30

ton do northern gentlemen who now denounee the I'M
before us 50 bitterly as violation Of plghted ith pac,
their States Sir in behalf Of that great section Of th,
confederncy reject their efforts here canmnes How
ever strongly may condemn the action of the majority
the Congress OF 1920 in thus eopening the whole slavery
question wh Missouri and carrying the discussions back
TO the very point OF departure win stain their
honor as to suppose that they acknowledged the exsenc,
insisted upon.
But action contrayening the law of 1890 was con-
hned 70 one section On the 2lst February Mr. Brown
Kentucky, introduced proposition nstructing the Com
mttee on the Judiciary to inquire into the expediency
repeating the eighth section of the Of 1920 the said
eighth section imposing prohibition and restriction upon
the introduction OF slaves in all that territory ceded by
France to the United States under the of Louisiana
which lies north Of sc deg 30 min not included in the
State contemplated by that act"
Now, sir, let pause for moment the striking facts
that twelve months after the passage of the Of 1920 by
which, il said the admission Of Missouri solemny
guaranteed the resolution of Mr. Lowndes for her admis-
sion was rejected that her admission could not be effected
through the terms contained IL the several reso-
utons of Mr. Eusts and Mr. Cay that the proposition Of
Mr. Mallary requiring that neither slavery invoun-
ary servitude shall be allowed in said State of Mis-
souri, sustained by two-hirds of the OF the
northern representatives. and that finally direct propo-
son offered by Mr. Brown To repeal the eighth
ton the attempt to do which, by this bill is now so vio-
1 lently denounced
Congress had seemingly exhausted itself upon this
subject The session. within very few days would reach
the period of its adjournment Missouri though refused
place in the Union, organized State In or out of
the union there she stood panoped in her sovereignty
dissolution Of the existing Union and the formation of
another of which Missouri would be the nucleus,
danger not too remote to fill the mind of the patriot with
apprehension 1t under these circumstances that Mr.
Clay, the I'D February day well selected for its pa
laotc associations to the House resolution
That committee be appointed the part of the House,
jointly with such committee may be appointed the part
Of the Senate consider and report to the
House. respectively, whcher IL be erpedent make
the same fooing a. ne original States and for the
due execution Of the laws of the United States within Mis-
souri, and not, @haher any other and ha prouision,
4
If there evidence disprove the existence of a
compact agreement but this resolution il would be
wholly conclusive Sir the silence of the resolution upon
this subject is expressive than volume OF words
would be- When the very existence of the Union itself
would be eoparded by nonacton the part of Congress
think you Mr. Clay would based his motion upon
the existence of such compact agreement instead of
/ limiting himself to a resolution Of inquiry?
This final effort for adjustment considered inn
portant that under the resolution committee Of twenty
three were elected by ballot On the 26h February five
days before the adjournment the committee through Mr..
Clay reported the joint resolution for the admission of Mis-
souri, which is the stauebook and which, in the
proposal and acceptance OF conditions be termed
compact agreement This is the compromise which
Missouri came into the Union was the last effort that
could be made to quiet agitation to harmonze The action
OF Congress to insure the safety OF the Union itself and
yet under this urgency in the face Of the most menacng
dangers but seventeen votes from the nonsaveholdng
States could be obtained in favor OF the measurable
4 olution being adopted by a vote of 81 to 81.
i have thus, Mr.. Chairman, faithfully narrated these
transactions as find them here recorded They need no
argument; for have only TO put tongue into these
pages "and bid them speak for me- With all this plainly
written down for instruction such the force of
and prejudice in obscurng the human mind that find
gentlemen OF intelligence and integrity repeatedly insisting
upon agreement against the positive refusal Of the
parties to enter into il in 1920 recognise it in 1921
Sir cannot receive assertion for evidence the repe
ton of falsehood for truth
In my desire TO avoid tiguing the House have not in
this summary of legislative action referred the
proceeding in the Senate IL is sufficient 10 say that the
evidence of their journals presents q similar state OF facts
and leads 10 the same conclusions viii only therefore
refer to the important resolutions be found in Jour
mails Of the Senate presented from the States Of New York
and Vermont in 1921 and which, they explicitly bean
upon the argument and proceed from the highest
with the permission Of the committee viii read On the
18th November 1920 the State Of New York adopted the
following; .a.
Wherea the legislature this State at It's last session
did instruct their senator's and request their representatives
in Congress- to oppose the admission State, into tn,
Union OF territory not comprised within the original
boundaries Of the United States without making the prohb
ton OF slavery therein indispensable condition Of adm
sion and whereas this legislature is impressed with the
reetness of the sentiments communicated senators
+ Reo'red, (f the honorable Senate concur herein
That this legislature does approve OF principles contained
in the resolutions Of the last session and farther Il the pro
visions contained in any proposed constitution Of STATE
deny to citizens Of the existing State the privileges
nnmunes OF citizens OF such States that such proposed
constitution should not be accepted confirmed the
the opinion OF this legislature being void by the consu
ton OF the United States And that senators be instruct
ed and our representatives in Congress be requested TO
their utmost eseron 70 prevent the acceptance and conrma
ton any such constitution
That the legislature with regret and the
tempt Of the inhabitants OF Missouri obtain admission
the Union OF the United States under constitution
which iegaiizos and c introduction aad conRahco
lovy and also contains provisions 10 prevent reemcn
the United States from emigrang settling Missouri
of their origin, color and features and that II
the opinion Of this legislature these principles powers
restrictions contained In the reputed constitution Of Mssou
repubcan and rcpugnant TO the constitution Of The
United States, and subversye Of the naienablc rights
Il man."
i Now sir, with due respect the gentleman from New
Narl NJ land sha
Il fMr MEAAN who have earnestly debated this ques
Il ton, it TO me they would preserve the honor
their States free from blomsh they should forever
desist from holding up the act Of 1920 sacred agree
men TO which the faith Of the several States pghted
In Of the latest Of Mr. Clays speeches he had
sion declare the surprise he felt in having been generally
regarded the author Of the restriction IN the net Of $40
when il did not originate in the House Of which he
member did he remember whether he had voted
FOR IT, M sir he had heard this debate his surprise would
have been greatly increased by the complete misapprrhen
zion and mstaomcnt Of the entire transaction which hay
characterized the discussion Why after the statement
Mr. Clay himself TO his relation TO the act Of 1920 tn
i gentleman from Tennessee Mr.. Cu1LoS who last ad
dressed tho committee drew from certain quarter Of t
House quite burst Of merrmont nj the alleged nconsst
ency Of my friend from Kentucky Mr.. BRECEyRtDGE
/ now absent from this city.
II Now in what did that Inconsistency consst9 That II
his euogy the death Of Mr. Clay, Mr.. u. Ind said
ii "who does know that when history shall relate tn
struggle which preceded and the dangers which we're avert
ed by, the Missouri compromise, the tariff compromise
1882 and the adjustment of 1880 the win recor
the cloquence and the patriotism Of Henry Clay;"
while in his late speech the gentleman from Kentucky haC
declared that the name Of Mr. Clay could not be nYokeS
The author Of the act of S2On Now with great defer
cuce IL appears 10 If there for laughter II