The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-21

ealouses animosiiies win be banished from among
us Slavery agitation can then yet foothold here The
other questions which have in years given rise 10 IL
have been used till they worn out and have power
left
legislation Of 1850
II any man sapposes Aat legislation merely the adop-
ton of temporary expedents merely the enactment OF
few arbitrary rules for the or Utah and New
Mexico, but founded great principles, having
reference the in which other Territories to
organized greatly underestimate It's Importance In
that point of view it not worthy of the mighty efforts
OF the great who sustained and carried II through
In that point of view and understood by the American
people could have been the great pachcator OF
the country which il Its words of Peace be sti
would have been without power to control ana calm the
agitated elements.
glance the antecedens of this legislation win satisfy
that il meant something moretha II was the adop-
on of principle which to guide us in cases tereaf
ter to arise #"l tt@
The nonnterventon principle was distinctly
in General Casss Nicholson letter first published the last
Of the year ls47 Attention universally attracted to
IT, The docrae became the subject OF discussion in these
halls Of Legislation In January ls4s, distinguished
ator from the State Of New York Mr. Dickinson himself
prominent supporter in the Senate Of the compromise
measures Of 1850 introduced into that body resolution
which reads as iollows
That IN organizing Territorial s,ao G soysrn%snt
of terrory belonging 20 ,ne United states .ne prnclpes
will be best promoted the true spirit and meaning Of the
By leaving ali questions concerning the domestic policy
therein to the legislatures chosen by the people thereof
Here is the whole doctrine of non-ntervenon and it is
territory 10
other territory in particular but applies alike to all
territory belonging to the United States
This resolution discussed in the Senate the atten
ion of the country called to it. and to the principle
which il imbodes II was advocated in all its broad
prehensiveness Among others, its distinguished
spoke upon it and in doing made of the following
language:
That system government whether temporary per-
applied to States, provinces or Terrific
ments Of monarehca oppression which permits the
senatives Of onc'communy legate for the domestic reg
practically allows New York and Massachusetts, and other
sa ,a K local y laws to as Da g
wishes, and condition they are strangers" h
"Oregon, Minnesota, and Nebraska And yet we are
told that this idea of repeating the Missouri Compromise
altogether new deai that nobody ever thought Of It till
distinguished senator proposed it the other day in the
other end of the Capitol that nobody thought OF a
plying this doctrine Of nonntervenon the Louisiana
purchase And where pray, "Oregon, Minnesota and
NEBRASKA spoken Of by the senator in l8482 Why, sir
well remember that during the discussions of that and
the two following the Missouri Compromise was dis
inctly mentioned and it made objection that the
principle of non-ntervenon would require its repeal
tell where this DONE whether there be
any M but the record which produce enough
to show that those who advocated the principle regarded
| the Missouri line as inconsistent with it.
Well sir it during this very year s4s as has been
times remarked during these discussions that the
distinguished senator from Illinois Mr.. DoUeLAs brought
forward the proposition to extend the Missouri line to the
Pacfcthis much-loved Missouri line. Nobody
could tell why if there principle in bounding sla
by 36 deg 80 min in Louisiana there not also
principle in bounding it by 36 deg 80 min in New Mex
CO. Utah and Caornawhy If Congress on ght to toler
slavery south of that line in Louisiana they ought
do the thing all the way to the Pacifcwhy
ing parallel Of longitude should make wrong right and
right wrong. But the other hand sir nobody could
upon what principle slavery should be tolerated
side of parallel of latitude and tolerated the other
side oftwhy it lawful and right at SO deg north
| latitude, and unlawful and wrong Mt 81 deg.
No man who believed the extension Of slavery to be
wrong could justify himself 70 his conscience in using
the power he possessed allow extend itself any
territory, north south Of 36 deg 80 min No who
believed IL be right could why 1t should
be allowed to north as well as south of that line
As northern believing the institution TO be wrong
in te abstract and that ought therefore to such po
litica power rghtfully may exercise prevent its
further extension should not know where to fix line to
which might be tolerated should not willing be
responsible for its existence anywhere prefer to leave
that responsibility with those Immediately interested
to whom think il properly belongs, and with whose con-
sciences and action have nothing whatever to do IL
their business TO judge of IL not mne and wish not to
meddle am not surprised therefore that when il was
proposed my eeso friends Of the North TO extend the
Missouri line the Pacific they rejected the proposition.
surprised that they refused to assume and
the power of allowing slavery in all territory south OF
that line 1t responsibility which did not belong to
| them. They right in rejecting IT.
But am surprised Mr. Chairman, TO find them so ready
10 return this casto measure again to take the
sby Of suffering slavery TO exist south OF 36 deg 80
IL is responsibility which, upon their ground they
cannot escape They claim the power not only the power
but the right say where shall be tolerated and where
it shall Ithey may say II shall not be tolerated north
of 30 deg mn why they not say II shall not be
tolerated norm OF % deK 80 OF oncf h"a
II they opposed the extension OF slavery what reason
can they give for saying so2 But upon the principle
that Congress has nothing to do with legslaung on the
subject the plain and the responsibility rests not
upon them We have the right the duty and the respon
sty of taking of local and domestic inst
m,ons Why should we be willing TO leave to others
the right the duty and the responsibility OF taking care
| thers2
No sir am surprised that northern men, with free
soil principles and frccsoil constituents rejected the prop
osition 10 extend the Missouri line to the Pacific great
difficulty with the Missouri restriction, feature that has
always made unpopular the North Is that II assumes
the power in Congress say how far, and where slavery
NAV exist in the Territories, and then permits y 70
l whereas the northern sentiment so far as " mas 'ne
fll power to do So would crush II out eveyWhere me
measure had barely sufced to settle single conuoreis
l a single case and when arose u Was iounn
scarcely able TO sustain weight much less 10 pesf
any additional burden II had in III as we nave seen no
living nrincipe nothing commend i to the reason or
- G a,nscenccs of men and II rejected by those who
nov, sck TO sustain incapable Of performing further
1 service or as an experiment no, TT to be repeated
In this state of things what was TO be donef some
other basis Of legislation this subject must DC haa
Territories continue TO be organized Experience had
shown that mere temporary expedients were not ayaa
blethnt would do 10 that our territory OF
to-day was 10 he whole territory IN ano,ner year
Some principle upon which we might Organize no. on'y
the territory which he had but that which we mere
afer hayesome riqh pfincip-mus be the basis OF our
legislation That principle have said had been Promu
gated in the Nicholson letter OF The now venerape senator
from Michigan Circumstances gave to that letter great no
torictv II was read and commented upon everywnere
throughout the country Its positions were mace tne ISSUE
in the pending presidential campaign They were discussed
and approved by the great mass o.
great parties Of the country as was evidenced oy .neu