The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-03-03

applicable shall have the same lorce and
effect within the said territory OF Nebraska
rs elsewhere within the United States, e1-
cept the Sth section Of the act preparatory
Co tho admission Of Missouri into the Union,
approved March 6. $780, which being in
consistent with the principle Of non.inter-
vcntion by Congress with slavery in the
States and Territories, as recognized by the
Legislation Of 1850, commonly called the
compromise measuf." is hereby declared
TO be imperative and void; IL being The
true inieni and meaning of this act not 10
legiSldte S'arcry into any Territory or State,
nor 10 trriude II hcrctrom, bat 10 hdre The
people thereof Peytotiy fire 10 form and
regulate their domestic nr tiiriiOns in their
otn tray, subject only 10 The Coastiiut on q
he United States.
twill be observed that the section affirms
The inconsistency Of the principle Of the
Missouri Compromise, with the principles
Of the legislation Of 1850 commonly called
the compromise, with how much truth, we
shall soc. Neither Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Webster
nor any OF the champions of the Compro-
mise Acts Of 1850, ever asserted, or believ-
ed that the series Of Acts called the "COm
promise Act" touched the validity OF the
Missouri Compromise. On the contrary,
there was an express recognition Of the
force Of the Missouri Compromise contained
in the amendment proposed by Mr.. Mason,
Of Virginia, which was adopted and incor-
porated in one Of the bills Of the scries,
viz; in the Bill for the organization of the
territory OF New Mexico. The amendment
vas this.
"Prorided, That nothing herein contain
cd shall be construed To impair or qualify
any thing confirmed in the third article OF
the second section OF the joint resolution for
unnexing Texas tn the United States, APP
proved March l, 1915, either n regards the
number OF States that may hereafter be
formed out Of the State of Texas or other.
wise"
That part OF the territory claimed by
Texas north Of &c. 80 was declared in the
admission resolves to be subject to the pro-
visions of the Missouri Compromise, and
this amendment Of Mr.. Mason's, while it
touched other matters, did expressly renew
the Missouri Compromise. So much for cx-
press recognition. Now, what said the dis
tinguishcd authors Of the Compromise Act
o. 1850,
MIR. Clay said in his opening speech, on
his Compromise resolutions, which were
the foundation Of the legislation on the
subject, speech which we had the good
fortune to hear:
at appeared TO me, then, that il any ar
ransement any satisfactory adjustment could
be made, of the contruverted question be.
tween the two classes of States, that ad-
justment could only be successful and eff
fectual, by cxacting from both parties some
concession-not of prineiple-not of princi-
pc at all, but Of all feeling, Of opinion, in
relation to the matters Of controversy be-
tween them. believe that the resolutions
which have prepared fulfill the object.
believe that you will find upon that careful,
rational, and attentive examination of them
which think they deserve, that by them
neither party makes any concessions oil
principles at all, though the concessions oil
forbcarance are ample"
The idea contained in this extract, viz
that Of concession, mot of principle, but o.
feeling" was the leading idea upon which
his action was based.
Nor was this all. We we'll rccollect the
irresistible burst OF applause which went "
from the galleries of the Senate Chambel
when Mr. Clay, in the course Of that speech
from which We have quoted, used this
language:
al have said never could vote for IL my
self, and repeat | never can and never
will vote, and no earthly pOtrer riH make me
roie 10 spread sldrery Deer territory trhere Il
does not Gri,t."
Mr.. Clay did not design to introduce sla-
scry,or even to leave the communities where
1t did no, exist, subject to the possibility Of
its introduction. His whole life had a.tcsted
his devotion to freedom, and on that event.
ful occasion, although trembling with the
iniirmities Of age and disease, his clarion
notes were raised with n, much distinctness
Us ever for freedom and the thrill OF his
matchlcss cloquencc electrified the hearts
OF attentive listeners, who could not sup.
press the according amen when this de-
claraticn was uttered. Mr.. Clay was for
harmony, concession, but not for aba ting
one jOt or title Of the principles wi ich had
been adopted and held sacred by the lcgis.
ton OF the country for thirty years-legis,
htion which had been induced by his in.
ilucntial and potent voice in the palmy day.
of his power and craftsmanship. So much
for Mr.. Clay.
Mr. Webster too, took similar views. Il'
did no, desire to touch existing legislation
Indeed the whole Of his argument Of hi
seventh Of March speech was based upor
the idea that there were natural restrictions
to the introduction Of slavery into New Mesi
CO and Utah.
In his speech Of July II, 1850, he said
"Well sir, the next inquiry is, what d,
Massachusetts and tho North, the anti-sla
very States, lose by this Adjustment II u
the question to every gentleman here, anC
70 every man in the country. They los'
the application Of what is called the W ilmo
proyiso to these Territories, and that is all
There is nohing else that | suppose The
whole North are not willing to do or willing
to have done. They wish to get California
into the Union and to quiet New Mexico
they wish TO terminate the dispute about
tho boundary. cost what il may. They
make no sacrifice in oil these. What they