The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-05-03

~ '-"S. e"u fVi'uCal cquailty. lue peO-
pie OF the Mort are undoubtedly as.
tonlshed that some of their representatives
are s~econdipg the design; for while they
have no prejudices which would lead them
to interfere with vested rights, they will mo,
consent to the repeal of the law of 1920,
to permit the creation Of slave States on
ground which fell 10 The free States BY The
partition. ! submit if in this thew are
guilty Of any wrong or want Of comfy to
the South.
was greatly surprised to read in the
speech OF a very worthy gentleman from
Pennsylvania, a charge against the North
81 making an assault upon The South and
her institutions by the opposition sci up to
TINS oil. An assault by the North upon
the South! Why, sir. if | were to imi.
tate very iainty the lone of speeches made
here by some southern gentlemen. | might
say that the South demands of the North
a pound Of flesh which is "nomina,ed in
no bond" except her own bond to keep
The peace, and never exact il. The Norrh
objects to the inmolalion, and pleads The
covenant OF 1920 in bar, and calls upon
her doctors of The law here 10 sustain her
cause. And is this an assault upon the
South!
Sir, have spoken of the Missouri law
as a compromise, a compact, a covenant.
II has been known by these, and names of
like Specification, ever since il came into
existence. 10 select one of them, | claim
1t as a compact, and thus place its claim to
invlolabllI'y upon n ground so high and
clear as 10 cast all legal ca, ling into the
shade. It's now denied to have been q
compact, because il is said il had no par
ties. mi had parties, and has them low.
They were and are the Two great sections
OF The unlon-lhe s~laveholdiug and. non.
%sIavehold'ng Stales-high and digniied
parties who ought safely 10 rely upon
each other Tor the perfection of faith. Ii
was agreed upon by the ablest and most
patriotic statesmen in the land, represent.
ing the people in 1920, and ratified and
Ie-raliicd by The grea, voice of the na,ion.
1t was finished, and The Nerth and South
joined hands over it, and consecrated it IL
perpetual lraternlIy-a talisman of con
cord, a bond Of peace; subject TO no re.
peal or change. lis duration was to be
measured only by the years Of the Repub.
lie. 1t underlies all other compromises
which have been subsequently made in
adjustment of difficulties arising from the
slavery question. Is ii surprising that ar
attempt to destroy i! should strongly ex.
cite The people!
Who seeks torescind it, and under whar
circumstances! Why. sir, the party in
whose behalf it was fully performed by
The admission of Missouri. The party
who now holds the full consideration seeks
TO be excused from performance. Tie
justice OF The law is, thai even where there
is wrong in a contract, by which a party
may avoid it, he must first put the other
party in statn quo. Here that cannot 10
done. Missouri cannot be stripped of her
constitution and sovereignty. and reduced
To her territorial condition. Therefore, The
parties cannot be RENTED 10 the relation
they occupied at the time of the compro.
mise, 10 adj ust the q~aeslion upon other
terms. or decide il by force. No lover OF
ms country, no one but the wildes, of
fanatics, would wish it done. il it were
possible. From great difficulties there is.
usually a way of escape. There is one
here, and only one: that is, To live and &C,
honestly up to the contract.
But. sir, lest it should be inferred from
my remarks that | intend to charge the
people Of the Sou'h with bad filth in this
matter, | will do hem and my self the ius.
ice to say, that the bet evidence in my
possession tends to show that a very large
majority Of them are not only surprised
but chagrined, at the effort now being
made. Ii is no policy of theirs. They
deny such participation as. would exIibr
hem clearly in the wrong. and put mortal
weapons into the hands of their enemies.
Further than all. that high sense of honor
and justice which belongs to the American
people, imPels our brethren of the South
10 acknowledge the obligation Of the cum
pact Of 1870, and the platform of 1862.
and To seek no Legitimate advantage from
their overthrow. verify believe that the
opposition TO this BILL. SO well timed by
some gentlemen from the South, is a fair
expression Of popular sentiment in the
slave States.
We are told that natural barriers are in.
terposed To the introduction Of slavery 10
these Territories: and, therefore, the re
peal Of the restriction cannot drfea, the
design of lis trainers. That is a question
Of probabilities. But if 1t is true thai, i, i.
a mere naked abstraction which is occupy
ing the attention Of Congress from month
10 month, al a huge expense To the Gov.
eminent, lhen the sooner we drop il the
better. Ii were for the bill, | should moi
like to confess myself agilaling the country
from center to circumference, and depict.
ing The Treasury to carry u mere fancy, Of
no importance whatever.
Sir, | do not speak upon This subject
with any Of the feelings Of an Aboliionisl.
nor yet with the policy of one who feels
constrained to ourslep the bounds of rea
son and justice to cover up a former lean.
ing towards political heresy. Ny record,
brief and uudislinguishrd, | admit j.
straightforward. Ihave labored. with 9th
ers' TO preserve the party 10 which | be.
long from the inroads of all anlagonisns,
and intend 10 DO so in time to come.
deny all sectionalism. and claim a senti
men, as broadly national asI will conced,
10 any other man. never did. and neyeI