The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-17

centiy acquired territory TO the invasion Of
slavery.
These acts were never supposed to abro-
. gate or touch the existing exclusion of slave
ry from what is now called Nebraska. They
applied to the territory acquired from Mexico,
J and to that only. They were intended as a
settlement OF the controversy growing out Of
that acquisition, and that controversy only
They must stand or fall by their own merits.
The statesmen whose powerful support
carried the Utah and New Mexico acts, never
dreamed that their provisions would ever be
applied to Nehraske. Even at the last ses-
sion of Congress, Mr.. Atchson, of Missouri,
in speech in favor of taking up the former
Nebraska bill, on the morning of the 4th of
March, 1853, said: at is evident that the
Missouri Compromise cannot be repealed.
80 far as that question is concerned, we might
as well agree to the admission of this Terri
tory now, as next year, or five or ten years
hence" These words could not hayesfalen
I from this watchful guardian of slavery, had
ne supposed that this territory was embraced
| by the pro-savery provisions of the compro-
mise acts. This preteDsion had not then
! been set up. 1t is palpable after-thought.
]
this pretension. In the third article of the
second section of the joint resolution for an.
nexng Texas to the United States, it is ex-
pressly declared that Sin such State or States
as shall be formed out Of said territory north
Of said Missouri compromise line, slavery or
involuntary servitude, except for crime, shall
be prohibited;"* and in the act for organizing
New Mexico and settling the boundary of
Texas, proviso was incorporated, on the
motion of Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, which dis
timely preserves this prohibition, and fouts
the barefaced pretension that all the territory
of the United States, whether south or north
| of the Missouri compromise line, is to be open
. to slavery. 1t is as follows;
"PrOridsd That nothing herein contai red shall be
construed to impair or qualify anything contained in
the third article of the second section of the joint
luton for annexng Texas TO the United Staes appro-
we'd March lsi5 either regards the number Of states
that may hereafter be formed oaI Of tie State of Texas
or Otherwise. 7
Here is proof, beyond controversy, that the
principle of the Missouri act prohibiting sla-
very north of 80 min, far from being abroga-
ted by the compromise acts, is expressly
affirmed; and that the proposed repeal of this
prohibition, instead of beingan affirmation of
the compromise acts, is a repeal Of a very
prominent provision of the most important
act of the series. 1t is solemnly declared in
the very compromise acts "that nothing herein
contained sadA be constructed TO impair or
qualify the prohibition of slavery north of 36
deg: 80 mn., and yet, in the face of this de-
claration, that sacred prohibition is said to be
overthroEn. Can presumption further go,
To all who, in any way, lean upon these
81
The pretences, therefore, that the territory
covered by the positive prohibition of 1920.
sustains similar relation to slavery with
that acquired from Mexico, covered by no
prohibition except that of disputed constitu-
tonal or Mexic an law, and that the comprom.
ises of 1850 require the incorporation of the
proslavery clauses of the Utah and New
Mexico bill in the Nebraska act, are mere
inventions, designed to cover up from public
reprehension meditated bad faith. Were he
living now, no one would be more forward,
more eloquent, or more indignant, in his de-
nunciation of that bad faith, than Henry
Clay, the foremost champion of both CON-
promises.
In 1920 the slave States said to the fred
States, "Admit Missouri with slavery and re-
fraln from positive exclusion south of Sc deg.
30 min., and we will Join you in perpetual
prohibition north of that line. The free Sta
ties consented. In 1854 the slave States say
to the free States, Missouri is admitted; no
prohibition of slavery south of 36 deg. 80
min. has been attempted; we have received tho
full consideration OF Cur agreement; no more
is to be gained by adherence to ii on our part;
we, therefore, propose ito cancel the compact
II this nd lou sqnic faith. what is iii! Not
without the deepest dishonor and crime can
the free States acquesce in this demand.
We confess our total inability properly to
delineate the character or describe the conse-
quences OF this measure. Language fails to
express the sentiments of indignation and
adherence which it inspires; and no vision,
less penetrating and comprehensive than that
of the All-Seeing, can reach its evil issues.
To some ofits more immediate and newt
able consequences, however, we mus! attempt
to direc: your attention.
What will be the effect of this maasurs
should it unhappily become a law, upon the
proposed Pacific railroad! We have already
said that two of the principal routes, the GEN.
tral and the northern, traverse this territory.
IL slavery De allowed there, the settlement
and cultivation of the country must be greatly
retarded. inducements to the immigration of
free laborets will be almos DESTROYED. The
enhanced cost ofconstruc .on, and the d.
minshed expectation of profitable returns
VIII present almost insuperabte obstacles to
building the road at all; while, even if made,
the difficulty and expense of keeping it up, in
| country from which the energetic and in
telligent masses will be virtually excluded,
will greatly impair its usefulness and value.
From the rich lands of this large Territory,
also, patriotic statesmen have anticipated that
free, industrious, and enlightened population
will extract abundant treasures of individual
and public wealth. There, it has been ex-
dected, lreedom-loving emigrants from Eu-
rope, and energetic and intelligent laborers
from our own land, will find homes of COM
fort and fields Of useful enterprise. If this
| bill shall become law all such expectation