Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-17


this is not an inimaterial statement. 1t is the
point upon which the abolitonsts rest their whole
argument They could not get up show of pre-
text against the great principle fselfgovernment
involved in this bill, if they could not repeat all
the time, as the senator from New York did in
his speech, thnt Missouri came into the Union
with slavery, in conformity to the compact which
was made by the act of 1920, and that the south,
having received the consideration, is now trying
to cheat the north out Of her part OF the bene-
fits Ihave proven that, after aboltionism had
gained its point so far as the eighth section of the
act prohibited slavery in the Territory, Missouri
was denied admission by northern votes until she
entered into compact by which she was under
stood to surrender an important right now exer-
csed BY several States of the Unions->
Mr.. President, / did not wish TO refer to these
things | did not understand them fully in all
their bearings at the time made my first speech
on this subject; and, SO far as was familiar with
them, | made as little reference to them was
consistent with my duty; because it was mort-
fying reflection to me, as northern man, that we
had not been able, in consequence Of the abolition
excitement at the time, to avoid the appearance
OF bad faith in the observance of legislation,
which has been denomnated a compromise.
There were a few men then, as there are now,
who had the moral courage to perform their duty
to the country and the Constitution, regardless
of consequences personal to themselves. There
were ten northern men who dared to perform
their duty by voting to admit Missouri into the
Union on~an equal footing with the original
States, and with no other restriction than that
imposed by the Constitution, | am aware that
they were abused and denounced as we are now;
that they were branded as dough faces traitors to
freedom, and to the section of the country whence
they come.
Mr.. GEYER. They honored Mr.. Lanman, of
Connecticut, by burning him in efigy
W, Voc thaoa hn1 tc
honored MIR. Lanman in Connecticut just as they
are honoring me in Boston, and other places, by
burning me in effgy.
Mr. CASS. 1t will do you no harm.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Well, sir, i know it will not;
but why this burning in effgy' 1t is the legif-
mate consequences of the address which was sent
forth to the world by certain senators whom de-
nominated, on former occasion, as the abolition
confederates. The senator from Ohio presented
here the other day resoution-he says uninten-
tionally, and take it so-declaring that every
senator who advocated this bill was traitor to
his country, to humanity, and to God; and even
he seemed to be shocked at the results of his own
advice when it exposed. Yet he did not seem
to know that it was, in substance, what he had
advised in his address, over his own signature,
when he called upon the people to assemble in
public meetings and thunder forth their indigna-
ton at the criminal betrayal of precious rights;
when he appealed to ministers of the gospel to
desecrate their holy calling, and attempted to in
flame passions, and fanaticism, and prejudice
against senators who would not consider them
selves very highly complmented by being called
his equals? And yet, when the natural conse-
quences of his own action and advice come back
upon him, and he presents them here, and is call
ed to an account for the indecency OF the act, he
processes his profound regret and surprise that
anything should have occurred which could pos
sbly be deemed unkind or disrespectful to any
member of this body
Y MIR. SUMNER rise merely to correct the
senator in statement in regard to myself, to the
effect that had said that Missouri came into the
Union under the act of 1920, instead of the act Of
1921. ! forebore to designate any particular act
under which Missouri camo into the Union, but
simply asserted, as the result of the long contre-
versy with regard to her admission, and as the
end Of the whole transaction, that she was re-
ceved as slave State; and that on being so re-
ceived, whether sooner or later, whether under
the act Of 1890 or 1921, the obligations of the
compact were fxed-irrevocnbly fxed--so far as
the south is concerned.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. The senator's explanation
does not help him at all. He says he did not state
under what act Missouri came in; but he did say,
us understood him, that theact OF lS2O was
compact, and that, according to that compact,
Missouri was to come in with slavery, provided
slavery should be prohibited in certain territories,
and did come in in pursuance of the, compact. He
now uses the word !" compact" 10 what COM
pact does he allude, Is it not to the act OF 1929
If he did not what becomes of his conclusion that
the eighth section Of that act is irrepealable' He
will not venture to deny that his reference was to
the act cf 1890 Did he refer to the joint resolu-
tion Of 1921, under which Missouri was admitted.
If SO, we do not propose to repeal it. Weadmit
that it was a compact and thatits obligations are
irreyocably fixed. But that joint resolution does
not prohibit slavery in the Territories. The Ne
braska bill does not propose to repeal it. or impair
its obligation in any way. Then, sir, why not
take back your correction, and admit that you
did mean the act of 1920, when you spoke OF
irrevocable obligations and compacts! Assum-
ing, then, that the senator meant what he is now
unwilling either to admit or deny, even while
protesting to correct me, that Missouri came in
under the act of 1920 aver that have proven
that she did not como into the Union under that
aet. | have proven that she was refused aamis-
sion under that alleged compact have, there
fore, proven incontestably that tho material state
ment upon which his argument rests is wholly
without foundation, and unequivoeally contra
dicted by the record.
Sir, i believe may say the same OF every speech
which has been made against the bill, upon the
ground that it impaired the obligation Of COM
pacts There has not been an argument against
the measure, every word of which in regard to
the faith of compacts is not contradicted by the
public records. w What conlpiain Vi 10 tiiis' lhe
people may think that senator, having the laws
and journals before him, to which he could refer,
would not make statement in contravention of
those records They make the people believe
these things, and cause them to do great innjus-
tice to others, under the deluson that they have
been wronged, and their feelings outraged. Sir,
this address did for time mislead the whole
country. II made the legislature OF New York
believe that the act Of 1920 was a compact which
it would be disgraceful to volate and acting under
that delusion, they framed series OF resolutions,
which, iftrue and Just, convict that State OF an act
of perfdy and treacherv uppara leledin the history
Of free governments You see, therefore, the con-
sequences of these misstatements. You degrade
your own State, and induce the people, under the
Impression that they have been injured, to getup
violent crusade against those whose fidelity and
truthfulness will in the end command their respect
and admiration In consequence OF arousing pas
sions and prejudices, am now to be found IN effi-
gy, hanging by the neck, in all the towns where
you have tho influence to produce such a result
In all these excesses the people are yielding to an
honest impulse, under the impression that grie-
vous wrong has been perpetrated. You have had
your day Of triumph. You have succeeded in d.
recting upon the heads of others torrent Of in
suit and calumny from which even you shrink
=