The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-03-01


ty-fr't Congress with the giant force Of
the Senator from Missouri His argu.
ment has not yet been answered. That
had influence with one class. Another
argument used with effect was, that the
state of the country aud climate forbid
the existence of slavery That was the
burden of conversation in Congress and
out of it. That argument followed us
AS we went out, and came in, as we sat
down and rose up. 1t was used by
mcmbors Of this lIousc-amoug others.
Mr. Conrad, afterwards Secretary OF
War 1t was used in the Senate. That
- wa, the central magnet that drew to.
gethcr the materials in the 9TH of March
speech by Mr.. Webster Mr.. Clay said
that he would not 90 to extend slave ter
fitory one foot These two arguments
led men to say the ordinance was need
less, because forcstalled by the law of
nature and if slavery could overcome
natural obstacles, it could not overcome
the Mexican law The original oppo-
nents of the ordinance and their new al.
lies said, I'VE will not taunt the South
in her sensitive state with the proviso
when it is entirely needless" l ask
those who were here. breathing an at
mostphcre loaded with these sentiments,
through that long and cxhausting con.
troversv, if this is not fair and true
representation Z
A doctrine was prevalent in 1850, and
more prevalent now, not only fixing the
rule for all future Legislation, but going
back and trarnpling on all the logiala-
tion Of the past. The doctrine is, that
people forming new States shall have
the right CT deciding for themselves
whether to admit or exclude slavery.
The friends of these bills now hold that
doctrine. Could they, in 1850, extend
s. so to the Pacific ocean, Califor-
MIA had formed a State constitution for
bidding unanimously the existence of
slavery. Her representatives were in
this Capitol. Now. start your line Of
demarcation and 20 westward. The
moment you reach thc cliffs of the Sicr.
RI Nevada mountains, you run athwart
yonr own iayoritc, omuipotcnt doctrine
sad You cannot cross California Can
any one else but the friends of the Mis-
souri, compromise be inconsistent But
suppose the friends OF that measure did
not wish to extend it, does that mako it
void l. contract of tbirty.four
years standing to be broken, because
will not make new one with you in re-
gard to matter entirely different That
contract was complete and perfect in it.
self, depending on no future contingency.
Can it be honorably annulled without
the consent of both parties, when only
one party has received consideration
know how that is met The friends
of the bill say we should never have
moved in this matter but it is a free
will offering from tAe North. aud we
cannot refuse it. pray YOU here. at
the outset, not to blind arsslves by
any such dclusion The North has
made no such offer, and no n.an has said.
Or dare say. that the North has cmpow.
cred him to make it, An officer might
just as well say, because he was com
handing tho forces at West Point. that
he made froe.wll offering to England
Of all the Revolutionary Army, with
Washington at its head What Chief
Magistrate Of all the thirty-onc States
has recommended this measured What
Legislature has instructed its Senators
to support it What convention Of the
people has requested their representa-
tives to aid in its passage In what
political canvass has the question been
discussed What body of men. large
or small, has anywhere expressed thom-
selves in its favor None, none at all
Then where is your authority for saying
this is an offering from the North ?
You have none. IF you believe the
North willing to make the offering. put
it to the test. Let this bill pass over
nine months to the next session of Con.
gress There is certainly no such haste
as to forbid this Bring the question
of surrender before the people at the
next election Of members of Congress
Make that an issue in the canvass, and
Ace how many members be returned in
support of it. If there be majority
then past it next session. Will not mag.
unanimous men, to whose benefit it is sup
posed to inure, consent to this delay ?
If not, pray tell me how you can pre.
tend that tho North makes the offer
ings2
You have, as yet, heard but little re
monstrance. The reason is plain. The
peoplc-struck dumb by the reckless au.
dacity and perlidy of the propostion-
would not believe that it had been made,
and took refuge in incredulty. But
depend on it, they will awake. Pass
these bills. and you will rouse stronger
and more bitter anti slavery feeling than
has ever before existed in this nation.
You may declare that slavery cannot 90
there because Of climate and production
but will put it to an honest and prac,
teal test The Missouri delegation arc
men of great ability aud integrity they
are on the borders, and can express
their own opinion. If any man repre-
senting Missouri believes that slavery
will not 60 to Kansas on the passage Of
this bill, | now invite him to say so. No
denial. Why should it not 20 there as
well as to Missouri ON the same parallel
of latitude? Pass that bill, and the
spawn will be cast along all the streams.
and the larva will be deposited in all the
soils, from which is hereafter to sprinp
arace Of bondmen-of slaves The faith
crs Of our constitutional age believed.
that before this our deliverance from
slavery would come but it would seem
as if our province was only to extend the
area of oppression. 1, that the dcliber
ate will of this nation / believe not
If the friends of these bills secure their
L.rccnc-n d.. L. ...LnI NJ