The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-25

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ook too closely INTO The question Of the power
of Congress over the Territories for 20 very
back unu we md ourselves embarrassed by he acknowl-
egsa q ne purchase and annexation
Great inconvenience may arise from the of the
pnncpe OF the Inherent right Of segoyernmen IN the peo
pie OF Territory Having The uncontrolled power OF egs
ang they may grant charters of incorporation with extra
ordinary privileges create public debt and do many other
things which may be greatly injurious the welfare Of the
future State TO which the territorial government may give
place but We must take the risk of unwse legislation in
The Territories H. from any cause becomes highly expe
dent and necessary 70 the general welfare Of the country
10 do so Those who hold the doctrine of the inherent
right Of seli-8oyernment in the people, will find diff
Guilty, Of course, IN applying the doctrine of
ton TO the Territories leave to the friends Of the bill
to inquire whether its provisions it now stands
in some respects Inconsistent with the principle upon which
| it is based.
If this shall appear TO be as important TO the
interests OF me country as its friends assume, shall feel
embarrassment asng from any of the questions which
have just alluded IN giving my support the principle of
embraced In the provisions OF the ball be-
fore the Senate think il wise and eypedlent principle
for general application; and upon this point will be
perceived that there difference between myself and
Iany of my southern friends Il ia not new principle 1t
was the principle adopted IN the compromise acts OF 1850
and had my full concurrence and support But the nppca
ton of this principle to the Territories proposed be organ
lied by this bi IN order to give it free and unembaassed
operation, 1t proposed repeal the Missouri Compromises
and thus great practical question directly presented and
one which, above all Others claims the dspassonae reaec
ton and consideration of every and every
man Of the country, North or South IL wse is il expe-
dent to disturb the Missouri COMPROMISED Does the repeal
the misrepresentation clause of the act of 1920 promise
/ objections should be yieldsdi
is contended with great earnestness, by the friends Of
as n% s nn does give such and me highest
that there was nothing in the circumstances under which
the Missouri Compromise adopted or in the subsequent
history of the country connected with it, which be OBJ
eced to Its repeal propose to notice briefly and fairly all
the points suggested assumed in the arguments of the
friends of this measures and think sir that before dis
passionate and uncommitted Senate could throw
suggestions which might lead honorable doubt
the correctness Of some of the conclusions to which they
have come; but after the of last night, can have but
little hope of such result from anything can say
Sir, 1t is commended that by applying the principle Of nom
intervention to the Territories that shall harmonze the
action Of the government by conforming il to the principle
Of the compromise acts Of 1850 Admitted 1t is said that
the slavery restriction clause of the act of 1920 viola
ton Of the obligations of the treaty by which France ceded
to the United States the Territory of Louisiana. admit it.
is contended that the restriction upon slavery imposed by
the Missouri Compromise unjust the South. That
| is also true.
The attempt of the North in 1920 to nterdict slavery in
missouri, as condition of her admission into the Union
and the continued resistance offered the application of
that State for admission until the South agreed accept the
proposion TO interdct slavery in all the remaining territory
coded by France lying north of the line of 36 deg 80
Just such proceeding that the great invoked by
the honorable senator from Massachusetts Mr.. SUMNER
to sustain him in his ashington
Franklin, Jefferson, and Hamonhad they been living at
the time anti-slavery in sentiment though they were,
would have raised their united against conceived
/
own course when they gave their sanction to the const
tion when they contributed the full weight of their great
names and characters in conclong and reconcing the
strongest anagonsm sentiment and between the
North and the South and blending all in great and
organic instrument Of union unparalleled in the wisdom of
Its provisions and the grandeur Of its results Jefferson did
raise his voice against IT, but, unhappy, his glorious
patriots of the revolution had passed away and he in his
retirement longer able to control the active passions
4 of the day.
Il suits the purposes of tho professional phanhropsts
and agitators of the North represent the celebrated anti
slavery extension movement in 1920 founded exclusively
on principles OF humanity and opposition to the institution
OF slavery IN the South Nothing could be deceptive
or untrue The great leaders of that inu-
nced by such sympathy for the slave they had such
horror OF the institution itself to induce them to adopt
policy so likely TO lay the foundation Of lasting eud be-
tween the North and the South There other consd-
eraions which impeled them, of very different nature,
and quite as repugnant TO their feelings slavery These
were The ong-conunued and apparently never-ending,
sway of the Virginia dynasty and the perpetual exclusion
from power with which the preponderang influence of the
South at that period seemed to threaten them. Urged by
these strong passions they had difficulty, through the
press and the pulpit activity the whole latent
lyet powerful ani-sayey feeling in the Morrill, IL 8
great party and political movement, and the anislayery
sentiment universal at the North, the chief element
| of its
1t is further urged by the friends Of this bill that Con-
gress had no constitutional power to enact the Missouri
Compromise, and Therefore they contend ought be
pealed The power Of Congress TO impose perpetual
seon upon slavery over any portion of the territory Of
be United States strongly questioned at the time OF the
adoption OF the measure; and looking at the question
Of constitutional construction, ! agree with my southern
friends that such power lie fairly deduced from any
grant IN the constitution. Yett accepted by the South
and aequiesced Of compromise between the
North and the South, and It's constutonali,y
toned by President Monroe and his cabinet
Again; has been alleged that the Missouri COMPROMISE,
which is claimed to have become a compact of so
sacred character that 10 repeal would be breach Of
good faith the part OF the South has been repudated
by the North ITSELF and that the North has acquesced
IN settlement concession of The right Of the South
introduce slavery the territory south Of SO deg 30 min
That the North IN 1880 opposed the extension Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise line, established in 1920 to the Pac
hc any part Of the territory acquired from Mexico is
true II has also been urged ae course Of the debate
that the North opposed the admission Of Aansas, lying
south Of the line OF 36 deg 80 mn the Union, the
ground that slavery recognised in its constitution but
believe has been successfully shown thai such opp0
Elton made But, that the Missouri Conn
promise has been epuaed and has been acqucsced
IN valid compact by class Of citizens at the North,
made up Of abooniss proper end the more misohleyous
type Of an-savery ggnors which ~ found represented
on this floor. They repudiate oil compromses-the Com
promise of 1920 and 1850 alike Their hostility the in
senator from Ohio Mr. CHAsE and tho senator from Mas
\ sachuses Mr. Sussrnl have boldly proclaimed the
principles which will control their upon this subject
The frc Ohio the purpose agthe the
question until slavery shall be abolished IN the District Of
Columbia and everywhere else within the control Of Com
gross. They admit that slavery where exists the States
they reach through Congress but they give
pledge that when is abolished IN this District they will
cesse their sgatiornor will they Though they profess
make upon the constitution, yet such their
Germ for freedom and free labor and their hostility ss-
very and slave abo that il their efforts vindioee the
rights Of the and abolish the other the Union should
perish, they would be sufficiently consoed for the they