Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-01

same circumstances, induced by the came con-
alterations and directed by the same policy
that Of the peace, harmony, and perpetuity of
this Union. In point of moral obligation l con-
siderthcm ca ual, and resulting from conditions
which rendered them Indispensable. Two of
them hare all the qualities Of the compromise
those of the ordinance and of the Constitu-
ton. They are founded in agreement-in
eonsent-in compact--and are as sacred and
Snviolable as human agreements can be. The
third one-that of the Missouri anti-slavery
liue-wss not made upon agreement. 1t was
imposed by votes--by the South upon the
North--raised by the North at the tilne-ac-
ouicsced in afterwards; and by that acquies-
cence became binding covenant between both
parties and the more so on the South because
she imposed it. rereat it was an imposition,
not compact The South divided and took
choice and now it will not do to claim the
other on the ground of the original dissatisfac-
ton Of the other party. Brothers cannot d.
vide an estate in that way--one make the di-
vision, and take choice, and afterwards claim
the other half The South has her half She
gave it away once-gave it to Spain and the
North helped her to get it back, even at the
expense Of war-without suspecting that she
was strengthening the South to enable it to
take the other half But this attempt does
not come from the South, and finds resistance
there
This brings us to the question of repeal, or
abrogaton ofthese compromises. The one in
the Constitution cannot be got rid of without
an amendment to that instrument: and is,
therefore, beyond the reach of Congress. The
other two, being in the form of statutes, are
subjects of legislation, and legally repealable
by Congress. Efforts were made to impair one,
that of 1887, some fifty years ago. An effort
is now made to repeal the other; and the his
tory and fate Of the first attempt may be adj
vantageous in the consideration Of the second
1t was in the year 1903. The then Territory
Of Indiana had been slave territory under the
French Government, and continued so under
the American until 1887. 1t extended to the
Mississippi, and contained many slaves. Vim
cennes, Caholia, Prairie de Rocher, Kaslxas-
kia, were all slaveholding towns. The inhab-
itants were attached to that property, and
wished to retain it, at least temporarily and
also to invite slaveholding emigration, until
an increase of population should afford an adj
eluate supply Of free labor; and they pititioned
Congress accordingly. The petition came from
a convention Of the people, presided over by
Governor Harrison, and only asked for the
suspension Of the anti-slavery part of the or
dinaace often years, and limited in its appl-
cation to their territory. The petition was
referred to a select committee of the House
Mr.. Randolph was chairman; and received its
answer in report. in these words
"That the rapid population of the State of
Ohio, sufficiently evinces, i'll the opinion of
your committee, that the labor of slaves is not
necessary to promote the growth and settle
ment OF colonies in that region. That this la
Dor, demonstrably the dearest ofany, can only
be employed to advantage in the cultivation
of products more valuable than any knownin
that quarter Of the United States that the
comm tee deem it highly dangerous and. in
exped ent to impair provision wisely calcula-
ted to promote the happiness and prosperity
OF the northwestern country, and to give
strength and security to the extensive from
tier In the salutary operation Of this sagaci-
Gus and benevolent restraint, it is believed that
the inhabitants Of India will, at no very dis
tant day, find ample remuneration for tenn
porary privation Of labor and emlgration."
This was the answer Of the select committee;
and ii became the answer of the House-of this
House just fifty years ago-when the South
was about as ably represented here as it ever
has been since, and when its relative strength
was greater than ii has ever been since. The
answer is peremptory refusal to yield to the
petition of people of Indiana, even for ten
years local suspension OF this anti-slavery
clause. ssHighly dangerous and expedient to
impair that proisvion." Yes, to impair that
is the word; and it is a refusal to weaken or
lessen, in the smallest degree, an act which
the committee calls benevolent and sagae-
ioas act" and which they recommend to main .
tam unimpaired, becauseit is "calculated to
increase the happiness and prosperity of the
northwest, and to give strength and security
to its frontier" That Congress, and that with
out division between North and South, would
not impair an act of SO much future good to
posterity, not even upon the mistaken appi-
cation of a few present inhabitants.
But this was not the end of the petitions
The people Of Indiana were not satisfied with
one repulse. They returned to the charge;
aud four times more, in the course Of as many
years, renewed their apr LEGATION for the ten
years suspension of the ordinance. 1t was
rejected each time, and once in the Senate,
where the North Carolina Senator, Mr.. Jesse
Franklin, was chairman of the committee
which made the report againstit. Five times,
in as many years, rejected by Congress- and
The rejection the more emphatic in some in
stances because it was the reversal by the
House Of a favorable report from committee.
And now what inhabtant of Indiana does
not rejoice at the deliverance which The firm
ness of Congress then gave them. in spite of
the request Of its inhabitants fifty years ago
Thus, five times in the beginning Of this
century five different times, and without
any distinction between northern and south
ern membership Congress refuse to !" inn
pair the slavery compromise of 1887, not
withstanding five times asked for by the peo-
pie Of the territory. Oh, squatter sovereignty!
where were you them 1t was case for you
10 have shown your head-to have arisen in
your might-and established your supremacy
fore 7er 1t was a case Of a convention of the
sovereigns themselves; and neither this con-
yention, nor the Congress had dream of
their sovereignty. The convention petitioned
Congress as a ward would its guardian, or
children under age would petition their fa-
Their, and Congress answered like good guar
dian, OF a good father, that would not give
them an evil, although they begged for IT,
Benighted times these, and infinitely behind
the present age. The mares nest had not
then been found in which has been laid the
marvellous egg out Of which has been Matched
the nondescript fowl, yclept g squatter SOW
oreignty. The illustrious principle of non
intervention had not then been invented The
lgnoramuses Of that day had never heard of it,
though now TO belearned in every horn book;
and, believe, no where else but in the horn
books.
FIVE times in the beginning of this century
dad Congress refuse to impair the slavery com
promise OF 81; and now, in the middle Of the
century, and after 80 years of peace under the
Missouri eompromise-the offspring and con-
nnuation Of that Of '87-we are called upon,
not merely TO impair, for season, but to de-
sfroy forever, Tar greater compromise-ex-
leading TO far more territory and growing