Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-03-03

J sire TO increase, from among the can
didates for-admission into the Union,
the number of States in theis respec-
tive classes, and SO their relative
weight and influence in the Federal
Councils.
The country which had been ac-
/. quired from France was, in 1901, or
ganized in two territories, one Of
which, including New Orleans as its
capital, was called Orleans, and the
other, having St. Louis for its chief
town, was called Louisiana. In
; 1912, the territory Of Orleans was
J admitted as new State, under The
name of Louisiana. 1t had been an
old slaveholding colony Of France,
, and the introduction of Slavery with
in IL would have been simple act Of
, Abolition. AT the same time, the
Territory Of Louisiana, by authority
, OF Congress, took the name of Mis-
snnri; and, in 1919, the poraon
, thereof which now constitutes The
! State Of Arkansas was detached, and
became u territory, under that naue.
la 1919, Missouri, which was then
but thinly peopled, and bad an in
considerable number of slaves, APP
piled for admission into the Union,
and her application brought the ques-
ton of extending the policy of the
Ordinance OF 1887 TO the State, aud
to other new States in the region ac-
qulred from Louisiana, to direct is
sue. The House of Representatives
insisted on prohibition against the
further introduction Of Slavery in the
State, as condition of her adms-
sion. The Senate disagreed with
the House in that demand. The
non laveholding States sustained the
House, and the slaveholding States
sustained the Senate The differ
ence was radical, and tended toward
revolution.
One party maintained that the con-
ditIon demanded was constitutional,
the other that it was unconstitutional.
The public mind became excited,
and painful apprehenslons of dsun-
ion and civil war began TO prevail in
the country.
10 this crisis, a majority of both
Houses agreed upon plan for The
adjustment of the controversy. BY
this plan, a non-slaveholding State
was to be admitted Missouri was 10
be admitted wilhoui submitting to
the condition before mentioned and
in all that par. of the Territory ac-
quIred from france, which was north
of the line of So 80 min. of north
latitude, Slavery was 10 be forever
prohibited. Louisiana, which was a
part of that Territory, had been adj
United TO the Union as a slave State
eight years before and now, not
only we M.ase..-, IN Ia. ..i.....,-.L az
a slave State, but Arkansas, wbioi,
was south of that line, by strong in-
plication, was also to be admitted as
a slaveholding State. need not in
dictate what were the equivalents
which the respective parties wee to
receive in this arrangement, further
than TO say that the slaveholdlng
States practically were to receive
slaveholding States, the free States
to receive a desert, a solitude, in
which they might, if they could,
plant the germs of future free States.
This measure was adopted. 1t was
a great national transaciion-the first
OF a class of transactions which have
since come TO he thoroughly defined
and well understood, under the name
of compromises. My own opinions
concerning them are wellknown, and
are not in question here. According
TO the general understanding, they
are marked by peculiar circumstances
and features, viz
First; there is a division Of epin-
ion upon some vital national question
beiween Me two Houses of Con-
gress, which division is irreconcila-
bic, except by mutual concessions of
interests and opinions, which the
Houses deem constitutional and just.
Secondly; they are rendered nee
essary by impending calamlties, TO re-
suit from the failure Of legislation,
and to be no otherwise ayerted than
, by such mutual concessions, or sacri-
fees.
Thirdly 4; such concessions are
mutual and equal, or are accepted as
such, and so become conditions of
the mutual arrangement.
Fcurthiy; by this mutual ex-
change of conditions, The transactions
, takes on the nature and condition OF
a contract, compact, or treaty, be-
tween the parties represented and
so, according ~ wen settled p,incl-
: Piles of morality and public law, the
, statute which embodies it is under
stood, by those who uphold this sys-
tenn of legislation, to be irresoeablo
aud irrepealable, except by the NUT.
( ual consent of both, or of all the par
, ties concerned. Not, indeed, that
! it is absolutely irrepeaIable, but that
it cannot be repealed without viola
= ton of honor, justice and good faith,
which il is presumed will not be CON-
mitted.
Such was the Compromise Of
{ 1920. Missouri came into The I'm
: ion Immediately as slaveholding
5 State, and Arkansas came in as q
slaveholding State, without objection,
g eight years afterward. Nebraska,
, the mart Of the Harr,toxv racarvaH a ~