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

understood. appeal to the honorable and
distinguished Senator, the senior representa-
tive from Tennessee, Mr.. Bell, who per.
formed distinguished part also | appeal
10 that very istinguished--nay. Sir, that
expression falls short of his emnence that
ilhsrpus man, the Senator from Missouri,
who led the opposition here to the Compro-
misc Of 1850. Did he unders and that that
Compromise In any way overresched OF i'm
paired the Compromise OF 1882 Sir, that
distinguished person, while opposing the
combination Of the several laws on the sub
iect of California aud the territories, and
Slavery, together, in one bill, SO as to consti-
tute q compromise, nevertheless voted for
each one Of those bills, severally; and in
that way, and that way only, they we're pas
ed. Had he known or understood that any
one of them overreached and impaired the
Missouri Compromise, we all know he would
have persisted before he would have given
il his support.
Sir, if il was not irreverent, | would dare
to call up the author of both of the Compro-
misses in question, from his honored, though
yet scarcely grass-covered grave, and chal-
1enge any advocate Of this measure to con-
front that imperious shade, and say, that in
making the Compromise Of 1850, he intend
ed or dreamed that he was subverting or pre-
pairing the way for n subverslon, OF his
greater work Of 1890. Sir, IL that eagle
spirit is yet lingering here over the scene Of
his mortal labors, and watching over the
welfare of the Republic he loved SO well,
his heart is now moved with more than hu-
man Indignation against those who are per-
verting his last great public act from its
legitimate use, not merely tosubvert the col
unln but TO wrench IRON It's very bed the base
Of the column that perpetuates his lame.
And that proud and dominating senator,
who, sacrificing himself, gave the aid with
out which the Compromise OF 1850 could not
have been established the statesman OF ~.
England, and the orator OF Amer1ca-wfo
care assert here, where his memory 10 yet
fresh, though his unfettered spirit may be
wandering in spheres far hence, that he inten
ded to abrcgste, or dreamed that, by virtue or
in consequence OF that transaction. the Mis-
souri, Compromise would or could ever be alb
rogated? The portion OF the Missouri Com
promise you PROPOSE to abrognte Is the Ordi-
nance Of 1857 extended to Nebraska Hear
what Daniel Webster said OF that ordinance
itself, in 1880, in this very place, IN reply to
one who had undervalued It and ITS author:
81 spoke, Sir, Of the Ordinance OF 1857,
which prohibits Slavery, IN all future time,
northwest Of the Ohio, as measure OF great
wisdom and forethought, and one which has
been attended with highly beneficial and per-
manent consequences"
And now hear what he said here, when adj
vocating the Compromise of 1850:
I" | now say Sir, as the proposition upon
which stand this day, and upon the truth and
frmness Of which intend to act till il is
.oyerthrown. that there is not al this moment
IN The limited States. or nny Territory of the
United States, one single foot of land, the
character of which. in regard 10 its beinr free
Territory or slave Territory, is not fix d by
some law, and some IRREpsALABLs law, be-
vcnd the power of the action of this Govern
ipent..
What irrepealab!e law, or what law of any
kind. fixed the character of Nebraska as free
or slave Territory, except the Missouri Com
promise net?
Aud nav hear what Daniel Webster said
when yjndicating the COMPROMISE of 1850. at
Buffalo. in 1851:
"My opinion remains unchanged. that il
was NOT within the original scope or design
of the Constitution to admit new States ont
Of foreign Territory and for one. whatever
may be said ut the Syracuse Convention or A.
nv other assemblage of insane persons. I
never would consent, and never have conseu-
ted, that there should be one foot Of slave
Territory beyond what the old thirteen States
had at the time Of the formation Of the I'm.
ionl Never! Never!
"The man cannot show his face to me and
say he can prove that J. departed from that
doctrine. He would snoak away, and sliuk n.
way, or hire q mercenary press to cry out,
What an apostatc from Liberty Daniel Web
rter has become But he knows himself to
be- hypocrite and falsifer."
The Compromise was forced upon the
slavcholdng States and upon the non.slavc-
holding States as a mutual exchange of equiv.
alents. The equivalents were accurately de-
fined, and carefully scrutinized snd'weighed
by the respective parties througha period of
eight months. The equivalents offered to
the non. slaveholdng States we're: LIST, the
admission of California; I'd, the abolition Of