The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02

important proposition, which assumed a
power not only to prohibit the ingress OF
Slavery into the State ITSELF but also to
abolish 1t there, was passed in the affirm
alive, after vehement debate of three
days. On division of the question, the
first part, prohibiting the further introduc-
ton of slaves, was adopted by 81 yeas to
rs nays; the second part, providing for
the emancipation of children, was adopted
by 81 yeas to IS nays. Other propositions
to thwart the operation Of these amend
ments were voted down, and on the 18th
of February the bill was read third time,
and passed, with these important restric-
tons.
In the Senate, after debate, the provi-
sion for the emancipation Of children was
struck out by 81 yeas to nays; the
other provision, against the further intro
duction of Slavery, was struck out by %
yeas to 16 nays. Thus emasculated, the bill
was returned to the House, which. on
March I'd, by a vote of 78 nays to rs yeas,
refused its concurrence. The Senate ad-
hered to their amendments, and the House,
by 70 yeas to 66 nays, adhered to their
disagreement; and so at this session the
Missouri bill was lost; and here was a
temporary triumph of Freedom.
Meanwhile, the same controversy was
renewed on the bill pending at the same
time for the organization of the Territory
of Arkansas, then known as the southern
part of the Territory of Missouri. The
restrictions already adopted in the Mis-
souri, bill were moved by Mr.. TAYLOR, of
New York, subsequently Speaker; but
after at least six close votes, on the yeas
and nays, in one of which the House was
equally divided, 8S yeas to SO nays, they
were lost. Another proposition by Mr..
TAYLOR, simpler in form, that Slavery
should not hereafter be introduced into
this Territory, was lost by 80 nays to SO
yeas; and the Arkansas bill on February
25th was read the third time and passed.
In the Senate, Mr.. BURRILL, of Rhode
Island, moved, as an amendment, the pro-
hibition of the further introduction of Sla-
very into this Territory, which was lost by
10 nays to Ia yeas. And thus, without
any provision for Freedom, Arkansas
was organized as a Territory; and here
was triumph OF slavery.
At this same session, Alabama was ad-
mitted as slave State, without any restric-
ton or objection.
1t was in the discussion on the Arkan-
sas bill, at this session, that we find the
earliest suggestion of a Compromise. De-
feated in his efforts to prohibit Slavery in
the territory, Mr.. Taylor stated that she
thought it important that some line should
be designated beyond which Slavery should
not be permitted" and he moved its prohi-
bition hereafter in all territories Of the
United States north of $50 30', north lati-
tude, without any exception Of Missouri,
aUhich is north of this line. This proposit-
ion, though Withdrawn after debate, was at
once welcomed by Mr.. Livermore, of New
Hampshire, |" as made in the true spirit OF
compromise" 1t was opposed by Mr..
Rhea, Of Tennessee, on behalf of Slavery,
who avowed himself against every restric-
ton and also by Mr.. Ogle, of Pennsyl-
vania, on behalf of Freedom, who was
against any Compromise by which
Slavery, in any of the Territories, should
be recognised or sanctioned by Congress"
In this spirit it was opposed and sup
ported by others among whom was Cen
eral Harrison, afterwards President of the
United States, who assented to the ex-
pediency of establishing some such line
of discrimination - but proposed line
due west from the mouth of the Des
Moines, thus constituting the northern,
and not the southern boundary of Mis-
souri,, the partition line between Freedom
and Slavery.
But this idea of Compromise, though
suggested by Taylor, was thus early adopt
ed and indicated in this very debate, by
an eminent character, MIR. LOUIS MCLANE,
of Delaware, who has since held high Office
in the country, and enjoyed no common
measure of public confidence. Of all the
leading actors in these early scenes, he
and Mr.. MERCER alone are yet spared. On
this occasion he said:
"The fixing of a line on the west of the Mis-
sissippi, north of which Slavery should not be
tolerated, had al,Days been uih him fauorite
policy, and he hoped the day was not distant
when, upon principles of fair compromise, 1t
might constitutionally be effected The pres
ent attempt he regarded as premature"
After opposing the restriction on Mis-
souri,, he concluded by declaring:
CAT the same time, do not mean to aban-
don the policy to which alluded in the COM
mencement Of my remarks. think it but fair
that both sections of the Union should be &C.
commodated on this subject, with regard to
which so much feeling has bsen manifested
The same great motives of policy which recon
ciled and harmonized the Earring and discordant
elements of our system originally, and which
enabled the trainers of our happy Constitution
to compromise the different interests which
then prevailed on this and other subjects, if
properly cherished by US, will enable us to
achieve similar objects If we meet upon prin.
cipes of reciprocity, we cannot fail to do justice
to all. 1t has already been avotred, by gentlemen
On, this floor from the South and the West, thai
they wiu agree upon line achtch shall dividt
the slaveholding from the non saveAolding States
1t is this proposition am anxious to effect; but
l aCish to effect it By some compact Uh'eh shall be
binding upon all parties and oil subsequent Legis-
latures,. which cannot be changed, and will
not fluctuate with the diversity of feeling and
must be destined. There is q vast and i'm
mense tract of country west of the Mississippi
vet to be settled, and intimately connected with
the Northern section of the Union, upon which
this Compromise can be effected"
The suggestions of Compromise were
at this time vain; each party was de-
termined. The North, by the prevailing
voice of its representatives, claimed all for
Freedom; the South, by its potential
command Of the Senate, claimed all for
Slavery.
The repot of this debate aroused the
country. For the first time in our history,
Freedom, after an animated struggle, hand
to hand, had been kept in check by
Slavery. The original policy of our Fathers