Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11

to have been made but 1t has that side been per
i formed And now the unperormed outstanding obliga
tons freedom originally proposed and assumed by tn
South are resisted.
Years have passed since these obligations were embo
died in the legislation Of Congress and accepted by tn
| country. Meanwhile the statesmen by whom they wer
framed and vindcated have one by one dropped from
this earthly sphere. Their living voices cannot now b
heard to plead for the preservation of that public fat
to which they were Pledged But this extraordinary laps
Of time with the complete fuiton by one party of al
the benefits belonging to 1t under the compact gives
the transaction added and most sacred strength Pre-
scrpton steps in with bonds to confirm the origna
work. to the end that while men are mortal conrover
sizes shall not be immortal Death with memorable scythe
has moved down the authors of this compact but with
conservative it has counted out succession
years, which now defle before like SO many sentne
to guard the sacred landmark of freedom
simple statement Of facts derived from the Journals
OF Congress and contemporary records will show the orr
gin ana nature OF this compact the influence by which
was established and the obligations which it imposed
AS early as 1878 at the first session of the Fifteenth
Congress- bill was reported to the House of Representa-
tyes authorizing the people Of the Missouri Territory to
form Constitution and State Government for the admis.
sion OF such the Union but at that session no
nnal action was Aad thereon. At the next session. in
February 1919, the bill again brought forward when
an eminent Representative Of New York whose life has
been spared till this last summer Mr. James Tamadce
moved clause prohibiting any further introduction Of
saves nto tne STATE and securing freedom to
the children born within the State after its admission into
the Union on attaining twenty-five years of age This
important propositpn, which assumed power not only
to prohibit the ngss Of slavery into the State itself but
also 70 aoonsn " tne was passed in the affirmative, Of
ter vehement debate Of three days On division of
the question: the first part prohibiting the further intro
duction of slaves adopted by 81 yeas to 7 NAYS
the second part providing for the emancipation Of chill
drea was adopted BY to Is nays Other PROPOSE
voted down, and onf 17tbof Februsry the bin was
read third time and passed, with these important re-
strictions.
&, - Al.
cpation Of children struck out by 81 yeas nays
the other provision against the further introduction Of
slavery, was struck out oy % yeas to l6 nays. Thus
emasculated the bill returned to the House, which, on
March ID by vote offs nays to rs yeas, refused its
The Serate adhered to their amendments
and the House. BY IS yeas 66 nays adhered to their
disagreement ard SO at this session the Missouri bill was
lost; and here vas temporary triumph of freedom.
Meanwhile tie same controversy was renewed on the
bill pending the time for the organization Of the
Territory of kansas then known the southern part of
the Territory of Missouri. The restrictions already
adopted in tie Missouri bill moved by Mr. TAYLOR
Of New Yor, subsequently Speaker but after at least
six close ves the yeas and nays in Of which the
House equally divided SO yeas to So NAYS they were
lost An'ther proposition by Mr. Taylor, simpler in
FORM tht slavery should not hereafter be introduced
into Territory lost by 90 nays to SO yeas and
the Arkansas bill February 25th was read the third
time AID passed In the Senate Mr.. Burril of Rhode
Island moved as an amendment the prohibition Of the
further introduction Of slavery into this Territory which
provision for freedom, Arkansas organized as Ter
ritory and here was a triumph Of slavery.
At this same session Alabama was admitted as slave
State, without any restriction or objection.
1t was in the discussion the Arkansas bill at this
session. that we find the earliest suggestion of compro-
mise Defeated in his efforts prohibit slavery in this
Territory, Mr.. Taylor stated that he thought it i'm
portan that some line should be designated beyond which
slavery should not be permitted" and he moved its pro-
hibton hereafter in all Territories of the United States
north of $50 3 north latitude, without any execution of
Missouri, which north Of this line. This proposition
though Withdrawn after debate at once welcomed by
Mr. Lvermore Of New Hampshire, as made in the true
spirit Of compromise" It was opposed by Mr. Rhea of
Tennessee, behalf of slavery who avowed himself
against every restrictions and also by Mr. Ogle of Penn
sylvania behalf of freedom who was ssagainst any
compromise by which slavery, in any Of the Territories
should be recognised sanctioned by Congress" In
this spirit supported and opposed by others among
whom was Gen. Harrison, afterwards President of the
United States who assented to the expedency Of estab
fishing some such line of discrimination but proposed
line due west from the mouth Of the Des Moines thus
sung the northern and not the southern boundary Of
Missouri the partition line between freedom and slavery
But this idea of compromise though suggested by Mr.
Taylor thus early adopted indicated in this
debate by eminent character, Mr. Louis MeI@. o. AZ
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 he and
Mr. Mercer alone are yet spared On this occasion he
said: -
"The fixing of line the west of the Mississippi north
OF which slavery should not be tolerated. had daY ~
him aacorte policy and he hoped the day distant
when, upon principles of fair compromise it might consu-
onaly be effected The present attempt he regarded as
premature" III. a@ ..,"
After opposing the restriction on Missouri he concluded
by declaring:
"At the time do not mean to abandon the policy TO
which alluded in the commencement of my think
it but fair that both sections Of the Union should be
modaed this subject with regard to which much feeling
has been manifested The great motives of policy which
reconced and harmonzed the arrng and discordnt es
of system originally and which enabled the trainers
OF our happy Constitution to compromise the different
es which then prevailed this and other subjects if
pery cherished by will enable to achieve similar OBJ
ec If we meet upon principles Of reciprocity we cannot
fail to do justice to all has already been ucoocd
this floor from the South and Vest athey cH aoree
line ,hich shall diride the slareholang from the non
sdcehotdtng States is this proposition anxious ef-
ing upon all parties and all subsequent Legislatures, which
cannot be changed and will flctuae with the diversity
Of feeling and of sentiment to which this empire march,
must be destined There is vas. and immense tract OF
country west OF the Mississippi yet to be settled init
mate connected with the northern section Of the Union upon
which this compromise can be effected"
The suggestions of compromise we're at this time vain
Each party determined The North by the prevail
ing voice of its representatives. claimed all for freedom
the South by its potential command If the Senate claimed
| oil for slavery. #
The report of this debate aroused the country For
the first time in history freedom after an animated
struggle hand to hand had been kept check by slavery
The original policy Of fathers in the restriction OF
slavery, was suspended and this giant wrong threatened
to stalk into all the broad national domain Men at the
North were humbled and amazed The imperious de-
mands Of slavery seemed incredible. Meanwhile the
WHOLE subject was adjourned from Congress to the peo-
pe Through the press and at public meetings an ear
nest voice was raised against the admission Of Missouri
into the Union without the restriction OF slavery Judges
left the bench and clergymen the pulpit 10 swell the in
1tnpn nj rnfnc fuvht