The daily union., 1854-03-03


ments of The Decalogne should no, go
But leaving these things behind press At once 10 the
| Argument.
/ / And now, sr in the name of that public faith which
is the very gament Of civil society," and which the great
Roman orator tells il is deesabe TO break even with
sn enemy, arragn this scheme, and hold Il up 10 the
judgment OF all who hear There is an early Italian
story OF experienced citizen, who when his nephew told
him he had been studying at the University OF Bologna,
The science Of right said, IN reply You nave spent
had you learned tina science OF might Tor that is worm
two OF the oher; and the bystanders OF that day all
agreed that The veteran spoke the truth begin, sir, by
assuming that honotable senator's will not act ia this
spiflthat they will not substitute nligh! for rgh-ha,
they will not wantouy and fagtorsly discard any ob-
gaion pledge, covenant because they chance to poS
sess the power but that as honest men. desrons 10 DO
right, they will confront this question,
| Sr, the proposition before you involves mol merely
the repeal OF an existing law, but the inlracion OF
solemn obligations originally proposed and assumed
by the South, after protracted and imbitteed con
lest as covenant OF peace with regard TO certain
specified territory therein described, namely AL thai
territory ceded BY rtauce the United States, under
the name o Louislanai according 70 which, 10 con-
sideraon OF The admission into The Union OF Missouri,
as slave State slavery was forever prohibited IN all
the remaining part OF this territory which lies norm OF
30 deg 80 min. This arrangement, between different
sections Of the Union 1.-The slave States OF the first part,
and the free States OF the second partthough usually
known as the Missouri Compromise, was at The time
styled COMPACT Ia It's stpulaons for slavery, I was
Justly repagnant TO the conscience OF The North, and
ought never TO have been made but has on that side
been performed And now the unpertormed outstanding
obligations TO freedom, originally proposed and assumed
| by the South, are resisted,
/ Years have passed since these obligations were I'M
bodied in the legislation of Congress, and accepted by
the country Meanwhile, the statesmen by whom they
framed and yndca,ed, have one by one, dropped
| from this earthly sphere. Their living voices cannot
now be heaTd 10 plead for the preservation OF that pub.
lie faith TO which they pledged But this exuaor-
dnary lapse of time, with the complete fruon by one
party of all the benefits belonging 10 IT, under the com.
pact gives the transaction added and most sacred
strength Prescription steps IN with new bonds 10 con-
firm the original work TO the end that while men are
mortal, controversies skall not be immortal. Death,
with memorable scythe has moved down The authors OF
this compact but with conservative hourglafs, has
counted out succession OF years, which now dehe be-
fore like many sennes, TO guard the sacred land
mark OF freedom.
simple facts, derived from the journals
OF Congress and contemporary records, will show the
origin and nature of this compact, the influence by which
II established and the obligations which imposed
As early 1918, al the first session OF the Fifteenth
Congress- bill was reported 10 the House OF Repre-
sentatives authorizing people OF the Missouri Terri
tory 10 form a constitution and State government for the
admission OF such State into the Union but at that ses
sion. no final action had thereon AT the next ses-
sion, in February, 1919, the bill again brought for
ward, when eminent representative OF New York,
whose life has been spared Till this last Mr. James
Ialmadge, moved clause prohibiting any further in
PRODUCTION OF slaves into the proposed 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 proposition, which assumed a
power not only TO prohibit the ngress OF slavery into the
State itself, but also 10 abolish il there was passed 10 the
affirmative, after vehement debate OF three days On a
division of the question, the first part, prohibiting the
further introduction OF slaves adopted by 81 yeas
to 76 nays the second part providing for the emancpa
ton OF Children, was adopted by 50 yeas 10 IS nays
Other propositions 10 tbwart the operation OF these
amendments voted down, and on the 18th oil Feb
ruary the bill read third time and passed, with
these important restrictions.
In the Senate alter debae The provision Tor the eman
cipatoH Of children struck out by 81 yeas nays;
the other provision against the further Introduction of
slavery was struck out BY % yeas TO 16 nays Thas
/ mas ulatp Tho IpN
March 2d by vote OF rs nays TO 66 yeas refused its
concurrence The Senate adhered 10 their amendments,
and the House, By IS nays 10 CO nays adhered 10 their
disagreement; and at This session the Missouri bill
lost; and here a temporary triumph oi freedom
Meanwhile, the same controversy renewed on the
bill pendng at the time for the organization oi the
Territory OF Arkansas then known az the southern part
OF the Territory OF Missouri The restrictions already
adopted in the Missouri bill moved by Mr.. Taylor,
OF New York. subsequently Speaker but after al least
close votes, the yeas and nays in one OF which
the House equally divlded-sS yeas to IS nays
they lost. Another proposition by Mr.. Taylor,
simpler in formhai slavery should not hereafter be in
troduced into this Teuory-was lost by 90 nays to Sc
yeas and the Arkansas bull February 25th was read
the third time and passed In the Senate Mr. Burrl OF
Rhode Island. moved, amendment the prohibition
OF the further introduction of slavery into this Territory
which lost By 10 nays 10 Ia yeas. And thus, with.
out any provision Tor freedom, Arkansas was organized
| as a Territory and here was a triumph OF slavery.
AT this same session Alabama admitted slave
State, without any restriction or objection.
II in the discussion the Arkansas bill, at this
mise Defeated in his efforts TO prohibit slavery in this
Territory, Mr. Taylor stated that "he thought il i'm.
portant that line should be designated beyond which
slavery should not be permitted, and he moved its pro.
hbton hereafter in all Territories OF the Unitod States
north OF 80 deg 30 min north latitude, without any
exception of Missouri which s north OF this line This
proposition though Withdrawn after debate, at once
welcomed by Mr.. Livermore, OF New Hampshire, as
made in the tue spirit OF compromise II was opposed
by Mr. Rhea, OF Tennessee on behalf Of slavery, who
avowed himself against every restriction and also by Mr.
Oge, OF Pennsylvania, behalf of freedom, who
against any compromise by which slavery, in any o
the Territories, should be recognised sanctioned by
Congress" In this spirit i opposed aad supported
by others, among whom General Harrison, after
wards President Of the United States who assented "a
the expedency OF establishing such lne OF discrim
nalion;" but proposed line due from the mouth OF
the Des Moines thus constituting the northern and
the southern boundary OF Missouri the partition line be
tween freedom and slavery.
But this idea Of compromise, though suggested by Tay
lor thus early adopted and vndcaed IN this very de-
bate by an eminent character, Mr.. Louis McLane. oi
Delaware who has since held high office in the coun
Try, and enjoyed no common measure OF public conn
dence OF all the leading actors in these early scenes be
and Mr. Mercer alone are yet spared. On this occasion
he said:
"Tbe Hxiug Of a line the OF The Mississippi
nouh Of which slavery should rot be tolerated. had slway
been with him avofe pocy, and no hoped the day
not distant when upon principles Of fair compromise
might constituonalY be Effected The present attempt NJ
regarded prematnte =
After opposing the restriction on Missouri he conclu
ded by declaring:
eat the same tine. do abandon the polio
10 which alluded In the commencement ot my fsmatks
think II but that both sections p ihe Union should be
accommodated on this suhjeci, with regard which sC
f.ftn. IDNR tIl lbra