The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1854-03-04
For the Advertiser.


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This question i now agitating the country
north, south, east and west and well it may,
when such great effort is being made TO give
over, to the pt session Of slavery, territory
which has been consecrated to freedom for the
past thirty-three years.
II il not al all strange that presidential aspi-
rants should be endeayoring to make capital
out of such questions but It does look strange
to see men falling in with, and advocating the
measure, and especially western men, when they
have only TO compare the relative growth OF
slave and free states, in population, wealth, ed
! ucation, and every element Of prosperity, to be
satisfied that slavery is a curse--an incubus,
weighing down and destroying the State or ter.
ritory in which il exists. Let any one who
wishes to be satisfied on this point compare the
statistics Of ohio and Kentucky, Virginia and
New York, or Of any free and slave states Of
nearly the same age.
But it is claimed that the Missouri compro-
mise was abrogated by the compromise Of 1850.
II such was the case, why was the fact not then
made manifest? In the discussions Of that time,
why was not the idea promulgated to the coun-
try' .......
The truth is, the Missouri compromise was
affirmed in the resolutions annexing Texas, in
iS4o, and Te-affirmed in the compromise Of 1890.
The acts of 1880 applied to certain distinct ter
rtory, and 1t would require very accutc per-
ceplon to see any general principle establish
ed in them. They were specific acts pas
red for specific purposes; and were 50 eonsid-
cred at the time. The Missouri act is of long
standing and time honored, and il would re-
luire more than vague superstition TO re-
,cal it.
Again, it is claimed that the principles OF
eif-goYermnent require the repeal of the CON-
promise. Ii so, why give the territory any law
t all why not allow them to make their own /
avs on other questions as well as that Of slave
y or freedom Why not allow Bingham
Soang and his confederates, 10 determine for
themselves, by their own laws and constitution,
'hen Utah applies for admittance, whether po-
gamy shall be tolerated in their St,,e? Po-
samy is not more anti republican than slave
Y. Ii the peop'e of territories have right to
let the United States entirely
ostaln from giving them VS. in the form of
rrltorial government. In the early history of
ar country, we find that The honored and i'm !
ortal Jefferson complained of the British Co. :
'rnment, that among other oppressive meas /
'es, she forced slavery upon the colonies a
INST their wishes and interest and he ami his :.
adopted the policy of restricting
avery to its then existing limits, BY enaetiny !.
e ordinances Of 1877, prohibiting slavery from =
the territory then belonging to the United =
ates. And now, in the miadle of the nine :,
enth century, their reereant posierity ar. en- =
avoring to open to the admission OF slavery. ;.
'ritors heretofore by solemn compact made n.
cred to free'om-,has bl ,stiny the prospects OF !.
portion of the best Of the western country
ch action calls loudly for the rebuke of every
'sr Vi western intelligence, prosperity and r
ferpr'se. and especially Of that liberty which =,
he foundation of our government, and for :,
'ch our forefahers fought and be.l, and final +,
conquered. J. w. CATTELL. o.