Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-01


entitled admission under the provisions the Federal Coz
attuon And such States may be formed out Of that
ton Of said territory lying south Of 500 So north laud
commonly konn the Nssoli compromise ne shall be nc
mitted into the Union NTH pitAoIt Slavery the pecp
each State asking admission may desire. And in sue
be formed out Of said territory mort
Of said Missouri line involuntary
vitude except for crimel SHALL BK PROHIBITED"
The parliamentary history of this transaction is ex
ceengy interesting not only proving the recogniio
Of the Missouri compromise, but also showing that tn
line of 36o 30 adopted, i'll the instance, motio
of Mr. DouaLAs, the present Senator from Illinois, an
that itwa made applicable to STATES well Trri.ori'
north Of 3Go 30
IN debate in the Senate in l84s, on the Oregon bill
Mr.. DOUGLAS, of Illinois, who has since in letter pub
ished in the newspapers avowed himself the author
the present bin repeal the Missouri compromise offer
ed an amendment which recognised the Missouri compro
mise and which proposed extend the line of $50 80
through the Territory Of Oregon. The amendment
voted for by all the Senators from tho South AMI passe
the Senate, but il afterwards disagreed to in th
House Most Of the Southern Representatives voted fol
it bat the majority of the House voted against it, be-
cause they unwilling to extend the compromise ln
of Missouri 10 the Territory Of Oregon. This clear anG
distinct OF the House has been lately argued to be
reputation Of the Missouri compromise; but the argu
Incnt l. too fmsy to delude any wel-haanced mind
refusal TO extend the Missouri compromise line TO another
territory than Missouri reputation of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, about which all agreed, bat
simple refusal to make another such compromise for the
government OF the Oregon Territory.
In the discussions in Congress and ont Of IT, on The
compromise Of 1856 public speaker writer
of the South contended that the Missouri coprse
was, any way manner, connected with or affected
! by those measures.
In 1851 the two great parties of the country composing
the sovereign people met in their several convehtions
and each soemny approved and ratified the compromise
measures Of i850uo sir lioentiousy declaring law
superseded any compromise annued and set aside,
but honestly and parocaly procaiming their fellow
countrymen that they regarded the compromise in prin
cpe and substance, final settlement of the subject to
thaftl
the enforcement of the compromise abiding by
and adhering u faithful execution of them and that
they would discouutenan6e any efforts to continue
renew the agitation of the questions settled having
inevitable tendency to diminish the happiness Of the
people and to endauger the integrity Of the Union
Congress assembled this year i'll the spirit OF the wise
Of the two conventions, and under the brightest
auspices All the great interests Of the country
prosperous. Agriculture under bountie Providence,
had richly rewarded the labors Of the husbanman COM
merce, in her spirit of enterprise lad pushed her peace
ful conquests, and opened regions for profitable
trade and for the spread OF her benshcent nuepces
manufactures had found increased employment, and
vyed from guishing condition. the fisheries not
with standing differences, happily in the way Of
tuay advantageous settlement between country and
Great Britain Ind left their rich fields open for the har
vests OF hardy and adventurous relations
with foreign nations were peaceful and friendly; the
spirit of internal improvement abroad in the land,
making ways and facilities for trade and commerce and
every species OF useful intercourse and binding the people
Of all sections closely together in the bonds of fra
rna any and good neghborhOod the arts and sciences
steadily advancing; edreaGon morality and Tei
gon informing purifying, and ecyating the people,
and crowuing them with their multiplied blessings and
above ALL and most conducive toal these agitating
and disturbing questions vexed the public mind, but
peace and harmony hrohery love and mutual confidence
prevailed in the breasts Of Throughout the length
and breadth Of our great Republic. ... .>.'.
Such the happy condition Of the country when the
demon Of Dseord eaped into our Eden and introduced
the subject of slavery to agate mems minds and to turn
their hearts from another. ..
Mr. Chairman, good faith is the only basis ef conf
dence, the lie which holds together in society in
peace and amty. Good fsth with Kindness is the in
dissolube bond of broth erhood Sir the Missouri
promise has performed It's holy work Of pacication and
union For thrtyfour years it has kept the Louisiana
territory consecrated ground from the intrusion of "
atics and political egthtors Representatives from the
South and the North and the Enst and the Vast call
upon you in the OF your country to maintain the
faith of your foreSathers. Repeaor to borrow the
tangled language of the day, declare supersededone
promise and open the door for the overthrow of
compromise and, looking consequences, fear for the
overthrow of that most glorious OF compromises the Con-
stituton of these United States This believe, will be
the sentiment of the people Of the United States after due
reflection assured and happy to believe that il
is the sentiment Of several leading papers of Louisiana
But sir whatever may be the sentiments of Others is
my sentiment and utter it here this day. in my place
as national Representative under al the responsible
ties that rest upon without the least regard to any
consequences merely personal to myself.
Sir the clause in the bin in relation to slavery mas ta
ken the people by surprise. No primary meetings had
been held III the agricultural districts of the Union,
voice had up from the scaboard and the cities
complaint petition had proceeded from any State Le
gsaure calling for the disturbance repeal of the Mis-
| souri, compromise. " '.-.
But it is said that the repeal is voluntary and spon
taneous peace offering from the North to the South Gen
enen of the South do suffer yourselves to be de
luded by this unfounded and audacious pretence. By
whom the author Of this abonnabe measure EN-
covered present himself the country the emto
iment of the North to act in her behalf and to speak
her sentiments and feelings No, sirs no. the voice o
the North is clear and loud against the repeal Itspeak
by the press in tones Of wounded affection, of friendly
remonsrance and exposulation, not unmixed with JUS
and natural indignation against the proposed outrage
good faith II daily sounds in through the pro
ceedings of public meetings, of numerous associations
of whole communities Of intelligent men, Of patriotic
State Legislatures, presented to this House.
In addition to the public evidence Of Northern sent
ment have seen letters from the most distinguished ct
zens of the North addressed friends this floor de
precaDg the agitation of the slavery question rs nJu
rous to the peace of the country and the stability Of th
Union and appealing to the patriotism of the South
discounteuance and repress it.
Sir the movement OF the repeal did not originate il
Northern sentiment, it proposed in the Nebrask
bills first introduced into Congress. 1t an after
thought, unhappy aftertought, which stands befor
the country condemned by the judgment of some of it
supporters previously pronounced against the very agi
tation II has produced. "u.
The pretence that the proposition for the repeal Of h
Missouri compromise il voluntary and spontaneous OF
fer from the North the South, however unfounded
yet clear admission that the repeal not denande
or asked for by the South But | 20 further and So
that practically and apart from the consideration Of goo
faith and the consequences that would result from it
breach the South had interest to in the matte