The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-27

'oiAa VI
| our people
take IT. then that this restrictive clause in the Compro-
mise OF 1920 IS naked act of arbitrary power unwarrant
ed by the constitution and wholly indeiensib mpoltc
and inexpedient II properly belongs TO those who affirm
it to be consistent with the constitution to point out
whence the power is derived have vet to read or hear
plausible argument going to show its compatibility with its
provisions. The defence is rested upon another ground
When point to the perfect equality of the States pri-
cpe constituting the very essence of free government
recognised and guarded in every part of the compact
between them disturbed by this unjustabe exercise of
power the part Of the federal legislature what response
comes up from the opposition An argument in demon
stration of the Justice and proprety Of discrimination
for the necessity Of different rules of action for
and the same people upon a common territory No we
met with the reply that it is closed question: that
must go behind the bargain and nothing is heard
but grandiloquent dscourses upon plighed faith
cred eompacts solemn covenants, and "holy compro
| misses
Sir admit the sacredness Of compacts but the hol-
ness Of compromises. When faith has been pIghted in
righteousness neither nations individuals violate
with mpunity For the involabity Of the faith plight
ed by the fathers in 1881 am now conending The com
pact which they then made am willing to abide by The
parties to it the sovereign States of the Union Its
language the language Of command 1t speaks indeed
as having authority 2 challenging reverence and
exactng obedience We may not render it "yod and of
non-efect by traditions compromise away its
wise provisions however plausible the prcex apparent
y urgent the necessity Let and build
despse and reject this stone but it will still remain the
head Of the Whilst build upon this rock
safe We may successfully defy the winds and the
rains Let us not then follow the example of the foolish
man in Scripture who built his house upon the sand for
TOLD that when the rain descended and the floods
came and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, it
fell and great the fall of it," And great will be
fall we rest our hopes upon the uncertain sand of
grcssional compromises
Sir whatever acts of legislation which may have been
shall be passed in harmony with the spirit and in pur
of the letter of this great common bond parake of
its sacreness and authority But agreement between
Legislators however specious the given however
threatening the danger be Stunned momentous the
issues involved sanctify law inconsistent with and
" up uOr rr
cnmstance hallow name of compact, covenant
compromise mpart sacredness its character Its contin
upon the statuebook for long years may plead
age in extenuation Of folly but like hoaryheaded
iquity should serve the rather to increase contempt
| and abhorrHce.
1t is in this light am forced to regard the restrictive
clause in the act of March 1920, mscaled compromise
Mark its language;
"sEc s. And Be further enacted That in all that terri
ceded by France to the United States under the
Louisiana which lies north Of SO deg 80 min north latitude
not included within the limits of the State contemplated by
in Of he pas % haT a
been duly convicted shall be- and is hereby forever prohb
% 1aa, pms into ns
State or Territory of the United States such fugitive
be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming
his labor OF service as Aforesaid
II is immaeria to my purpose whether the bill inclu-
ding this obnoxious section the resolution introduced
by Mr. Clay at the subsequent session Of Congress referred
10 and quoted by the honorable gentleman from Georgia
Mr. STErHESs,l constitutes what is termed the Missouri
Compromise Suffice 10 say, that the bill which contains
this very act ts repeal Of which has been made the sub
ect Of such violent denunciaon the part of the free
soles repudated in less than twelve its
passage and its principle II ii contained principle Of
tement violated and again by those who now
claim for IL respect and vcncraton Il the
choice Of the slavehoding States Forced upon the South
by dominant majority who contemplated still greater
wrong she submitted TO its passage the less Of two evils
and has since acqueced in il for the sake peace and re-
pose Until its principle abandoned by Congress IN
reference TO subsequent acquisitions she content 70
main silent for the reason Our northern brethren
demanded ought %
mitted. Here the greyous wrong Oh the one hand
and almost objectionable the other At this time
planted thonhe Of strife irritation, and du
vision 1t must be removed else in vain shall we look for
repose in the body-politc,
This line Of 80 deg 30 mu and the injustice and inc
quality resulting from its establishment have done to
disturb peace and endangcr the Union than anything
which has occurred since the formation of the government
1t the first indication Of dissolution rying point
for geographical parties for conendiug sections familiar
izing the minds Of with the idea and possibility Of
separation and than has urged TO the brink
Of this sad catastrophe.
And strange as Il may appear this fatal line even du
ring this debate has been called "a wall # protection
the South" "a barrier against the inroads Of hnacism
as il there could be safety under the shadow Of uucons
tutona law The South asks not now did ask that
the constitution should be violated in order protect and
preserve her Institutions She Is willing always has been
willing to rest her Cascthe security Of her property
upon strict construction Of that sacred instrument IN
der its wise provisions republican form Of government is
guaranteed TO each State and perfect equality Of all the
members of the confederacy clearly recognised With that
equality preserved and acknowledged the South is safe
short Of this she should not be satisfied We need no other
wall than this TO forfy rights against federal encroach
mcn behind It's strong deences trust shall
fully resist the aggressons Of ianGcism There safe
ty in leaving the strong mbers of the constitution TO
ture upon the fral panks Of caprciuus compromises
This much-revered Compromise Of 1920 not only
without the color Of constitutional authority but sir il
openly violated a solemn treaty between ours and the
French government The third article of the treaty of
sion under which hold the Louisiana territory Is In
these words:
AnT g. The inhabitants OF the ceded territory shall be
incorporated the Union Of the United States and admit
ted possible according TO the principles Of tho
and immuntes Of citizens of the United States
and the time tboy shall be maintained and protected
In the free enjoyment Of their liberty property and the re
gon which they profess.
At the time Of the cession by France slavery not only
existed but recognised by law TO exist in this Terri
tory II also we understood that slaves held
property by the inhabitants TO be incorporated. We then
by the terms Of this article pledge our government not
only TO admit the inhabitants 10 the enjoyment Of a the
rights and mmunities Of citizens but ne tDas 20
maintain and protect them in the free enjoyment Of then
property II cannot be disputed, sir, that this term
property" included African slaves. And yet without
tho modification Of the treaty by and with the con-
Of the proper authorities against the wishes Of the
people Of the Territory, and in wilm disregard of
the rights and interests Of onehalf Of the States Of the
Union, what does Congress enact2 Why, sir,
pcnon for admission by portion Of them according TO
the spuations Of the treaty, to the enjoyment Of these
equal privileges and munites proposition is brought
forward here to destroy this property and law passed
cnding slavery from large portion Of this Territory
and that too, in the language Of the restrictive clause,
orspe after its subdivisions shall have become
ereign States If this be so, what becomes Of plight
edfahP' Shall those who violated the sacred compact
Of Union, and set a naught solemn treaty obligations,