Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-16


N Now, if this was a compact, let us see how IL |
4 was entered into. The bill originated IN the |
House of Representatives, and passed that body
without southern vote in its favor. tls proper
to remark, however, that it did not at that time
contain the eighth section, prohibiting slavery IN
the Territories; but in lieu of it, contained pro-
vision prohibiting slavery in the proposed State OF
Missouri. In the Senate, the clause prohibiting
slavery in the State stricken out, and the
eighth section added to the end of the BILL by the
terms OF which slavery was to be forever prohib-
tied in the territory not embraced in the State of
| Missouri north of $50 3d. The vote ON adding
this section stood, in the Senate, "a in the aflirna
tive, and 10 in the negative. OF the northern
senators, 20 voted for it and against it. Onthe
| question of ordering the bill to third reading =
| amended, which was the test vote on its passage,
the vote stood "a yeas and 30 nays. Of the north
ern senators, 4 only voted in the affirmative, and
lS in the negative. Thus it will be seen that, II it
was intended to be compact, the north never
! agreed to it. The northern senators voted to in
sert the prohibition of slavery in the Territories;
and then, in the proportion of more than four to
| one, voted against the passage of the bill. The
1 north, therefore, never signed the compact,
never consented to it, never agreed to be bound
by it. This fact becomes very important in vim
| dcating the character of the north for repudiat-
| ing this alleged compromise few months
| afterwards. The act was approved and became
| a law on the 9th of March, 1920 In the sum-
mer of that year, the, people of Missouri formed
n constitution and State government prepare
tory to admission into the Union, in conformity
with the act At the next session of Con-
gress the Senate passed Joint resolution, dcclar-
ing Missouri to be one of the States of the Union,
on an equal footing with the original States.
/ This resolution was sent to the House OF Repre-
sentatives, where it was rejected by northern
/ votes, and TINS Missouri was voted out of the
i Union, instead of being received into the Union
under the act of the 9th of March, 1920, now
known as the Missouri compromise. Now, sir,
what becomes of our plghted faith, if. the act of
the 9th of March, 1920, was solemn compact,
as we are now told' They have all rung the
changes upon it, that it was sacred and irrevo-
cable compact, binding in honor, in conscience,
and morals, which could not be violated repu-
dated without perfdy and dishonor! The two
senators from Ohio, Mr.. CHASE and Mr.. WADE
the senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUMNER
the senator from Connecticut, Mr.. SMITH,l the
senator from New York, Mr.. SEWARD and
4 perhaps Others have all assumed this position
Mr.. SEWARD. Will the senator excuse me
for moment?
! Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly
i Mr.. SEWARD. Mr.. President, | have fore
seen that it would be probable that the honorable
senator from Illinois would have occasion to reply
to many arguments which have been made by the
opponents of this measure; and it would seem,
therefore, to create necessity, the part of the
opponents Of the bill, to answer his arguments
afterwards Yet, at the same time, meaning to be
fair, and desiring to have no such advantage as
the last word, but to leave it to him, to whom it
rightly belongs, had proposed, if agreeable to
him, when he should state anything which con-
troverted my own position, to make the answer
during his speech, instead of deterring it until
afterwards. To me the last word is never of any
advantage; but ] know that it is to him, and
ought to be SO regarded by him. / have word
to say here, and propose to say another word at
another time; but if it be ut all uncomfortable to
the senator, / will reserve what have to say I'M
til after he concludes
MIR. DOUGLAS. If it will take but minute,
will yield now but if the senator is to take
considerable time, prefer to 90 on myself
Mr.. SEWARD. No, sir, make long
speeches anywhere | never make long speech,
and therefore would prefer saying what have
to submit now, if the honorable senator prefers it.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Very well.
Mr.. SEWARD. thought he would. In the
first place, find that the honorable senator is
i promises.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. That is not a vindication
of any point which have attacked. ! hope the
honorable senator will state his point
or will state nothing. Whoever will refer to
my antecedents will find that in the year 1850
expressed opinions the subject of legislative
compromises between the north and south, which,
at that day, were rejected and repudiated.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. If the object of the senator
cannot yield the floor to him but if his object is
now to show that the north did not violate the
Missouri compromise, will yield
Mr.. SEWARD. IL the honorable senator will
allow me just one minute and a half, without die
tating what shall say within that minute and
half, shall be satisfied.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly, will consent to
that.
Mr. SEWARD. find that the honorable
senator from Illinois is standing upon the ground
upon which stood in 1850. ! have nothing to
say now in favor of that ground On this occa
sion, stand upon the ground, in regard to COM
promises, which has been adopted by the country
Then, when the Senator tells that the north
did not altogether, willingly, and unanimously,
consent to the compromise of 1920, agree to it /;
but | have been overborne in the country, on the
ground that if one northern man carried with him
a majority of Congress he bound the whole north.
And so hold in regard to the compromise Of
1920, that it was carried by a vote which has
been held by tho south and by the honorable
senator from Illinois to bind the north The
south having received their consideration and
equivalent, ] only hold him, upon his own doc
trine and the doctrine of the south, bound to
stand to it. That is all have to say upon that
point.
/ A few words more will cover all that have to
say about what the honorable Senator may say
hereafter as to the north repudating this contract
When | was absent, | understood the senator
| alluQcQ 10 Lne ldCt tildI dpPcuicu upon
an appeal which was issued by the honorable sem
ator from Ohio, and some other members of Con-
gress, to the people, the subject of this bill.
Upon that point it has been my intention through
out to leave to the honorable senator from Illinois,
and those who act with him, whatever there is of
merit, and whatever there is of responsibility for
the present measure, and for all the agitation
and discussion upon it. Therefore, us soon as
found, when returned to the Capitol, that my
name was on that paper caused it TO be made
known and published, as fully and extensively
could, that had never been consulted in re-
gard to it; that know nothing about it; and that
the merit Of the measure, as well as the RESPONSE
bility, belonged to the honorable senator from
: Ohio, and those who co-oPerated with him; and
that had never seen the paper which he
commented; nor have in any way addressed the
public upon the subject.
Mr. DOUGLAS. / wish to ask the senator
from New York question. lie / understood his
remarks when he spoke, and il ] understand his