The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02

prohibition, as moved by Mr.. THOMAS,
then prevailed, by "a yeas to only 10 nays.
Among those in the affirmative were both
the Senators from each of the slave States,
Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Della
ware, Maryland, and Alabama, and also
one OF the Senators from each of the slave
States, Mississippi and North Carolina, in
GLIDING in the honorable list the familiar
names of William Pinkney, James Brown,
and William Rufus King.
| This bill, as thus amended, is the first
Legislative embodiment of the Missouri
Compact or Compromise, the essential
| conditions of which were, the admission
of Missouri as State, without any restric-
ton of slavery; and the prohibition Of
slavery in all the remaining Territory OF
Louisiana north of SO deg. 80 min. This
bill, thus composed, containing these two
propositions-this double measure-fnal-
ly passed the Senate by test vote of "a
yeas to 90 nays. The yeas embraced every
| Southern Senator, except Nathaniel Ma
con, of North Carolina, and William Smith,
of South Carolina.
Mr.. BUTLER, (interrupting.) Mr.. Gail
lard voted with Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. SUMNER. No, sir. The name of John
GaiIlard, Senator from South Carolina, is
found in favor Of the Compromise.
speak with the Journal in my hand, and
now repeat, that the yeas embraced every
Southern Senator, except Mr.. Macon and
| Mr.. Smith. The nays embraced every
Northern Senator, except the two Senators
| from Illinois and one Senator from Rhode
Island, and one from New Hampshire.
| And this, sir, is the record Of the first stage
in the adoption of the Missouri Compro-
mise. First openly announced and vindi-
Gated on the floor of the Senate, by dis
tinguished Southern statesman, it was for
ced on the North by an almost unanimous
| Southern vote.
While things had thus eliminated in
the Senate, discussion was still proceed
| ing in the other House on the original
| Missouri bill. This was for a moment
arrested by the reception from the Senate
of the Maine BILL embodying the Mis-
sour Compromise. Upon this the debate
was brief and the decision prompt. But
here, even at this stage, as at every other, a
| Southern statesman interenes. Mr.. Smith,
of Maryland, for many years an eminent
Senator of that State, but at this time a
Representative, while opposing the restric-
ton on Missouri, indicated the prohibi-
ton of slavery in the Territories:
| "Mr S. Smith said, that he rose principally
with view to state his understanding of the
proposed amendment viz: that it retained the
boundaries of Missouri, as delineated in the
bill that it prohibited the admission of slaves
west of the west line of Missouri, and north of
the north line; that it did not interfere with
the Territory of Arkansas, or the uninhabited
land west thereof He thought the proposition
not ereeptionabls, but doubted the propriety
of it's forming part Of the bill. He consid-
cred the power Of Congress over the territory
| as supreme, unlimited, before its admission /;
that Congress could impose on its Territories
any restrictions 1t thought proper; that if citi-
zeps 60 into the Territories thus restricted,
they cannot carry with them slaves. They
| viii be without slaves and will be educated
with prejudices and habits such as will ex-
olude all desire on their part to admit slavery,
when they shall become sufficiently numerous
to be admitted as State. And this is the ad-
vantage proposed by the amendment"
But the House was not disposed to
barter the substantial restriction of sla-
| very in Missouri, for what seemed its un-
substantial prohibition in an unsettled
Territory. The Compromise was rejected,
and the bill left in its original condition.
This was done by large votes. Even the
prohibition Of slavery was thrown out by
159 yeas to Is nays, both the North and
the South uniting against it. The Senate,
on receiving the bill back from the House,
insisted on their amendments. The House
in turn insisted on their disagreement.
According to parliamentary usage, Com
mittee of Conference between the two
Houses was appoined. Mr.. THOMAS, Of
| Illinois, Mr.. PlNKNEY, of Maryland, and
Mr.. JAMES BARBOUR, of Virginia, COM
| posed this important committee on the
part of the Senate and Mr.. HOLMES, of
Maine, Mr.. TAYLOR, of New York, Mr..
LowNDEs, of South Carolina, Mr.. PARKER,
Of Massachusetts, and Mr.. KINsEY, of
New Jersey, on the part of the House.
| Meanwhile, the House had voted on
the original Missouri BILL An amend
ment, peremptoriy interdicting all Slavery
in the new State, was adopted by "a
yeas to SO nays and thus the bill passed
the House, and was sent TO the Senate,
| March LIST. Thus, after an exasperated
and protracted discussion, the two Houses
were at deadlock The doube-headed
Missouri Compromise, was the ultimatum
Of the Senate. The restriction of Slavery
in Missouri, involving, of course its pro-
hibition in all the unorganized Territories,
was the ultimatum Of the House.
| At this stage, on the I'd of March, the
| Committee of Conference made their re-
port, which was urged at once upon the
| House by Mr.. Lowndes, the distinguished
Representative from South Carolina, and
one of her most precious sons. And
here, sir, at the mention Of this name, yet
fragrant among us, let me stop for one
moment this current Of history, to express
| the tender admiration with which am in
spired. Mr.. Lowndes died before my rec
election of political events; but he is en-
deared by that single sentiment-that the
Presidency is an office neper TO be sought
which, by its beauty, shames the vileness
of aspiration in our day, and will ever live
as an amaranthine flower. Such a man
at any time is a host; but he now threw
| his great heart into the work. He object
| ed even to motion to print the report
| of the Committee, on the ground st that it
would imply determination in the House
to delay decision of the subject to-day,
which he had hoped the House was fully
prepared for" The question thea came,
on striking out the restriction in the Mis-
souri, bill. The report in the .NationaiIn-
teligencer says:
MIR. LowNDEs spoke briefly in support Of
the Compromise recommended by the Com
| of Copfaropna nd r,rood with