Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-02-23
HTAINTAIN pLrGHTED FAITH.
SPEECH OF SALMON p. CHASE
In The y. s. Senate, Feb. 3, 1854,

In The y. s. Senate, Feb. 3, 1854,
Against the Repeal OF the Missouri Prohibi-
tom CT slavery north of Sc deg. 30 min.
The bin for the organization of the Terrific.
rics of Nebraska and Kansas being under con-
sidoration--
Nh Chase submitted the following amend
ment,
Strike out from section IA the words "was
superseded by the principles of the Legislation
of 1850, commonly called the Compromise Mea
sares, and, so that the clause will read -
! % That che Constitution and all laws of the
United States, which are not locally inappiloa
Bile, shall have the same force and effect within
sthe said Territory Of Nebraska az elsewhert
within the United States, except the eighth sec
ton Of the act preparatory to the admission o
Missouri into the Union, approved March 6
1920, which is hereby declared Imperative
Mr.. Chase said
Mr. President, had occasion, a few days ago
to expose the utter greundiessness of the per
sonal charges made by the Senator from Ill.,
| MIR Douglas against myself and the Other
sgncrs OF the Independent Democratic appeal
| now move to strike from this bill statement
which | will to-day demonstrate to be without
any foundation in fact or history. intend af
forwards to move to strike ont the whole CLAUSE
annuiing the Missouri prohibition.
! | enter into this debate, Mr.. President i'll NJ
spirit of personal unkindncss The issue is tor
grave and too momentous for the indulgence o
such feelings. see the great question belos
me, and that question only.
| Sir, these crowded galleries, these thronget
Hobbies, this full attendance of the Senate
proves the deep, tgansceudcnt interests Of tht
theme.
\ few days only have elapsed since the Con
gress Of the United States assembled in thu
Capitol. Then no agitation seemed to disturb
the political clements, STwo of the great polit
ical parties Of the country, in their Nationa
Conventions, had announced that slavery agita
ton was at an end, and that hencctorth tina
subject was not to be discussed in Congress o.
out Of Congress, The President, in his annua
message, had referred to this state OF opinion
ard mad declared It's fixed purpose to maintain
Us Ear as any responsibility attached to him, tn
quiet OF the country. Let me read brief ex
tract from that message -
" 1t AZ ne part OF my purpose to give promi
nance to any subject whch may properly be re
gartel Us set at rest by the deliberate judgmen
Of the people But while the present is brigh
with promise, and the future full Of deman'
and inducoment ar the exercise of active intel
| iig3nce, the past can never be without useft,
lessons OF admonitiDn and instruction If 1t
lessons, serve not as bcacons, they will EVIDENT,
fan 10 fttlall the subject of a wise design Whel
the crave shall have closed over all who are nov
end ayoring to meet the obligations of duty, tn
year 1850 will be secured to as period file
with anxious apprehension A successful Wa
had just terminated. Peace brought with it
vast augmentation Of territory. Disturbing
question arose, bearing upon the domestic insti
buttons OF one portion Of the Confederacy, an
involving the constitutional rights of the State
But, Notwithstanding differences of opinion an
sentiments, which then existed in relation to de
tails and specific provisions, the acquicscence q
distinguished citizens, whose devotion to tn
Union can never be doubted, had given rcnewe
vigor to our institutions, and restored sens
throughout the Coniederacy. That this ropos
is to suffer no shock during my official term,
| have power to avert it, those who placed m
here may be assured.
The agreement of the two old political pan
ties, thus referred to by the Chief Magistrate o
the country, was complete, and large majorit
Of the American people seemed to acquiesce i
the legislation Of which he spoke.
A few Of us, indeed, doubted the accuracy c
these statements, and the pormanence of thi
repose We never believed that the acts of 1856
would prove to be a permanent adjustment {
the slavery question. We believed no perma
nent adjustment Of that question possible, c,
cept by a return of that original policy of tn
| fathers of the republic, by which slavery wa
restricted within State limits, and freedom
without exception or limitation, was intende
to be secured to every person outside of Stat
limits and under the exclusive jurisdiction {
the general government.
But, sir, we only represented a small, thong
we vigorous and growing party in the country
Our number was small in Congress BY som
We're regarded rs visionaries--by some as fat
tionists while almost oil agreed in pronoun,
ing us mistaken.
And 50, sir, the country was at peace. A
the eye swept the entire circumference of I'll
horizon, and upward to mid-heaven, not a clou