Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-04-01

MIR. President, take the provisions. Of the bill rs it
stands amended and suppose the inhabitants less or
more IN number OF one OF these Territories
their Government is organized should establish slavery
by law would that quiet agitation in the North Or
would it not be rational to conclude that would
be sounding of the tocsin for general rally Of all the
worst elements of the abolition faction st the North
stimulated and supported by great numbers of Northern
citizens who have heretofore given countenance
their excuses Would not widely -difused and
more intense anslavery sentiment be awakened than
has existed at any former period prepared and de-
ermned when the proper time should come TO resist the
application of the slave State to be admitted into the
/ Union?
But let now suppose that slavery shall be intro
duced into either of these Territories under the sanction
of Territorial lawand it is the general opinion Of those
who have spoken in this debate that it will notwil
agitation then cease? Is there no ground to appre-
bend that the impression produced by the repeal Of the
Missouri compromise upon the people OF the North will
settle down into decidedand deeprooed hostility
to slavery and the whole South than could, under any
other circumstances likely to in future, be pro-
voked speak not of that class of Northern citizens to
which the Senator from Massachusetts,, Mr.. SUMMER,
and the Senator from Ohio, (Mr CHAsg) and their fol-
lowers belong professional agators who avow their pur
pose OF continued agitaon and whether this bill passes
or not they will do their utmost to fan the fires OF ana
cism and infame every antSouhern feeling and preju
dice in the North And let say that nothing could
do would more painfully disturb the present composure
of those gentlemen fatal blow to their present
prospects could be given than to reject this BILL But
was speaking of the probable effect of the passage OF this
uPoh dldr CLASS
to that body of minded and rejecting citizens who
though antlsavery in their sentiments, have never
proved the fanacal rawlings and mischevous machine
tons OF the various abolition societies and sects, who
have had no disposition to disturb evade of the
compromises or guarantees Of the Constitution for the
protection Of the rights of the ayehoder bat who may
yet entertain feelings Of decided hostyto the introduce
ton OF slavery into any Territories heretofore considered
free territory Is there just ground to apprehend
that the repeal Of the Missouri compromise which, whe
ther constitutonaor not for than thirty years has
hear rJaI
north of which slavery could 60; Irepeat is there
no danger be appehended that tho repeal Of that set
tement will impart stronger and deeper complexion to
the antslayery sentiment OF this class OF Northern cit
zens?
know has been said that all such apprehensions
but the suggestions of timdity that better feeling and
more liberal sentiments toward the South and Southern
institutions begin to prevail at the North than formerly
Mr. President, let inquire whether this pre-
valence Of liberal feeling towards Southern insttu
tons be relied upon furnishing any that
future manifestation Of their ntislayery sentiments
will menace the peace and harmony of the country The
people OF the North mbbed their ansavery sentiments
in early ein the period of their infancy, at the do
nestle fresde in the nursery, in the primary aud high
schools; they have had them confirmed in the lecture
room in the church. and by the popular literature Of the
day. sentiment thus deeply implanted in the hearts of
whole population, though it may be ordinarily quiet,
and seldom break forth into fierce agitation yet have
seen, iu the history of the Missouri compromise, how
promptly and with what effect it may be brought to
ercise its influence occasion Louisiana had been adj
mtted slave State in 1872, Mississippi in 1917, and
Alabama in 1872 without opnositien and all the while
scarcely consciousness seemed to peryade the country
that there any diversity Of institution sentiment
in the North and in the South which could give rise to
any serious controversy but in 1920 when Missouri ap
piled for admission into the Union, suddenly the whole
North rose at the of their political leaders and
protested against it.
Sir believe there is better feeling prevailing at the
North towards the South than formerly but would it
be wise the part the South do nothing to
the current Of that better feeling, unless urged by
great necessity in vindcaon of its rights? :.
But it is said that these anti-savery feelings at the
North nothing than the prejuces of education
and false philanthropy. Admit them to be nothing
more than preudces; are they therefore, to be disre
garded by statesmen who have the control Of the affairs
of great country in their hands? An eminent British
statesman-I do not remember who-once said of
contemporary that but for defect he would be the
greatest statesman the times that that he had
regard for public preudces of any kind and whatever
measure appeared to him to be right and proper in itself
he would insist upon though might excite the opposi
ton and iniame the passions of the whole country
Mr.. PETIT. He was right, and he ought to have
done so.
Mr.. BELL. I cannot agree with the Senator; but
say to him frankly that occasions may arise when would
be as little disposed to yield to preudices any in
or out Of this chamber especially when these preudices
are sectional and when any great wrong injustice shall
be done by section of the Union another In such
acase, should time and chance offer opportunity Of
redress then would take the risk of deepening and de-
flying those preudices know it may be said that this
is precisely such have here presented great
wrong, it is alleged has been done the South by the
Missouri compromise, and chance has presented the OPP
porunity for redress and this brings up fairly the
quy whether the passage of this bill is Of such impor
lance to the interests of the South that every Southern
Senator should support it. whatever scrupes he may have
in relation to of its provisions? What has the
South to gain by the adoption of this measure? VIII
the passage of this bill redress any wrong injustice
heretofore done by the North the South? have al
ready admitted that injustice done to the South by
the Missouri compromise but after all, what the
extent of that nusce take it for granted that there
is not man who has considered those laws which in
this country control the geographical extension du
sion Of slavery who viii pretend that if the Missouri
promise act had been passed slavery would have
gone north of the northern boundary of Missouri Then
the whole extent of the wrong done the South by that
measure to prohibit slavery between that boundary
and the line of 36o 30i and not to that extent
less it shall turn out that this intermediate territory is
adapted to slave labor In this intermediate territory all
Will agree that such is the character Of the country gene
ralyso large portion Of it consisting of sterile de-
sert-tha but slave State could under any circum
stances be formed within its limits Now, this being the
extent OF the wrong done the South by the Missouri
promise, viii this bill, if it shall pass, redress it? VIII
slavery be established in the Territory proposed
to be organized under ts provisons Does my who
has fully considered the subject believe that this Territory
will become slave State?
have inquired with diligence into the grounds
upon which any expectation which may exist in the South
that slavery will be established in this Territory found
ed few gentlemen with whom have conversed think
that it may but the greater number, with reason
concur in the opinion that it will few house
hold and other slaves be taken into the Territory of
Kansas If this bill shall pass for the convenience their
labor In opening ana preparing for cultivation farms
and with vague expectation that slavery may be autho
Hut ne fba a. +La,