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

heal the breach and correct the abuses Of power Ii is
hardly possible that honest effort to repair the
damage and return the principles of the constit
uon, uii diminish that atachment which although
times nordinate, Is commendable To apprehend
danger IN the path OF constitutional duty is impntaon
upon the wisdom OF the fathers who made the compact and
reproaeh to the rmness and intelligence of their descend
ants who have so largely propered under it. The destiny
OF this great republic fortunately for not in the power
OF ianatcism The great conservative Of our
trymeni OF all sections will prove equal to the demands
upon their patriotism for the preservation of that constt
on which secures their rights and guards their ber-
ties.
As much of the South disliked the Compromise of
1870 sun Tor the sake of peace which, however may
sometimes be purchased too dearly her people made up
their minds TO acquiesce and abide the same rule in all
future acquisitions Of territory and thus put an end to sec
onl controversy In this spirit the South consented to
the Missouri line through Texas all of which was slave
territory and repeatedly proposed to extend the Pac
nc ocean The proposition spurned by the North who
positively refused to abide by the principle which they had
themselves established and insisted that the great Missouri
Compromise contained general principle u settlement
but intended to be confined exclusively to the Louisi-
ana purchase thus leaving the main question of difference
still open and unadjusted Following up this decision
their part when the recent with Mexico terminated
with large addition Of territory, the natica portion of
the North endeavored to devote the whole of this valuable
acquisition TO the purposes Of free-so The South loyal
as ever to the principles of justice and equity and not
mindful of the rights of her neghbor modesy contended
for an equal participation in the enjoyment of common
property won in part by the yaor and chyaly Of her
sons, and paid for out OF common treasury What
TO be done IN this emergency The North had repudiaed
and abandoned their idol of 1920 No settled rule
was left us this subject so full of danger to the
peace Of the country. The Territories were without
organized governments and their people contrary to
the spirit OF our institutions, subjected to military
rule Legislation here for their benefit and protec-
ton had been suspended and discord prevailed to a
most alarming extent throughout the land We all know
what followed. The South was called upon to make still
urther concessions Again. for the sake OF peace the
recognition of the great principle of popular sovereignty
contained in the bills organizing for Utah and
he tai thaf F.1
ornia, commanding the entire coast of the Pacific and
containing Of nearly two hundred thousand square
miles The Compromise Of 1850 wes then declared to be
final settlement in principle and substance Of the sectional
controversy did not support this Compromised thought
we yielded too much But il became law and has since
been overwhelmingly ratified by the people of the Union
very ground Of acquecence the settled conviction
Of d adjustment of the slavery question in the Terri
tories II this point was not compassed, it would be diff
cult to ascertain wherein the South all benefited
Yes sir, understood that the Compromise of 1850
superseded the Compromise of 1920 that hereafter each
new Territory when forming Constitution preparatory
to admission as State should into the Union "with
without slavery the citizens thereof determine
The South strong in the confidence Of the moral strength
of her peculiar institutions willing to stand upon this
principles and trust TO the constitution for the protection
of her rights and privileges ..# +. s
But ii grayey stated in the Senate, if seriously
believed and has since been repeated in this House.
the idea OF supersedg the act Of 1920 by the legislation
Of $50 was never entertained not dreamed Of by
the widest; that il but lucky "afterthoughtn And
the author Of this bill the honorable senator from Illinois
"seter-torth of strange gods; that brought
certain strange things to the OF the people and that
they desired therefore to know what these things
Well might the honorable senator have replied like the
Apostle to the nqusitiye Athenans ON Mars Hill aye
of the North and the South who approved and acqu-
esced in the compromise measures perceive that in all
things too superstous for as passed by and be-
held your deyotions in 1850 found altar with this in
seripton To The uk,opn God That which you igaoraay
worshipped then declare unto you-Ae aocfrine Of
noa-iHterUeno Yes sir in the bills organizing govern
ments for the Territories of Utah and New Mexico the prn
cple Of non-intervention was certainly established
mains TO be whether the uniformity of the rule shall
be regarded in its application TO Kansas and Nebraska
will recur to that part of the bill under consider
alton TO which objection is chiefly made and at the intro
ducton Of which SO much surprise is manifested The
ton reads thus:
That the constitution and all laws of the Uni
ted States which not locally inappoabe shall have the
force and effect within the said Territory of Nebraska
elsewhere in the United States except the eighth section
Of the act preparatory TO the admission of Missouri
proved March g. 1920 which, being inconsistent with the
principle Of nonnterenhon by Congress with slavery in the
1850 commonly called the compromise measures hereby
declared imperative and void II being the true intent and
meaning Of This act to legsatc slavery into any Territory
State to exclude Il thereom but to leave the peo
pie thereof perfectly free TO form and regulate their domestic
institutions IN their subject only 70 the constitution
Of the United States Prorded That nothing herein
tanned shall be construed to revive put in force law
regulation which may have existed prior to the OF the 9th
Of March 1920 either protecting establishing, prohibiting
or aboishing slavery"
matter Of curiosity the cause Of OPP
position strongly offered 10 this clause and 10 learn the
for objection 10 proposition fair and equitable
SO lust and patriotic measure like this imbodying as
il does cardinal principle of republican faith regarding
the rights and privileges of all sections of the Union, pro-
motive II must be of harmony between all its members
commends itself with such force TO that deep Of right
III the American mind, and pleads its so elo-
queny the patriotic heart Of the country that doubt
It's ultimate and complete triumph would be nothing less
than TO dstrust the permanency Of our government
confess that 1t is matter of asonshmen well
for regret and modification that such just and correct
principle should need friends at this day TO advocate its
claims favor The Of the difficulty in determining
the question be found only in the deep antslavery
feeling which pervades the northern mind
mean TO say the chief difficulty lies here. Not that OPP
position TO the bin Is confined those who affected with
this sentiment, by any am well apprized of the
fact that difference Of opinion prevails among some of
those who mainly agreed upon the general principles
TO its ultimate effects upon the institution of slavery But
III opposition to the great American principle Of sefgov
ernmen which il certainly embraces of leaving people
free 70 regulate their domestic policy in their way,
within the limitations Of the constitutions be fully
counted for in other way than by reference TO this fam
aiica sentiment II needless disguise the truth The
secret rests here This the Iad of our woes In
fDrmy 10 the demands of this unhhlowed spirit which still
threatens disruption Of conederacy the act restricting
slavery was placed in tho Missouri Compromise and the
same evil spirit not only resss its abrooation now, but
increasingly endesyors extend the prohibition TO all the
common territory Once concede the power to ConRrsss
to logslate slavery out ola territory and what
barrier can be set up against its unlimited sway2 Who
shall be able curb that power and say thus far shalt
thou 70 and frtherY VIII yon tell me that the line OF
3e deg 30 n or any other line shall not be passed over
because forsooih Il is COMPROMISED Why, sir has IL not
in effect been repeatedly set aside already, and
hone for favor in the future from constantly agumenting
majority hostile to our peculiar institutons2
Sir ndging from the history Of past oongressonn leps
"a, gl,osnvp ls