Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-02-04
WHOLE NO. 4s5.

the single free State Of Iowa. The CONTROVERSY.
= which arose in relation to the then unurgan4ed
: portion Of this Territory, closed in 1920, nv
the Missouri act, containing the Slavery prohibs-
tiOn, as has been already stated. This controversy
related only to territory acquired from France
The act, by which II terminated, was confined!
by its own express terms, to the same Territory.
and hud no relation to any other.
i The second acquisition was from Spain. Flor.
ida, the Territory thus acquired, was yielded to
Slavery without struggle, and almost witlioat .
murmur
| The third was from Mexico. The controversy
which arose from this acquisition is fresh in tho
remembrance Of the American People. Out Of II
sprung the acts Of Congress, commonly known as
the Compromise measures of $780, by Of
which California was admitted as free State
while two others, organizing the territories VI
New Mexico and Utah, exposed all the residue
Of the recently acquired Territory to the invasion
Of Slavery.
These acts were never supposed 10 abroga,s OF
touch the existing exclusion Of Slavery from what
| is now called Nebraska. They applied to tbs
Territory acquired from Mexico, and 10 that only
They were intended as settlement Of the cohtros
yersy growing out Of that acquisition and Of that
controversy only They mnst stand or fall by
their own merits.
The statesmen whose powerful support carried
the Utah and New Mexico acts, never dreamed
that their provisions would ever be applied to
Nebraska. Even at the last session Of Congress.
Mr.. Atchson, Of Missouri, in a speech in favor Of
taking up the former Nebraska Bill, on the morn.
ing of the lth of March, 1858 said "It is evident
that the Missouri Compromise cannot be repealed.
So far us that question is concerned, we might "a
well agree TO the admission Of this Territory now,
as next year, or five or ten years hence.p These
words could not have fallen from this watchful
guardian Of Slavery, had he supposed that this
Territory was embraced by the pro-slavery pro-
visions Of the Compromise Acts. This pretension
had not then been set up. 1t is palpable after-
thought.
The Compromise Acts thcmre!ves refute this
pretcnsion. In the third article Of the second sec
ton of the Joint Resolution for annexing Texas 10
the United States, it is expressly declared that
." in such State States shall be formed out Of
said Territory north Of said Missouri Compromise
line, Slavery or involuntary seryiude, except for
for organizing New Mexico and settling the bound.
airy Of Texas, proyiso Incorporated, on the
motion of Mr.. Mason, Of Virginia. which distinct
ly preserves this prohibition, and houts the bare.
faced pretenson that all the territory Of the United
States, whether south or north of the Missouri
Compromise line, is to be open to Slavery. It is
as follows: M
! Provided, That nothing herein contsned shall
| be construed to impair qualify anything con-
tanned in the third article Of the second section Of
the Joint Resolution for annexiag Texas to tho
United States approved March l, 1S46, either as
regards the number of States that may hereafter
d be formed out of the Stute Of Texas, or other
wise" (3)
Here is proof, beyond controversy. that the prin-
ciple' of the Missouri Act prohibiting Slavery
north Of SO deg. 80 min., far from being abrogated
by the Compromise Acts, is expressly affirmed
and that the proposed repeal Of this prohibition,
instead Of being an affirmation Of the Compromise
Acts, is repeal Of very prominent provision Of
the most important acts of the series. 1t is sol.
omnly declared in the very Compromise Acts that
nothing herein contained shall be construed TO
! impair or qualify" the prohibition of Slavery
north of 80 deg. 80 min and yet in the face Of
this declaration, that sacred prohibition is said 10
be overthrow. Can presumption further go?-
To all who, in any way, lean upon these Com
promises, we commend this exposition.
The pretcnces, therefore, that the Territory, cot.
cred by the positive prohibition of 1920 sustains
similar relation to Slavery with that acquired
from Mexico, covered by no prohibition except
that of disputed Constitutional or Mexican Law,
and that the Compromises of 1850 require the
incorporation Of the pro-slavcry clauses of the
Utah and New Mexico Bill in the Nebraska Act,
are mere inventions, designed to cover up from
public apprehension meditated bad faith. Were
he living now, would be more forward mora
eloquent, or more indignant. in his denunciation
Of that bad faith than Henry Clay the formosI
champion Of both Compromises.
In 1920, the Slave States said to the Free States,
"Admit Missouri with Slavery, and refrain from
positive exclusion south of 36 deg. 30 min. and
we will join You in perpetual prohibition north Of
that line" The Free States consented. In 1854,
the Slave States say to the Free States, Missou-
ri is admitted, no prohibition of Slavery south OF
36 deg 80 min. has been attemped we have
received the fell consideration of our agreement;
no more is to be gained by adherence to it OH
our part we therefore propose to cancel ths
compact"
! If this be not Punic faith, what is il? Not
without the deepest dishonor and crime can tho
Free States acquiescc in this demand
We confess our total inability properly 10 delin-
cate the character or describe the consequences Of
. nUp tail a q tha
ments of indignation and adherence which il in
spires and vision less penetrating and com-
prehensiye than that Of the Allseeing, can reach
its evil issues.
To some of it's moro immediate and inevitable
consequences, however, we must attempt to direct
Il your attention.
What will be the effect of this measure, should
il unhappily become a law, upon the proposed Pa
cifc Railroad? We have already said that two
of the principal routes, the Central and the North
cm traverse this Territory. II slavery be allowed
there the settlement and cultivation of the
4 try must he greatly retarded. Inducements to tho
immigration Of free laborers will DO almost dcs-
troyed. The enhanced ccst of construction and
the diminished expectation OF profitable returns
will present almost nsuperable obstacles to build
ing the road at all while if made, the diff
Guilty and expense of keeping it up, in country
from which the energetic and intelligent masses
will be virtually excluded will greatly impair it's
usefulness and value.
From the rich lands of this large Territory, also,
patriotic statesmen have anticipated that free,
industrious and enlightened population will extract
abundant treasures of Individual and public wealth.
There, it has been expected freedom-loving emil
grants from Europe, and energetic and intelligent
aborers of our own land will find homes Of com.
fort and fields Of useful enterprise. II this bill
shall become law all such expectation will turn
to grevious disappointment. The blight Of Slave
ry will cover the land The Homestead Law,
should Congress enact one will be worthless there.
Freemen unless pressed by hard and cruel ne
cessity will not, and should not. work beside
4 slaves Labor cannot be respected where any
GLASS Of lahnrers is hold in ahoet bondage. II Is