The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-01

and more permanent ia its operation intending 10 esab-
sh principles applicable 10 any phase Of the slavery ques
ton Admitting that these doeos are Mea founded upon
slavery parsans depsers OF the institution Of slavery
inhaned by sectional animosy you will say adopt that
restriction which consecraes every foot of territory to free
soil but as legislators statesmen delberang in fra
terna spirit with love for the whole country and
honest desire 10 promote the prosperity of all sections viii
you not say u snail be seted upon terms OF equality and
justice This is all we ask.
We sometimes hear illiberal and unjust aunts against
southern pride and southern arrogance Sir, let in
que when did the South ever make unjust exactions of
the North When did she niermedde with her domestic
relations When did she cast firebrand TO disturb the
peace and security of her citizens home When has
she demanded anythng unreasonable unjust or unkind
All that she has asked all that she would receive is sim
Pile naked justice Meet who here the represent
atiyes Of southern constituencies with feelings equally lib
era and just with sincere disposition to extend to Others
that justice which you demand for yourselves and my
word for 1t this session of Congress will not have passed
before we bury the spirit of sectional dscod deep that
il will never agan revisit the earth or the gmpses Of the
moon making night hdeous.o
II is charged nevertheless that the South imposed the
Compromise OF 1890 upon the North Did presumption
20 further2 Impose upon the North by yielding
jest and constitutional rights in all territory north Of 3G
deg mini or what rights the North deprived2 What
did she yeld2 She sought to exclude Missouri from the
Union because slavery not prohibited in her const-
tuition. This she had right to do. The demand was
unconstitutional That is scarcely denied. She
agreed nevertheless to orbear provided what is known
the eighth section should be adopted prohibiting slavery
north of SO deg 30 min that is she would forbear doing
what she had right TO do provided the South would
yield important and essential rights This is the compact
of 1920 which it is said the South imposed upon the North
Just such imposition the highwayman might claim is
pracsed upon him when he takes the purse of the traveller
but suffers him to escape with life
This bill for the organization Of the Territories Of Ma
brask and Kansas proposes carry out great card
nal republican ciples-non-nterventon and non-ds
elimination. 1t recognises the equality Of the States it
makes no Discrimination between different sections Of the
country because of their peculiar institutions All
garded and respected equals Who deny that is
just constitutional principle lying at the very foundation
of political sysem2 No matter what may be your alb
horrence of the domestic institutions of any Of the States
acting statesmen, you compelled to admit their
equality Is it unreasonable therefore that the Territories
should be left free to the participation and enjoyment Of
the citizens of all the States without discrimination You
satisfied that the principle is correct you would
ton it by voting for this bill, il, in its practical
quence did apprehend that it would operate in
favor Of slavery. Give you the that slaves
would be carried into Nebraska Kansas and you
would not hesitate TO acknowledge right carry them
there.
You must egate on general principesthe great prn-
cple of constitutional equality justice and moral right
You cannot violate these without wanton abuse of pow
err to accomplish any object matter how desirable The
question of slavery slavery under the comprehensive
provisions Of this BILL is left to the decision Of the people
of the States Should they find the soil and climate
suited to the profitable cultivation of the great staples cot
on rice sugar. and tobacco in the production Of which
the labor of negroes is chiefly employed it will be to their
interest to introduce them There need be apprehen-
sons of collision between the classes Of labor which dis
tnguish different sections Of the country In northern
attitudes where of the agricultural staples which
have alluded be grown where labor is exercised in
required than is usually attained by slaves there free
labor 1t is termed may be found most profitable The
line Of separation is natural and well marked.
Much sympathy has been expended, many tears have
been shedcrocodile earsover the fate of the poor Af
cans but sir if they who profess to feel much
sincere in their desire and efforts to ameloae their cond
ton they would every barrier their ansporta
ton; they would throw open the portals to the mighty
West and invite master and slave into her fruitful and
eemng valleys 1t is better for the master it is better
the slave is better for the community and the coun-
try that they be dispersed rather than crowded together
and confined TO locality Why seek, then TO throw
around them restrictions unwarranted by the constitution
unwarranted by of justice, and by spirit Of true
philanthropy. Is it that you would build wall of fire
around slavery? You would invade the sanctuary Of
the States you would not exercise awles acts Of power
disturb and break up social relations established within
their border and you compass heaven and earth for
TO accomplish by indirect mode Of procedure
what you profess you would not do directly
In justification Of this policy of restriction and dscrim
nation the authority Of the fathers Of the republic has
been frequently referred TO. | should have conf
dence in the sincerity Of those who fond of quoting
their opinions If they showed greater disposition TO pac
induced by these frequent references examine with
the proceedings of the convention which framed the
constitution and in the protracted debates the careful
weighing Of powers be granted and the limitations on
those granted have not been able discover remark
circumstance TO indicate that II the intention Of
member Of the convention TO prohibit the emigration of
restriction relating 70 slavery that Of prohibiting their
importation after 1903 Even this the result OF
cession and compromise after much debate and the Union
would not have been formed bad stringent restric-
tons been adopted The ordinance Of 1884, which has
been often referred to- was according 10 Mr. Madison
directed mainly against the foreign sAve-trnde After ey-
pressing bis opinion that IL not within the scope
of the constitution, he says
81 observed as yet IN none Of the views taken OF the
ordinance Of 7s7 interdicng slavery northwest Of Ohio
auon TO the circumstances that when il passed the Con
gress bad authority prohibit importation of slaves
from abroad that al the States had and were In the
full exercise Of the right 10 import them and consequently
that there mode In which Congress could the
reception Of slaves Had federal authority then existed
prohibit directly and totally the importation from abroad
can be doubted that would have been exertd and that
regulation having merely the effect Of preventing the nte
rior disposition Of slaves actually in the United States
creating distinction among the States IN the degrees Of
their sovereignty would not have been adopted perhaps
thought OFF,
II my purpose before this debate had advanced so
far TO have referred to the authority Of other distinguished
men, who may 10 csed among the fathers Of the repub
cF TO meet the dnfounded assumption that IL was the
early policy Of the countryao restrict slavery Suffice II
say that for thirty years after the adoption Of the
stnton the question not agitated In the time
slave States into the Union retaining the
preston made upon them when Territories Kentucky in
1892 Tennessee In 1906 Louisiana in 1872 Alabama in
1871 Mississippi in lsI9-all admitted slave
States Congress inteposed obstacle because of their
peculiar institutions. The doctrine Of non-intervention
observed They decided the question for them
selves. Such was the uniform policy Of the govern
ment from B foundation to the date Of the Missouri re-
strcuon When 1t is asserted, therefore, that Il the
original policy OF the country 10 exclude slavery from the
Territories II is gross peryerson Of the facts Of history
IS somewhat remarkable that those who fond Of
the past and especially those connected with the framing
OF the constitution have failed 10 discover the great prnc-