Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-21

"
correct or not Should the people of each State
and Territory be allowed TO form and regulate
their own domestic concerns in their own way
1.-THE principle be right: it will hardly be contended
that IL was wrong 10 carry il oul when the ac-
knowedged time for action had arrived. adopted
this principle, not only because believed it 10 be
constitutional and Just, but for the further reason
that il was recognised as the basis Of the COM
promise measures Of 1850, and had been declared
with almost entire unanimity 10 be fundamental
article IN the creed OF the two great political par
ties of the country uhe Wing and Democratic)
assembled in National Convention at Baltimore in
1882, for the nomination of their respective candi-
dates for the presidency.
That this principle was intended TO be per-
maneni rule of action in all future time for the
organization Of all new Territories, aud the ad-
mission OF new States, is obvious 10 every one
who Is familiar with the causes that led 10 the
adoption of The Compromise of 1850. From 1890
10 1913 il had been the policy Of the government
TO avoid sectional conflicts upon the slavery ques-
ton by geographical line across the continent,
so fur our territory might extend, upon the par
allel of 81 80 north latitude, iolerating slavery
the one side and forever prohibiting il on the
other. This line is known as the Missouri COM
promise line. When entered Congress for the
first time in lS43 found this line upon the statute
book; and although did not then approve any
more than now ofthe principles involved in il, YET
willing TO abide by il and carry il out in the
same sense in which il was originally adopted
rather than 10 expose thecountry TO the perls and
| commissions Of slavery agitation Accordingly,
when in 1S45 Texas was annexed 10 the United
States, and there all the elements of slavery
agitation ready TO burst forth in their fury was
of the opinion that all Of the reasons and consid-
eratons which induced the adoption of that line
in 1920 called for its extension indefinitely west
ward through the new acquisitions so far as we
might acquire the country. That proposition was
inserted in the joint resolutions for the annexation
of Texas at my suggestion, and, by receiving the
acquiescence, If not the appreciation of the whole
country, proved successful in avoiding the ca
lamites which were intended 10 be averted by it.
Again, in 1S48 when by the treaty with Mexico
we acquired California, Utah, and New Mexico,
and by that ac incurred the responsibility of pro-
vding governments for the Territories thus coded,
the inquiry arose how the slavery question was
| to be adjusted, and sectional conflict avoided
| To my mind all the reasons and considerations
which induced the original adoption Of the line OF
/ 80 80 in 1920, and IFS extension in 1S45 as the
| dividing line between freedom and slavery, be-
tween free territory and slave territory, between
/ free States and slave States, demanded the ex-
/ tension of that line 10 the Pacific ocean in the
| same sense and with the same understanding with
which il was originally adopted, in order 10 pre-
i serve peace and friendly relations between the
different States and sections ofthe Union. Deeply
| impressed with this conviction, | proposed, and
the Senate adopted, provision in territorial bill
| in August, lS4S for the extension Of the Missouri
/ Compromise to the Pacific ocean. lApplause.l
i When the measure was sent 10 the House Of
Representatives, il was promptly, aud perhaps
may say with truth, indignantly rejected in thai
/ body by northern men with free-soll procvities
| II is not my purpose on the present occasion &c
question the propriety ofthat vote or the patriotism
of those who gave il, but 10 call attention TO the
fact that If that line had been extended TO the Pa
ciGc, as proposed by myself and sanctioned by
vote Of the Senate, there would have been at once
and forever end of the slavery agitation
fhs.T pnla linz
had been thus extended 10 the Pacific, and had
been adhered 10 in good faith, il would not oni,
have settled the question forever all TERRITORY
then owned, but would have prevented the re
newal of the controversy in regard 10 any territory
that might hereafter be acquired either upon the
north or south Of it. Hence il will be perceived
that those who defeated the extension and obser
4 vance Of the Missouri line responsible for al
the agitations and consequences which followed
the defeat OF the Senates proposition. II was not
only rejected In the House Of Representatives, as
| have stated, by northern voies in August, lS4S
but an appeal was Immediately taken 10 the coun
try in the presidential election which was then
pending. There three candidates in the
field with warm and enthusiastic supporters in al
the free States. Martin Van Buren, was the can
didate Of the aboltionsts and free-soiers, nom
mated at Buffalo and standing on the Buffalo plat
form. That platform declared, if my memoir
serves me right, first, that Congress possessed III,
constitutional power 10 abolish and prohibit slave
1
States and second, that they the free-soilers an,
Al abolitionists, would abolish and prohibit SLAYER,
wherever they had the constitutional power, no
only in all the Territories Of the United States
but in the District of Columbia, and in the dock
yards, forts, and arsenas, and all other places il
| the States the jurisdiction over which had bee
cedcd 10 the United States. Thus il appears iha
every free-soiler and abolitionist in America b,
his vote for Mr.. Van Buren,, stood pledged 10 abol
ish and prohibit slavery everywhere in the Terri
tories Of the United States. l suppose tina
| everywhere" meant south as well as north O
&c deg. 80 min, and if so, desire TO inquire,
have inquired in all my speeches delivered in tn
presence OF the aboltionists whether they wer,
not pledged 10 blot out the line Of % deg. 80 min
or the Missouri Compromise line, as il is nov
called, as the dividing line between free ierritorl
and slave territory, or, as the fashionable language
Of the day now is, the barrier Of freedom agans
slavery Applause.
And II they were thus pledged under their SO
Tenn obligations 20 their God and their country,
desire now TO inquire whether the Freesoilers AM
Abolitonists did then really consider the Missouri
line to be n solemn and inviolable compact, bind
ing in honor between all conscientious men, tn
| breach Of which would involve national disgrace
and moral turpitude on the pan OF those VIII
should propose its violation 1.-THE repeal OF In
r Missouri Compromise was an act Of infamy an,
treachery, as is now pretended, what are we q
think OF those who, six years ago, originated tn
scheme, and compelled It's contamination by dc
prvng those OF us who desired to be faithful 10
Of the power Of carrying il out? So far as III
| point OF repeal IL concerned, the only diHerenc
between me aud the Aboliiionists and Freesoiler
is that they tried TO do il in 1SfS and failed and
tried IL in 1854 and succeeded IGreal laughte
and applause.l They think that by their effort
they were laboring in the cause Of humanity ,hei
God, and their country; while /, in doing tina
which they attempted unsnccessfuy, have pei
formed an act Of infamy and treason. Il is no an
swer 10 this view Of the subject 10 say that the
proposed us repeal for the purpose Of prohbitn
slavery on both sides for if il was a sacred com
r pact, binding in honor and conscience upon tn
North and South, and upon the Federal Govern
ment, and upon all the citizens OF the RESPECTIVE
States, they had no more right TO violate il or i'm
pair its obligations for purpose than for an
other. The motive Of the repeal, therefore. can
not justify the turpitude Of the transaction, pro
vided IL was a solemn and inviolabe compact
VIII the Abolitonists and Freesoilers, then, pei
sist in the charge, that TO propose a repeal or vic
laiion Of the Missouri Compromise was an act Q
infamy7
Lest the abolitionists may take exceptions :,
this line Of argument, propose TO place them il
company Of whose associations they are not
liberty, under existing circumstances 10 complain
believe our wing friends in 1S4S nominated Gen
Taylor their candidate for the presidency
"a a -