Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-02

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| book and although did then approve any more
than of the principles involved in H. yet was will
ing abide by il and carry it out in the sense In
which il originally adopted rather than expose the
country the pers and commissions of slavery apa-
ton. Accordingly, when in 1845 Texas annexed to
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 and considerations
which induced the adoption OF that line in 1920 called for
its extension indefinitely westward through the new ac
quisition far might acquire the country That
proposition inserted in the joint resolutions for the
annexation Of Texas at my suggestions and by receiving
the acquiescence, If the appreciation OF the whole
country proved successful in avoiding the calamities
which were intended 10 be ayerted by it, Again in
lS4S when by the treaty of Mexico we acquired Cali
forna Utah, and New Mexico and by that act incurred
the responsibility of providing for the Ter
rtores thus ceded the inquiry how the slavery
question to be adjusted and sectional avoided
To my mind all the and considerations which in
duced the original adoption Of the line of 800 30 in 1920
and its extension in 1916 the dividing line between
freedom aud slavery between free territory and slave
territory between free States and slave States demanded
the extension Of that line the Pacific ocean, the same
and with the understanding with which was
originally adopted in order preserve peace and friend
y relations between the different States and sections Of
the Union. Deeply impressed with this conviction,
proposed, and the Senate adopted, provision in Ter
rtoral bill in August, lS4S, for the extension Of the
Missouri compromise to the Pacific ApplauseI
When tbs sent to tho House of Represer-
atives it was promptly, and perhaps may say with
truth Indignantly rejected in that body by Northern men
present occasion to question the proprty Of that
the patriotism of those who gave it, but call attention
to the fact that if that line had been extended the Pa
cfc proposed by myself and sanctioned by of
the Senate there would at and forever an
end Of the slavery agitation concerning the Territories
oud applause for if the line lad been thus extended
TO the Pacific and had been adhered in good faith Il
would only have settled the question forever to all
territory then owned but would have prevented the re-
newal of the controversy in regard to any territory that
might hereafter be acquired either upon the North or
Snuth of WILL a that
defeated the extension and observance Of the Missouri
line responsible for the agitaons and consequences
which followed the defeat of the Senatss proposition
1t only rejected in the House of Representatives,
as have stated by Northern votes in August 1S4S but
appeal was Immediately taken to the country in the
Presidential election which then pending. There
three candidates in the field, with and enhu-
siastic supporters in all the free States Martin Van
Buren, the candidate of the Aboltonists and Free
soers, nominated Buffalo and standing the Buffalo
platform That platform declared il memory
right fret, that Congress possessed the constitutional
power abolish and prohibit slavery every where in the
Territories the United States and second that they the
Freesoers and Abotionsts would abolish and prohibit
slavery wherever they had the constitutional power
not emily in all the Territories Of tho United States but
in the District of Columbia and in the dock yards forts
and arsens and oil other places in the States the u-
rsdcon which had been coded the United States
Thus it appears that every Freesoer and Abotons in
America by his vote for Mr. Van Buren, stood pledged
abolish and prohibit slavery every where in the Terri
tories of the United States. / suppose that I" every
where meant south as well north Of 500 30< and il
So desire to inquire, as have inquired in all my
speeches deveredn the presence of the Aboonsts whe
ther they pledged to blot out the line of 800 30
tho Missouri compromise line it is called, as
the dividing line between free territory and slave terri
tory, or the fashionable language Of the day
is, the barrier Of freedom against slavery [AppauseI
And if they thus pledged under their solemn OBJ
legations to their God and their country, desire
inquire whether the Freesolers and Abolitonists did
then really consider the Missouri line to be solemn and
nyiolabe compact binding in honor between a consci
entous men, the breach of which would involve national
disgrace and moral upitude the part of those who
should propose its violation? If the repeal of the Mis-
souri, compromise act Of infamy and treachery,
is now pretended, what to think of those who
six years ago originated the scheme and compelled its
contamination by deprving those OF who desired be
faithful it of the power of carrying it out? So far
the point of repeal is concerned the only difference
tween and the Abotonsts and Freesoilers is that
they tried do it in 48 and failed and tried it in 54
and succeeded! Great laughter and applausel They
think that by their efforts they aboring in the
of humanity their God, and their country, while l. in
doing that which they attempted unsuccessfuy, have
performed an act of infamy and treason 1t 10
swer 20 this view OF the subject to that they proposed
its repeal for the purpose Of prohibiting slavery both
sides; for if it sacred compact binding in honor
and conscience upon the North and South and upon the
Federal Government and upon all the citizens of the
spectve States they had right violate it or
impair its obligations for purpose than for another
The motive Of the repeal therefore, cannot justify the
turptude Of the transaction, provided it solemn
and nyiolable compact win the Aboitioniss and Free
soers then persist the charge that propose repeal
violation Of the Missouri compromise act Of
infamy?
Lest the Abotonsts may take exception to this line
of argument, | propose to place them in company Of
whose associations they at liberty existing
circumstances, to complain I believe our Wing friends
in l849 nominated General Taylor their candidate for
the Presidency. When they held their Conventions in
each Of the free States of the Union nominate candi-
dates for Presidential electors and Governors and Con-
gressmen and other officers they passed resolutions in
favor Of the prohibition of slavery throughout all the Ter
rtores of the United States. suppose that all the
Territories meant those south as well as NORTH of $50
30 Ii So they pledged well as the Abetionists
and Freesoers blot the line and prohibits slavery
the south lit Did they consider that line as sa-
cred compact the abrogaon Of which involved shonor
and perhdy? Ii So remains for them explain no it
that they for the sake Of electng their leader to the
Presidency and possessing themselves Of patronage
the Government and the emolumens Of Office pledged
themselves in the face Of God and man to do that which
they pronounce to be act of infamy and treason.
Loud applause.1
This being the position of the Wings the Freesoilers
and the A5cioAists, let see how the Democratic
party stood that occasion General Cass was our can
didate in lS4S He had just written letter which is
familiar to the country the Nicholson letter In he
had declared that Congress possessed constitutional
power to the subject Of slavery in the Ter
rcres Of the United States and hence that the Missouri
compromise unconstitutional and void and in lieu of
he proposed that the people Of the Territories and Of
the States to be formed therein should be left
rey free to form and regulate their domestic nsttu
tons IN their own way, subject to other limitation
than that imposed by the Constitution Of the United
States Was this the position occupied the Demo-