Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-07
y the treaty with Spain, which was concluded

But the Senator from Illinois says that the
prohibition in the annexation resolution was OF
no practical effect, except to preserve the prin.
ciple of the Missouri Compromise. That was
true, if Texas never had any just claim north Of
SO deg 80 min. Upon that superstition, also,
the Mason proyiso had no effect as preserving
and reaffirming an actual prohibition north Of
SO deg, 80 min, but still served to preserve the
principle. II is impossible to maintain, as the
Senator does, that the third article of the ORR
ginal joint resolution, though Of no practical
effect, preserved the principle Of the Missouri
Compromise, and yet deny that the Mason pro-
viso, which re-alhrms and re-establshes, az
part of a new compact, every provision Of that
third article, preserves that principle. II the
principle was preserved by one, it must be by
the other.
have now, think, demonstrated that the
Senator from Illinois was clearly wrong in re-
spect to the incorporation of all the territory
cut off from Texas into Now Mexico and just
as clearly wrong in relation to the reaffirm.
ance Of the principle Of the Missouri Compro-
mise by ono Of those very Compromise acts
which, as he would have us say, superseded it,
Certainly, the Senate, when it adopted the Ma
son proviso without division, and the House,
when it agreed to the bill Of which it was a
part, must have intended to keep alive and af
firm every provision Of the third article Of the
annexation resolution. One of these provisions
prohibited Slavery north of SO deg. 80 min
That provision preserved the principle of the
Missouri Compromise The proyiso, taken in
connection with that provision, makes it clear
beyond all question, that the Compromise acts
preserved that principle, and rejected the con-
sequence which it is now sought to force upon
them.
submit to the Senate If have not COM
pletely yindcated this part of the appeal against
the speech Of the Senator. The errors mis-
takes Misrepresentation, are all his own.
None are found in the appeal.
The third specification Of the Senator charges
the signers of the appeal with msrepresenta-
ton Of tho original policy Of the country in re-
spect to Slavery. The Senator says:
aThe argument of this manifesto is predica
ted upon the assumption that the policy of the
fathers Of the Republic was to prohibit Slavery
in all the Territories coded by the old States
to the Union, and made United States territory
for the purpose Of being organized into new
States take issue upon that statement"
The Senator then proceeds to attempt to
show that the original policy of the country
was one Of indifferentism between Slavery and
Freedom; and that, in pursuance Of it, a geo
the eastern to the western limit of the original
Statss-that is to say, to the Mississippi river
Sir, if anything is susceptible Of absolute his
torical demonstration, think it is the PROPOSE
tion that the founders Of this Republic never
contemplated any extension of Slavery. Let
us for a few moments retrace the past.
What was the general sentiment of the coun.
try when the Declaration Of Independence was
promulgated invoke Jefferson as o witness
Let him speak to us from his grave, in the Ian
guage of his memorable exposition of the rights
Of British America, laid before the Virginia
Convention, in August, 1774. These are his
words:
aThe abolition of domestic Slavery is the
greatest object Of desire in these colonies where
it was unhappily introduced in their infant
staten
In the spirit which animated jefferson, the
First Congress-the old Congress Of l774-
among their first acts, entered into q solemn
covenant against the slave traffic.
In 1875, the Declaration Of Independence,
drafted by Jefferson announced no such low
and narrow principles as seem to be in fashion
now. That immortal document asserted no
right of the strong to Cypress the weak, of the
majority to enslave the minority. 1t promul-
gated the sublime creed of human rights 1t
declared that ALL MEN are created equal, and
endowed by their Creator with inalienablc
rights to life and liberty.
The first acquisition Of territory was made
by the United States three years before the
adoption Of the Constitution. Just after the
country had emerged from the war of Inde-
pendence, when its struggles, perils and prin-
ciples, were fresh in remembrance, and the
spirit Of the Revolution yet lived and burned
in every American heart, we made our frs
acquisition Of territory. That acquisition wa
derived FROM might, perhaps, better say con
irmed blythe cessions of Virginia, New York
and Connecticut. Il was tho Territory North
west Of the River Ohio.
Congress forthwith proceeded to consider the
subject Of its government. Mr. jefferson, Mr..
Howell, and Mr.. Chase, were appointed com
mittec to draft an Ordinance making provision
for that object The Ordinance reported was
the work Of Mr.. jefferson, and is marked
throughout by his spirit Of comprehensive in
telligencc and devotion to liberty. IL did not
confne its regards to the territory actually &C.
CURED but contemplated further acquisitions
by the cessions Of other States. II provided
for the organization Of temporary and perma-
nent State Governments in all territory, wheth-
or ceded or to be ceded," from the 3lst par
allel, the boundary between the United States
and the Spanish province Of Florida on the
south, to the AID parallel, the boundary be-
tween this country and the British possessions
on the north.
The Territory was to be formed into States;
the settlers were to receive authority from the
General Government to form temporary Gov
srnments. The temporary Government was to
continue in force until the population should
increase to 10000 inhabitants and then the
temporary were to be converted into permanent
Governments. Both the temporary and tho
permanent Governments were to be established
upon certain principles, expressly set forth in
the Ordinance, az their basis Chief among
those was the important proviso to which
now ask the attention Of the Senate:
AFTER the year 1900 of the Christian era
there shall be neither Slavery nor involuntary
servitude in any Of the said States, otherwise
than in the punishment of crimes whereof the
parties shall have been duly convicted to have
been personally guilty.