Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-02-15

IL Hdu Uc6H Wy uHCCl OudObinChI
might have carried it so far as the political juris
dction extended; but, be that as it may, by the
act of 1912, creating the Territory Of Missouri
that Territory was allowed to legislate upon the
subject of slavery as it saw proper, subject only
to. the limitations which have stated; and the
country not inhabited or thrown open to settle
ment was set apart as Indian country, and render
ed subject to Indian laws. Hence the local leg
slation Of the State of Missouri did not reach into
that Indian country, but was excluded from it by
the Indian code and Indian laws. The municipal
regulations of Missouri could not go there until
the Indian title had been extinguished, and the
country thrown open to settlement Such being
the case, the only legislation in existence in Ne
braska Territory at the time that the Missouri act
passed, namely, the 9Th of March, 1920, was a
provision in effect, that the people should be al
lowed to do as they pleased upon the subject oi
slavery. ,.... ... .-...
The Territory of Missouri having been left in
that legal condition, positive opposition was made
to the bill to organize State government, with
a view to its admission into the Union; and a
Senator from my State, Mr.. Jesse B. Thomas
introduced an amendment, known as the eighth
section of the bill, in which it was provided that
slavery should be prohibited north of SO deg. 80
min. north latitude, in all that country which we
had acquired from France. What was the OBJ
ject of the enactment of that eight section! Was
it not to 60 back to the original policy of prescrb
ing boundares1o the Limitation of free institutions
and of slave institutions, by geographical line,
in order to avoid all controversy in Congress up
on the subject! Hence they extended that geo.
graphical line through all the territory purchased
from France, which was as far as our possessions
then reached. 1t was not simply to settle the
question on that piece of country, but it was to
carry out great principle, by extending that di-
viding line as far west as our territory went and
running il onward on each new acquisition OF
territory. True, the express enactment Of the
eighth section of the Missouri act, now called the
Missouri compromise act, only covered the terri
tory acquired from France; but the principles oI
the act, the objects of its adoption, the reasons
in its support, required that it should be extended
indefinitely westward, so far as our territory might
go, whenever new purchases should be made.
Thus stood the question up to l845, when the
joint resolution for the annexation OF Texas pass
ed. There was inserted in that provision, sug-
gested in the first instance and brought before the
House of Representatives by myself, extending
the Missouri compromise line indefinitely west
ward through the territory of Texas. Why did
bring forward that proposition? Why did the
Congress of the United States adopt it! Not be-
cause it was OF the least practical importance, so
far as the question of slavery within the limits OF
Texas was concerned, for no man ever dreamed
that it had any practical effect there. Then why
was it brought forward! 1t wasfor the purpose Of
preserving the principle, in order that it might be
extended still further westward, even to the Pa
cifc ocean, whenever we should acquire the coun-
try that far. | will here read that clause in the
Joint resolution for the annexation of Texas. 1t
is the third article second section and is in these
words: is.
.NeW States, OF convenient size, n t exceeding
four in number, in addition to said State Of Texas,
having sufficient populations may hereafter, by the
consent of said State, be formed out of the terri
tory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission
under the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
And such States as may be formed out OF that
portion of said territory lying south Of 50 deg. 30
min north latitude, commonly known as the
Missouri compromise line shall be admitted into
the Union, with or without slavery, as the people
of each State asking admission may desire. And
in such State or States as shall be formed out OF
said territory north of said Missouri compromise
line, slavery or involuntary servitude (except for
crme) shall be prohibited o. .nsl..
1t will be seen that that contains very remark
able provision, which is, that when States lying
north of 36 deg. 80 min. apply for admission,
slavery shall be prohibited in their constitutions
L
have power thus to (etter State applying for ad
mission into this Union; but it was necessary tc
preserve the principle of the Missouri compromise
line in order that it might afterwards be extended
and it was supposed that while Congress had nc
power to impose any such limitation, yet as thai
was compact with the st te of Texas, that State
could consent for herself that, when any portion
of her own territory subject to her own jurisdiction
and control, applied for constitution, it shoult
be in a particular form; but that provision woulc
not be binding on the new State one day after il
was admitted into the Union. The other provis
ion was, that such States as should lie south o
36 deg. 80 min, should come into the Union, witt
or without slavery, as each should decide in it
constitution. Then, by that act the Missouri
compromise was extended indefinitely westward
SO far as the State of Texas went that is. to thu
Rio del Norte; for our Government at the time
recognized the Rio del Nortc as its boundary
We recognized in many ways, and among then
by even paying Texas for it, in order that it nigh
be included in, and form a portion OF, the Terri
tory of New Mexico. r., y,g. .-lls..,, 81.
Then, sir in lS4S we acquired from Mexico tb
country between the Rio del Norte and the Pa
eific ocean. Immediately after that acquisition
the Senate, on my own motion, voted into bill
provision to extend the Missouri compromis
indefinitely westward to the Pacific ocean, in tn
same sense, and with the same understanding
with which it was originally adopted. That pro
vision passed this body by decided majority
think by ten at least and went to the House 0
Representatives, andwas there defeatedby north
ern votes.l' tfs..t l... .sia.as sn -a.l5 3Lroy
Now sir, let us pause and consider. for me
ment.' The first time that the principles OF tn
Missouri compromise were ever abandoned, tn
first time they were ever rejected by Congres:
was by the defeat Of that provision in the Hous
Of Representatives in l84S. By whom was tht
defeat effected! By northern votes, with Ere
. Soil proclivities. It was the defeat of that Mis-
souri, compromise that re.opened the slavery ag
tation with all its fury. 1t was the defeat of ths
Missouri compromise that created the tremendou
struggle of 1850. 1t was the defeat of that Mi
, souri, compromise that created the necessity fc
making new compromise in lS50.% Had W
been faithful to the principles of the Missouri con
promise in l84S, this question would not 7hav
arisen. Who vast that was faithless! unde
take to say it was the very men who now insi
+Lat tb a Missouri com mnrtmiSe was solemn con