Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-26
DAILY NATIONAL ERA.


Compromise was superseded by any principle
inconsistent with it, supposed to have been de-
veoped by the acts OF 1850, or either OF them.
But these arguments are all mere efforts al
special pleading, unworthy OF the Congress Of
the United States, and unworthy of the Ameri-
can people 10 whom they are addressed. The
Missouri Compromise has its power, not in the
letter of the law, but in the hearts and con-
sciences of the people, North and South. Ii was
in the power of the very next Congress TO repeal
the restriction contained in the eighth section
Of that act as much as it is in your power
Yet the other half Of the compact - the ad-
mission of Missouri not be repealed and
the friends of the restriction were left with no
guarantee but the pighted faith Of its enemies in
Congress. This agreement in Congress became the
agreement of the whole country for the people
accepted and sanctioned it, and have acted upon
it ever since. Therefore II is of no importance to
sift the acts Of 1860 for Understanding or
technical construction. II is only important to
know whether Congress at the time or the people
afterwards, took them as repeal of the Missouri
Compromise. No man can be so shameless as to say
that they did. The Missouri Compromise, then, is
in full force to-day, binding as strongly the honor
and conscience of the North and the South as il
did in 1920.
few words more about compromises. In the
Missouri Compromise, the South promised to keep
its slave tracks off of the Nebraska Territory for
ever In the Fugitive Slave Compromise, the North
promised to hunt, catch, hold, and send back TO
bondage, every poor fugitive slave. In the Mis-
souri, Compromise, the South promised just
and holy thing. In the Slave Rendition Compro-
mise, the North promised an unjust inhuman,
and most unholy thing. In the Missouri Com
promise, the South bound themselves torener
In the Slave-catching Compromise, no time
a wv FIR fha mt nf
the act
The Missouri Compact has never yet had
fair trial. So far as the part relating to Freedom
is concerned we are just on the eve of the ques-
ton.
How is it with the Black Compromise /? Again
and again has the North sacrificed her sense of
right and justice on the altar of that compromise
What joy, Mr.. Chairman, must swell the bosom
of the universal North, as she contcmplates each
of these achievements Well may the Sonth ex-
claim, Sour Northern brethren are men Of prin-
ciple!"
The attempt was made to add indgnity to the
burden imposed upon the North by adding in
effect the word fore0er" to the provisions of
the Fugitive Slave Act so that it could never be
repealed, but become a permanent compact, to
end only when the last slave in America shall
have died--to make it in fact finalityp But
it failed. God in his wisdom placed bound to
Northern infatuation and Northern venality
My soul burns within me when look at these
two compromises, their character, and their full
flment, the perfdy of the South, and their i'm
pious demands upon the North, who, poor serf as
she seems to be, has tried to be faithful in her
service, and has come but little short of it, For
the sake of party triumphs and for the spoils the
North has sold out Humanity, and acceded to de-
mands unjust and oppressive. The legislation
of the country has Injured to the benefit of Sla-
very, and not to Freedom and Free Labor. Now
this is not national policy, and it is far from
the course intended by the founders of the Re-
public. But in all this the North has been the
most to blame. She had the power to do right
but sacrificed it to the advancement of poiti-
cal party.
Look for moment Mr. Chairman at the adj
vantages which Slavery has acquired in the leg
islation of few years past, and to those which
it now enjoys. Texas, with her five embryo slave
States, has been added to the Union, to sustain
and strengthen the power of Slavery. The Flu
gitive Slave Act, so inhuman and unjust, has been
enacted, and enforced at the cost of blood and
treasure. Slavery is permitted to disgrace the
National Capital and a worse than Austrian des-
potism reigns over this District to-day. Not one
of these iniquities could have been committed or
could continue, except with the consent or aid of
the North. And, not content with all these, we
are called upon to remove the barrier to the COM
plete subjugaton of this Government to the slave
power by voting for the bill now under consid-
Grafton. For one, sir, ! must declare that no
promised personal or partisan advancement, no
party drill, no earthly boon, could induce me to
even listen 10 such suggestion cannot be so
false to my constituents, to Justice, and to Free
dom.
But must hasten to bring my remarks TO a
close When our Constitution was adopted, Sla-
very was existing institution in nearly all the
Colonial States, but it was regarded as a relic of
barbarsm, that would fade away before the light
of Republican civilization. The South now tell us
that it is an institution inseparabe from our or
ganization and they brand all who question their
assumption as fanatics and madmen. As, by the
natural of events, Freedom is likely to out
strip Slavery, the South insists that our Govern
ment shall by war and by purchase, increase the
territory OF Slavery, and strengthen its chains
The Missouri Compromise itself was heavy
blow TO Freedom, which has made her reel 10 the
present day. Had the North stood firm then, we
should have had no parleys with Slavery. But
the North gave way TO the growing plague spot,
through fear and under threats of disunion, and
permitted the South TO commence series Of con-
quests upon Freedom. And it is for that reason
that they are determined now not TO respect their
own Missouri Compromise.
w htu VIC aNiulitu htiIltOfl HDH MtAto, NHiNi
was subject to prohibition of Slavery, the North
should have insisted that it should remain free
forever. But the South again demanded that the
balance of power of Slavery should be kept up!
What balance of power2 What clause in the
Constitution provides for legislating one portion
OF the Republic backward and another forward
And now, again, the South demands the repeal
Of the Missouri Compromise, as it affects the Ter
ritories of Kansas and Nebraska What will the
North do nowf Has she still traitors enough in
Congress to betray her rights and her interests
The South has boosted that she is unit on this
question. When will the North he n unit for
Freedom Our Nation is the beacon of Liberty
TO the world, and the North is the only portion
of il where freedom of body or mind, or of tongue,
or of action, or Of the Press, exists.
Let the North bring every one of its Represent
atives to the test on this question. Let the rec
rcant be consigned to obscurity. Let the names
of the traitors he buried in Oblivion.
Every compromise on Slavery, on the part of
the South, springs from avarice, selfshness, and
love of power; while, with the North, acquies-
cence comes from yenality, cowardice, and bid