The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-12-25

"Congress deemed it wise and prudent to
refrain from. deciding the matter in controver-
sy, then, either by affirming or repeating
the Mexican laws, or by an act declaratory OF
the true intent of the protection afforded by
it to slave property into the territories, SO
your committee are not prepared now to re-
commend departure from the course pursued
on that memorable occasion, either by affirm
ing or repeating the eighth section of the
Missouri act, or by any act declaratory ofthe
meaning of the constitution in respect to the
legal points in dispute
These passages are quoted to show that the
issues made by Mr.. Calhoun, as to the con-
stitutionality of the two compromises of 1920
and 1850, were expressly left open for judi
cial decision, by the committee, who never
theless swept away, by clause subsequently
added to their bill, not only the Missouri
COMPROMISE of 1920, but also the Comprom-
ise Of 1850, which left untouched the Mexi-
can laws prohibiting slavery in the ccdcd ter
ritorics, and which Webster, Clay, Benton,
and all the leading lights of the Senate, with
the exception of Mr.. Calhoun) pronounced
valid, and an effectual restriction.
This repeal was the adoption of Mr.. Cal
houn's nulifying doctrine an ertenso. The
power of Congress to make laws excluding
slavery forever from its territories, as such,
was denied and all the territories were open
ed to slavery, on the ground of the "inalicna-
BILE right" of every citizen "to move into any
of the territories with his property, of what
ever kind or description" an the law of squat
ter sovereignty was supcradded, and substitu-
ted for the sovereignty Of the United States
over the public domain. Thus fell, at the
dictation of Mr.. Atchison, supported by the
coalition effected between the Wings and
Democrats of the South, under the pressure
and through the intrigues of the Nullifers,
Mr.. Jcfferson's noble principle, endeared to
the country both for its moral grandeur and
political wisdom. 1t is the first thought ut
tered in the Declaration Of Independence; and
to the dcnunciation Of the King Of Great Brit
ain for the crime Of bringing slavery to our
shores, it adds, as the deepest aggravation,
every legislative attempt to prohibit or to re-
strain this cxecable commerce."
The legislative attempt to restrain the pro-
gross of the mischief which the King of Great
Britain visited upon this country, was Mr..
Jcfferson's resolution excluding slavery from
the territory Of the United States in l7S4-
the next was that introduced by Rufus King,
in l7s5-thc third that Of Nathan Dane, in
l7s7-all receiving the vote of two-thirds of
the states of the confederacy, and the last the
unanimous vote.
The fourth movement was that of the con-
vcntion, in the constitution itself, providing
against the importation Of slaves after 1908,
declaring the binding validity Of the engage
ments entered by the Congress Of the Con-
frdcracy on the government Of the United
States, TO exclude it from the territory, and
securing to the new government the power y
making similar provision for future acquisi-
tions of territory Tho fifth regulation to re-
strain the progress Of slavery was that OF the
Compromise Of ls20-thc sixth, that of lS-
80.
1t is remarkable, that although these great
measures had their origin with Democratic
leaders, Federal and Wing leaders ofgrcatcst
renown united in their support. Tho consli-
tutional provisions on tho subject, had the
unanimous suffrage of all the ilustrious men
in the convention who framed the Constitu-
ton of the United States; and from the 81
lcnce on the subject in the State Conventions
called 60 ratify the Constitution, it may well
be presumed that these also were unanimous
in thoir approval of what had been done un-
der the confcderacy, and in tho new Consti-
tuition to restrain the introduction and limit
the extension of slavery. And may nos men
of all parties now unite to restore what the
patriots of all parties, during tho first seventy
wears of our government contributed to estab-
lish?
The work of restoration is simple and easy,
if the men who abhor the late innovation on
the long-scttled policy of the nation can be
induced to rclnquish petty differences on tran
STORY topics, and give their united voice, in
the next Presidential election, for some man
whose capacity, fidelity and courage can be
relied upon to oppose the issue which the pres
ent administration has made to control it
The contest has grown out of Presidential as
pirations. The decision of the people at the
polls, in choosing chief magistrate, will end
it. Senators will easily comply when the
country is backed by Presidential power and
patronage, and hopes of the future, which
animate the leading members of the body.
The administration has staked itself on the
support of the party of priyilcge--of class. in
terest-which makes it unit 1t confdes
in the success which has crowned the oligar-
chy everywhere iu the Old World and secured
its triumphs on the maxim, "Divide and con-
qucr." The Wings and Democrats of the
South are a combination, to carry into the
next Presidency some candidate obsolutc in
maintaining the rcpealing clause of tho Kan
sas bill, which nullifcs the principles of the
ordinance, the provisions of the constitution
made to give them effect, and all the COM
promises which have been made in pursuance
of them, with the sanction of all sections Of
the Union.
If the majority favorable to the policy built
up with our Government will unite, accept
the issue rendered by the administration, and
make the repeal Of the repeating clause the
Kansas act paramount in the impending con-
test for the Presidency, all will be restored
that has been lost to free institutions, by o.
pcning the Territories north and South to Sla-
very. The Compromises of 1920 and 1850
being restored, there wiilsnot be an inch Of
Al, torr,tor,- ,.f Tho IToifod Statoa onco nv