Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-07-14
COL. BENTON'S HISTORY.
Calhoun's Approval of the Missouri Compromise
AMMO lS3s-MR. VAN buren, PRESIDENT.


This pOrtentOus agitation, destined to act
so seriously on the harmony and possibly on
the stability of the Union, requires to be no.
ted IN It's different stages, that responsibility
may follow culpability, and the Judgment of
history fall where it is due if a deplorable ca
Iamity is made to come out oft In this point of
view the movements for and against slavery
in the session of lS37-'3S deserve to be noted
as of disturbing effect at the time, and as hav-
ing acquired new Importance from subsequent
events. Early in the session memorial was
presented in the Senate from the General As
Scmbly of Vermont, demonstrating against the
annexation of Texas to the United States, and
praying for the abolition of slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia followed by many petitions
from citizens and societies in the northern
states to the same effect, and further-for the
abolition OF slavery IN the territOrieS-fOr the
abolition OF the slave trade between the states
And for the exclusion Of future slave states
from the Union.
There was bat little in the state Of the coun-
Try at that time to excite an anti-slaverv feel
lng, or to excuse these disturbing applications
to Congress. There was no slave territory at
that time but that of Florida and to ask TO
the discovery Of the continent, or to make its
continuance a cause for the rejection of the
state when ready for admission into the Union,
ana thus form free state in the rear of all
lie great slave states, was equivalent to pray
ing for the dissolution of the Union Texas.
annexed, would be south of 36 degrees 80
minutes, and its character in relation to sla-
very, would be fixed by the Missouri Compro-
mise line of 1920 The slave trade between
'le states was an affair of the states, with
winch Congress had nothing to do, and the
continuance Of slavery, in the District of Co
uuoia, 50 long as it existed in the adjacent
states OF lrgnia and Maryland, was point
u lohcy IN which every Congress and every
ADMINISTRATION had concurred, from the for
NATION OF the Union, and in which there
11s never more decided concurrence than at
Present.,
Inc petitioners did not live in any territory,
sae or district subject to slavery. They felt
-Yue ol the evils of which they complained,
~[e n[. anSwerable for none of the supposed sin
"lch they denounced, were living under GO
Nh ,"uleht which acknowledged property in
VI ss'es, and had no right to disturb the rights
u 'He owner, and committed a cruelty upon
r-s r-s save by the additional rigors which their
FITco0s M interference brought upon him.
Il, 'He SUBJECT of the petitions was disagreea-
eo,I u i,sell the language in which they were
Nv. l"aed was offensive and the wantonnesS of
Ga. presentation aggravated a proceeding suf-
,p(y provoking in the civilest form in which
,Iva be conducted Many petitions were
co,, ,u' same words, bearing internal evidence of
a i"iSEt Il among their signers many were sign-
t,on ~ ;, women, whose proper sphere was far
c,1r,a ,le held OF legislation, all united in a
osrin rnon purpose which bespoke community of
rcn. S' aud the superintendent of general di-
Qpa,t"a Every presentation gave rise to a
5e;o"nOn and debate, in which sentiments and
djctefi were expressed, and consequences pre-
alnos,, winch it was painful to hear While
lons every senator condemned these petit
aaj .a auu The spirit in which they originated,
ooa8e IN which they were couched, and