Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-07
The Courier and Enquirer

upon the American party, and tears the tex
listing legislation upon the subject Of slavery"
to tatters. 1t demands the instant restoration
of the black and white line of 1920.
II then with degree Of military authority,
and resource, appropriate to the bclligerent
editor, undertakes to show how the Missouri
redoubt can be stormed, here is his plan:
"By turning TO the record, il is found that the
Yeas were 80, the Nays only Is; and thereupon il
is at once calculated that since only one-third of
the Senate'goes out every two years, it must take
two such changes, and period of four years. to
turn the minority into majority. This is altogether
deceptive, first, because 1t makes no account Of
fourteen seats in the Senate which were vacant or
the occupants Of which did not VOTE And second
ly because it leaves out of view the fact that third
of the Senate is already changed or will be before it
meets again, and that the second change will occur
two instead Of four years hence. The Senate
which passed the bill was the Senate of the Thirty
Third Congress. 0ne-third only of the Senatorial
terms of that Congress will extend to the Thirty
Fifth Congress which meets in December 1857.
Therefore the Senate stand in the way only
two years longer at the very most.
''But we deny that itisnecessary to wait even two
years to accomplish the pacifcation of the country
by taking back that "unwise and unnecessary
STEP" Let US look for moment ut the constitu-
ton of the Senate which will meet in December,
in reference to this question.
"Oregon has already voted to apply for admis-
sion into the Union, and Minnesota is prepared to
take the same step. Before the expiration of the
present Congress these Territories will undoubted-
ly become States, 30 that the entire number Of
Senators will be Sc, Of which majority will be "a.
Are we not entitled to set down the following
| Senators as certain to vote for the restoration:
| Fessenden and Hamlin, of Maine Bell and Hale,
| of New Hampshire; Sumner and Wilson, Of Mass;
James and Allen, Of Rhode Island Collamer and
Foot, of Vermont; Foster, of Connecticut, Seward
and Fish, Of New York; Wade, of Ohio Trum
bull, of Illinois; Harlan, of Iowa; Durkee, of
| Wisconsin; Bell, of Tennessee, and Houston, of
Texas, the two Senators from Oregon, the two
from Minnesota, and the two Senators who are yet
| to be elected in Pennsylvania and Indiaaa-in
all rs.
1.-THE new Senator of Ohio, Mr.. Pugh, would
probably vote for the restoration, he having re-
fused to declare himself in favor of the Nebraska
Bill at the time of his election, and the late Dem
ocratic State Convention of Ohio having taken
strong ground in its resolutions against the extern
sion of slavery. The Senator to be elected in
California will probably be in favor of restora
ton, State has heartier interest in the har-
mony Of the country. Mr.. Clayton, of Delaware,
| and Dodge Of Wisconsin, did not vote for the bill
on its final passage, and, it is known, had strong
| scruples against it. 1t is too much to suppose
that in the present emergency they would again
| fall back on the old Compromise And we may
| ask the same in regard to Mr. Stuart OF Michigan,
who it will be recolccted, had serious objections
to the BILL though he voted for it the final pas
| sage. If he at all respects the sentiments Of his
own State, he will eagerly embrace the opportuni-
ty to vindcate their judgment as well as his own
first best convictions.
! adding those five who would probably vote
| for the restoration, we have thirty that we may
particuarize in Its favor. Now, among the remain
ing thirty-six is it likely that four Senators cannot
be found who value the peace of the country
enough to accept the same measure which states.
/ men and patriots of unsurpassed merit devised
thirty-fve years ago, to meet Just such a fearful
emergency, and which completely realized its pa.
OBLIGATORY purpose Saying nothing of Mr.. Toucey,
of Connecticut or Mr.. Weller of California, or Mr..
| Benjamin, Of Louisiana, or the Senator who sue
ceeds Mr.. Badger in the old North State, may we
| not reasonably look for such a manifestation Of
true patriotism in Mr.. Crittenden, of Kentucky,
| the two Senators from New Jersey, and James Ii.
Pearce of Maryland, than whom there is not a
more sterling patriot in the country What says
the American to this
This is a momentons subject and 1t is not to
be treated in dogmatic or in captious spirit
We would not ourselves positively assert that the
Senate will consent TO reinstate the compromise
however strongly public opinion might call for it,
When the question should distinctly present itself
in that body, II might be found that the two Sena
tors from Massachusetts, Mr.. Hale, of New Hump
shire, and one or two other Senators would refuse
to sustain the measure. II is in fact, our opinion
that this would be the case, for these men would
not willingly quiet agitation. When the opportu-
nifty for agitation Is gone their occupation is gone
Yet their refusal to support the Restoration would
only tend TO secure IL the more favor from the
South and increase its chances Of success. But
why after ALL enter into nice calculation Of chances?
is 1t not derogatory TO our system of government
TO take II for granted that Senator'S In Congress
would refuse to accept measure which was indis-
pensable to the tranquility OF the country and i'm
peratively demanded by msority of the States as
well as the great mass OF the peoplel
!" Is IL to be supposed that an American Senate,
even If IT could be 80 inclined would thus dare to
stand IN the way Of the vital interests OF the coun-
ryf-that they would arrogate a domineering
power which the British House of Lords would not
dare venture on for instant' 1t is not credible
out, whether credible or not, all true American
patriots would be dishonored If they assumed Il TO
De the case, and therefore helplessy folded their
arms In the face Of the most fearful evils II Is the
business Of all true men out of Congress 10 do their
duty, and to take Il for granted that all true men
IN congress viii do theirs and that the President
in his turn, viii do his We have no right to cal
culate that our public men will fail to meet their
responsibilities and make that motive to our in.
action.
The whole case can be put into nutshell. All
agree that the country is threatened with direful
evil, in the shape OF most violent and protracted
sectional contest between the North and the South
All agree that the occasion Of that contest Is the
destruction Of the Missouri Compromise We |
maintain that the true and the only way to take away
that occasion is to restore the compromise Others
doubt whether the Senate will be willing to do this
and therefore themselves do nothing, they suggest |
nothing, they hope for nothing, they simply whine
Which is the manlier part' Which the most true
to the country"
II is very discouraging to see leading jour
nal rushing into the arena to inflame popular
excitement by such vague statements. The
Courier first assumes that every vacancy to be
filled, and every class Of Senator's to be elected,
Is in favor Of restoring the Missouri line.
Upon this dogma it assumes that the obnox-
ious law must be repealed within two years.
But, impatient Of more immediate mischief il
proceeds to argue away the majority by which