Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-09-27
Wsekly Stats Sentinel.
the Journal,s Extraots

as great as the suggestion Of falsehood; and
yet the Fusion and Know Nothing press are
almost daily guilty of the first of these Of
lenses by parading garbled extracts from the
opinions of distinguished men to favor their
political heresies. Short and disconnected |
paragraphs from the writings OF WASHINGTON |
and JEFFERsoH have been published, leav-
ing very erroneous impressions of the senti- |
nents of these great men. We have already
exposed several OF these deiusive attempts, |
by presenting our readers with the views Of
WASHINGTON and JEFFERSON ia .firN, giving
volume and page. But our corrections have
not been noticed, for the reason that they
could not be. answered.
HENRY CLAY, too IS not safe from the per-
verting hands of these political gamesters-
A remark is recorded Of a French Able,
who, on hearing of the death Of st. Francis,
Of Sales, said, "Well, he was an excellent
man, but ne aE,cays would cheat at cards.
So with the best Of these Fusionists, they
always will cheat at politics.
The most recent example Of this is in the
Journals quotations from HENRY CLAY on the
Missouri Compromise, in an article which it
heads, Henry Clay IN faror of the COmPro-
mise line." and says:
cit has been, and is being, falsely denied
daily, that Mr.. Clay was in favor Of the estab-
lishment of the lire of SO deg. 30 min. as a COM
promise in 1870, that we think 1t better to again
he matter hovonA n houht -
It then proceeds with an extract from Mr..
CLAY's speech on the Compromise measures
of 1850, but it does not give quite enough,
and we viii supply the omission. NIr. CLAY
said:
Sir while was engaged in anxious consid-
Grafton upon this subject, the idea of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, as il has been termed, came
under nv review, acas considered by me, and
finally rejected an nag judgment less l0oTthy of
the common acceptance of both parties OF this
Union than the project which | ofer 10 your
consideration.
Mr.. President, before enter into particular
examination however, of that Missouri Com
promise. beg to be allowed to correct a great
error not merely IN the Senate, but throughout
the whole country, in respect to my agency in
regard to the Missouri Compromise, or rather
the line of SO deg. 80 min, established by the
agency of Congress- / do not know whether
anything has excited more surprise III my mind
as TO the rapidity with which important histe-
rieal transactions are oDliteTated and pass out Of
memory, than has the knowledge of the fact that
was everywhere considered the author of the
line of SO deg. 80 min, which was established
upon the occasion of the admission of Missouri
into Union.
at would take up too much time to so over
the whole of that important era IN the public
affairs Of this country. 1 shall not attempt IT.
although have ample materials before me, de
rived from a careful and particular examination
of the journals of both Houses. | will not oc
cupy your time by going into any detailed &C
count Of the whole transaction; but will con
tent myself with stating that, so far from M
having presented as proposition the line o
SO deg. 80 min., upon the occasion Of consider
ing whether Missouri ought to be admitted int
the Union or not, it did not originate IN tn
House Of which | was a member"
II was never denied, to our knowledge, tha
CLAY consented to the Compromise; but con
sent and favor are very different things.
The measures of 1850, of which Mr.. Ola
was, in part, the author, established the prin
eiple of non-intervention, for they expressl
declare the doctrine that it is inexpedien
for Congress to provide by law either for tn
Introduction or exclusion of slavery in tn
territories. The word insTpeaieat instead {
unconstitutional was, no doubt, used to con
ciliate those who claimed that Congress ha
absolute legislative poloer over the territories
But non-intervention is clearly declare
the proper and fitting policy of government
and is so urged by Mr.. CLAY in the sam
speech, when directing his. remarks
Southern members. He said:
1--WE do not want you, say they, to legislat
upon the subject Of slavery. But If You adoI
the Missouri line and interdict slavery north {
that line, you do legislate upon the subject
slavery, and you legislGte for its restrictio
without correspondent equivalent of legisla
ton south Of that line for its admission; for
insist that IL there be legislation interdicfin
slaper,In0rfh of the line then the principles
eouaIfg could require that there should be iegislO
fion admitting Slavery south Of the line.
81 have said that | never could vote for
myself, and | repeat that never can, and neye
will vote, and no earthly power will ever max
me vote. to spread slavery over territory wher
il does not exist. Still, If there be majorit
who are for interdcting slavery north OF tn
line. there ought to be a majority, if justice
done to the South, to admit slavery south of tn
line. And if there be majority to accomplis
both of these purposes, although cannot con
eur in their action, yet shall be one OF the las
TO create a disturbance; l shall be one of tn
first to acouiesce in that legislation, although
it is contrary to my own judgment and to m
own conscience.
81 hone then TO keep the lchOle Of these matter
untouched Jy Gny Legislation Of Congress upol
The subject of slaUeTy, leaning Il open and Hnde
cided NoR-action 6y Congress IS best for h
South, and best for all the views which thu
South have disclosed TO us from time to time a:
corresponding to their wishes. know 1t ha;
been said with regard to the territories, and
especially has it been said with regard to Cali
fornia, that non-legislatiOn upon the part Of
Congress implies the same thing as the exclu-
sion of slavery That we cannot help. That
Congress is not responsible for. If nature has
pronounced the doom Of slavery in these terri
tories-if she has declared, by her immutable
laws, that slavery cannot and shall not be IN
trodueed there-who can you reproach but ma.
ture and natures God? Congress YOU cannot
Congress is passive Congress IS nOn'acfiRg
south and north of the line; or rather If Congress
agrees to the plan which / propose, extending
no line IL IeGres The entire theatre Of the trh0l,
cession ofthese territories untouched By Legislative,
e1aetments, either 20 exclude or admit StG1ery.'
But, as we are on the subject of quotations
we will refer the Journal to some extracts
nom greater than CLAY, We mean those we
published a few days since from JEFFERSON
especially the letters to PNcKNEY and La
FAYETTE. We are really anxious tn see
them in its pages and to read its comments
Surely the author of the Declaration of indie
pendence may claim to be heard in the
columns Of paper which PIRATES so mucl
about the rights of man. VIII it give th'
reading world the benefit of JEFFERSON
sentiments, or will it be diserestly silent? /
might at least publish what HILDRETH, thu
Abolitionist, says.
RANurrn AGAIN-If Is stated as a nositivI