Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-29

and hold and enjoy the same under the sane
tion of law. Your committee do not fee
themselves called upon to enter into the discus
sion of these controyerted questions. They
involve the same grave issues WHICH produced
the agitation, the sectional strife, and the fear
full struggle of 1880" ss
From this it appears that the compromises
Of 1920 and 1850 involved the question of the
validity of the law Of Mexico excluding sla
very from the newiy-ceded Mexican territory
and the law of our own Congress excluding
it from that north of the line of SO 80 Mr.
Douglass Committee Report recommended
that as
Congress deemed it wise and prudent to
refrain from deciding the matters in contro
versy, then, either by affirming or repeating
the Mexican laws or by an act declaratory oil
the true intent of the constitution, and the
extent of the protection afforded by it to slave
property in the territories, so your committee
are not now prepared to recommend a depar-
ture from the course pursued on that memora-
ble occasion, either by affirming or repeating
the eighth section Of the Missouri act, or by
any act deearatory of the meaning cf 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 consti-
tutionality of the two Compromises of 1920
and 1850, were expressly left open for judicial
decision, by the committee who nevertheless
swept away, by clause subsequently added
to their BILL not only the Missouri Compro-
mise of 1890 but also the Compromise of
1850, which left untouched the Mexican laws
prohibiting slavery in the ceded territories, and
which Webster, Clay, Benton, and all the lead
ing 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 multiplying doctrine IN eJtenso The
power of Congress TO make laws excluding
slavery forever from its territories, as such
was denied, and all the territories were opened
to slavery, on the ground of the ''inalienable
right" of every citizen Ito move into any of
the territories with his property of whatever
kind or description :" and the law of squatter
sovereignty was superadded and substituted for
the sovereignty of the United States over the
public domain. Thus fell, at the dictation of
Mr.. Atchison, supported by the coalition ef-
fected between the Wings and Democrats of
the South, under the pressure and through the
intrgues of the Nullifers, Mr.. Jefferson's no.
BILE principle, endeared to the country both
for its moral grandeur and political wisdom
1t is the first thought uttered in the Declara-
tion of Independence and to the denunciation
of the King of Great Britain for the crime of
bringing slavery to our shores, it adds, as the
deepest aggravation, that "he has prostituted
his negative for suppressing every legislative
attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable
commerce"
The first legislative attempt to restrain the
progress of the mischief which the King of
Great Britain visited upon this country, was
Mr.. Jefferson'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-thirts
of the States of the confederacy, and the last
the unanimous vote.
The fourth vote was that of the convention,
importation of slaves after 1903, declaring the
binding validity of the engagements entered
into by the Congress of the Confederacy on
the government of the United States, to ex-
clude it from the territory, and securing to the
new government the power of making similar
provision for future acquisitions of territory.
The fifth regulation to restrain the progress of
slavery was that of the Compromise of 1920
the sixth, that of 1850
1t is remarkable, that although these great
measures had their origin with Democratic
leaders, Federal and Wing leaders of greatest
renown united in their support. The constitu-
tional provisions on the subject, had the unani-
nous suffrage of all the illustrious men in the
convention who framed the Constitution of the
United States and from the silence on the
subject in the State Conventions called to
ratfy the Constitution. it NAV well be prcsun-
ed that these also were unanimous in their ap
proval of what had been done under the con-
federacy, and in the new Constitution to re-
strain the introduction and limit the extension
of slavery And NAV not men of all parties
unite to restore what the patriots of all parties,
during the first seventy years of our govern
ment, contributed to establish
The work of restoration is simple and easy,
if the men who abhor the late innovation on
the long settled policy of the nation, can be
induced to relinquish 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 re-
lied upon to oppose the issue which the preser.;.
administration has made to control it. The
contest has grown out of presidential aspira-
ton. The decision of the people at the polls,
in choosing chief magistrate will cnd it
Senators will easily comply when the nations
demand is backesi by presidential power and
patronage, and hopes uf the future, which an
inmate the leading members of the body.
The administration has staked itself on the
support of the party of privilege-of class
interest-which makes it unit 1t confdes
in the success which has crowned the oligarchy
everywhere in the Old World, aud secured it,
triumphs on the maxim, Divide and conquer. y
The wings and democrats of the South are a
combination, 10 carry into the next Presidenc,
soma candidate ahsalnta In r,a;n4a;.,;.,s. IL. -.