Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-11-03
A VOICE FROM THE SOUTH.
The Hon. Theodore G. H,tm Of Louisiana on liz
Rq',0l Of tie Missouri Chmp,omiSe.


The 3ou. Tdco35re G. L,at of Louisiana on liz
Pqedl Of tie Missouri ChinP'omiSe.
The Hon. Theodore G Hunt, of Louisiana was ono
of the Southern Representative les in Congress who
had tLe frmncss to vote against the repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise. On the 18th ult., he ad
dressed public meeting Of his constituents Civ
ing piom his reasons for opposing that repeal,
which involved such breach Of faith and honor
From thcycv orleuu. Bee.
Education in n school Of honor, have ever re-
garded good faith as the basis of human conf
.enco-tqe only bond which holds men together in
peace, safety, and concord. / confess, therefore,
thatmy feelings ana understanding reyolted at The
! proposal to overthrow and repeal the Missouri
Compromise | knew that TINT Compromise had
saved the Union that it had restored peace and
traL Lauility to the country Mt time when section
stood arrayed against section in fierce and hostile
attitude and when the sternest patriots trembed
| for the existence Of the Union. knew it was en-
inently Southern measure; that It had received
the support of a'mai iority in both Houses Of Con-
gress that it had been advocated by Lowndes and
sanctioned by Clay that it had been declared con
stltuti0nal by Adams and Calhoun and other mem
bers Of Monroc's Cabinet that it had been voted
for by Brown and Johnson, the Senators from the
State which had the honor in part to represent
and that II had been received by the people of the
North and of the South and of the East and Of
the West with exultatiou and joy. Not the re-
cepton of the treaty Of peace said Mr. Clay in
1880, in his speech on the Compromise Bin Of that
day, not the reception Of the treaty Of peace ne
gocia'ion at Ghent, nor any other event which has
occurred during my progress in public life, ever
gave such uubounded and universal satisfaction as
the settlement Of the Missouri Compromised
1.-The Missouri Compromise put an end to the ag
! itaton of the question of slavery at that day in
the United States by disposng Of it in the Terrific
ry Of Louisiana, the only Territory the destiny OF
whlch was to be settled by the action of congress
From that time up to the Introduction of the Ne
bras.a bill the Missouri Compromise was main
tain.d Indsturbed in good faith. Questions AROSE
subsequently as to the ubject of slavery in Oregon
in Texas, and in the acquisition from Mexico bu
no man, in their discussion, ever dreamed OF inter
| fering with the time-honored and well settled Mis-
souri, Compromise. In 1851, when the two great
parties in the country met in their several Conven
! tions, they both passed silently by the Missouri
Compromise as consecrated and forbidden ground
and directed their attention to the Compromise
Measures of 1850 as the matter solely and excu
sively before them and they soemnly declared
that they regarded those measures-that Com pro
mse-in principle and substance, as a final settle
ment of the subject TO which it relates; that they
would maintain and insist ON the enforcement o.
the Compromise Measures, abiding by and adher
ing to faithful execution Of them and that they
would discountenancc any efforts to continue or re
new the agitation of the questions settled rs hav
ing an ineli able tendency to diminish the Happiness
of the people and to endan ger the integrity Of tht
Union.
son the meeting of Congress in December, 1858
the spirit of harmony continued to prevail through
out the land, and the President in his Message
smoke Of the acquience in the Compromise Meas
ure of 1850 of distinguished citizens devoted t
the Union as having given renewed vigor to oul
institutions and restored sense of security to th
puilic mind throughout the Confederacy.' And h'
concluded with the emphatic declaration, that thI
repose is to suffer noshock during my official term
if have power to prevent it, those who placed m
! here may be assured
After further describing the quiet and content
mcnt of the public mind, brought about by tn
Missouri Compromise HIr, Hunt continued:
Under these circumstances, say, suddenly t
the surprise and amazement of the whole country
the Nebraska bill was ushered into Congress unde
the auspices and leadership Of Senator Douglas
and with the countenance and favor of Presiden
Pierce, proposing repeal of the Missouri ComprC
mise No movement of the people on the subjec
/ had in any way preceded the proposal, suggeste
or recommended it, 1t was the act in the conneC
ton to which have averted, of calculating shame
less personal ggrandsement,re reckless OF the peac
and honor of the country, and endangoring the e1
istence of the Union itself.-lt was pretended tina
the proposal of repeal was the unsolicited boon {
the North to the South But the talsehoCd wa
transparent and paable, and only aggravate
the sentiment and feelings of the North. "A
soon rs the bill was known and understood public
meetings began to assemble on the subject IN I'll
f lnnn-slaveholding States, and in short time tn
voice Of almost that entire portion OF the couhtr
was heard Indignantly protesting against the pro
/, posed breach of good faith, and denouncing III
falsehood and treachery Of those who had used tn
name of the North to perpetrate wrong upon hel
The tables Congress, up to the passage OF the III
groaned under the weight OF the petitions protests
1 and remonstranccs of the conservative men OF IN
l North. But selfish ambition was deal TO the Noic
! of complaint, and Mr. Douglas and the Admlni'
D traton preserved in their work OF mischief. III
: bill became, through their instrumentality, to
1 GREAT extent party measure in the House; an
finally, by management and bad influence, passe
the House of Representatives bya vote OF ma
+ jority Of l3.
: the neople of the South remained silent and III
moved neither requesting nor, in my Judgemen
iexpecting the repeal of the Missouri Compromist
n vast majority of the members of Congress troi
the South-many of them considering the compr'
d mise as originally unconstitutional ana unjust
\ the South, and as of no binding force upon the
s minds and conscences some OF them deluded b
. the professions of Mr.. Douglass and others rs
/ Northern sentiment; and some of them swayed b
Il the influence of party disclpllne--unhapph lei
II their powerful and successful support to the pas
age of the bill. For myself calmly, deliberatel
v and anxiGusly examining and weighing the who
: subject unconuected with any clique or parry ~
5. influenced by sectional feeling, unmoyed by Il
n representatons of friendly acquaintences who II
agined that local prejudice would destroy my po
" ularty, indepedent and determined to do my dn
d to my whole country as National kepTesentati'
" | gave my voice and my vote against bill WIN
ID | / had regar led as violalya OF good tai
De aud as endangeripg tho Union of these States Ar