Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-12-21


questions. They involve the same
sraye issues which produced the agi.
alton. the sectional strife, and the
eariul struggle Of 1850"
From this il appears that the CON- |
promises of 1890 and 1850 involved |
The question Of the validity Of the law
Of Mexico excluding it from that north |
Of the line Of SO deg. 80 min. Mr..
Douglass Committee report that as
Congress deemed it wise and pru-
dent TO refrain from deciding the mat
ters IN controversy, then. either BY al.
hrming or repeating the Mexican laws
or by an act declarstory Of the true
intent of the Constitution, and the ex-
tent OF the protection afforded by it to
slave propertyin the Territories, so
your committee are not pre- pared now
ot recommend departure from the
course pursued on that memorable oc.
e"sion. either by affirming or repeal.
ing the eigth section Of the Missouri
Act. or by any act deciaratory Of the
meaning of the Constitution in re-
spect to the legal points in dispute"
These passages are quoted 10 show
that the issues made by MIR. Calhoun.
rs to the constitulionaliiy Of the two
Compromises of 1890 and 1850. were
expressly left open for judicial. deci-
sion by BY the Committee, who aev.
ertheless swept away. by clause
subsequently, added TO their bill. not
only the Missouri Compromise OF
1920. which left untouched the Mexi-
can laws prohibiting Slavery in the &C.
ded Territories, and which Webster.
Clay, Benton aud all the leading lights
Of the Senate with the exception of
Mr.. Calhoun pronounced valid and an
cifectual restriction.
This repeal was Tie adoption Of MFR.
calhoun's multiplying doctrine ia ertem.
80. The power Of Congress TO make
laws excluding Slavery forever from
It's Territories MS such. was denied, and
all the Territories were opened 70
slavery on tho ground Of the "nalien.
able right" of every citizen. "to move
into any Territories. with his property
OF whatever kind or description" and
the law of squatter sovereignty was
supcradded, and substituted for the
sovereignty Of the United States over
the public domain. Thus fell. at the
dietation Of Mr. Atkinson. I supported
by the coalition between the Wings
and Democrats OF the South. under
the pressure and through the intrigues
of the nulli6ers. Mr.. Jelferon's noble
principle. endeared 10 tho country
both for It's moral grandeur and politi.
cal wisdom. Ills the first thought ut.
tered in the Declaration of Indopend.
ence; and TO the dcnunciation OF the
King Of Great Britain for the crime of
bringing Slavery to our shores. II adds.
as the deepest aggrayation, that "ho
has prostituied his negative for sup
pressing every legislative attempt TO
prohibit or TO restrain this execrable
commerce."
The first legislative attempt TO re.
strain the progress Of the mischief
which the King of Great Britoin visit.
cd upon This country, was Mr.. Jetier-
sons resolution excluding Slavery from
the territory Of the United States in
i7c4--the next was that introduced
by Rufus King in l785--the third
was that of Nathan Dane ini787--all
receiving the vote of two-thirds of the
States Of the Coniederacy, and the
last the unanimous vote.
The fourth movement was that OF
Tie Convention in the Constitution il.
self, providing against the importation
OF slaves after 1908. declaring the
binding validity Of the engae ements
entered by the Congress OF the Con.
federacy on the government OF the
United States. 10 exclude II from the
Territory. and securing to the new
Government the power OF making sim.
liar provision for future acquisition oil
territory. The 9Th regulation TO re.
suaia the progress OF Slavery, was that
Of the Compromise Of i820--tho sixth
that Of 1850.
IL is remarkable that although these
great measures had their origin with
the Democratic leaders, Federal and
Wing leaders Of greatest renown uni.
ted in their support. The constitu.
tional provision on the subject had the
unanimous suffrage OF all the illustri.
trious 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 ralify the Constitution. il may be
presumed that these were also unani
mousin their approval ofwhat bad been
done under the Coniederacy and in III,
new Constitution 10 restrain the intro
ducIion and limit the extension OIL
Slavery. And may not men Of al
parties now unite 10 restore what th,
patriots OF all parties. during the irs
seventy years Of our Government con
uibuted to establish?
The work Of restoration is simpl,
and easy. IL the men who abhor III,
late innovation on the long settled pol
10y Of the nation can DO induced 10 re-
linquish petty differences on transitor,
topics, and give their united voice, Il
the next Presidential election. for som,
man whose capacity. fidelity. and cour
age can be relied upon TO oppose th'
issue which the present Administrator
has made TO control IT, The contes
has grown out Of Presidential aspira
tons. The decision Of the people a
the polls in choosing chief magis
lraic. will'ond Il. Senators will easil,
comply when the nations demand i
backed by the Presidential power ant
patronage. and hopes Of the future
which animate the leading members o
the body.
The Administration has stakcd il
self on the support Of the party o
privilcge-.of GLASS interest which
makes It unit. II conGdes In IN,
success which has crowned the dig