Demoine courier., 1856-05-22

Congress provided thar neither Slavery
nor involuntary sefvi.ude should ever be
permitted nor:h OF ihirty.six degrees and
thirty minutes. The priasiples Of the
Ordinance Of 1857 were extended over
the territories now embraced Within
the liniU OF Iowa, Minnesoia. Ksnsas,
and Nebraska-ihen mostly ~uninhabiied.
From the history Of those .rsnssctions,
the conclusion 10 irresis.ab.e. that Con
grsss intended that all Of the immense
territories coded BY France and Spain
to this Government, not in the occupan
cy slave holding communities. should re-
main forever free; aud here our Terriscri-
al policy again rested for abou, a quarter
Of = century.
Ia the joint resolution passed BY Con
gress in the year le45, for a~nnexing
Texas 20 the United States il was pro.
vided thar:
New States Of Convenient size. no,
exceeding four in number. in addition to
said Stale Of Texas, and having sufficient
populations, may hereafter, and by the
consen, OF said States, be formed out Of
the territory thereof, which shall DO emit
lied TO admission under the provisions oi
the FEDERAL Constitution, And such
States 40 may be formed out Of that por.
ton OF said territory lying south Of SO
deg 80 min. north latitude, commonly
known Al the Missouri Compromisellne
shall DO admitted into the Union with or
without Slavery, AZ the people Of each
State asking admission may desire
And in sich State or States 40 shan be
formed out Of said territory north Of said
Missouri Compromise line. Slavery or in
voluntary servi,ude Except for crime)
shall be proEibiled.'
In the event Of the division Of this vast
domain Of Texas, il was provided ihs,
one Or moro OF these tour new States
should be absolutely free, and .hs, all
the remaining States thus formed nigh,
be admitted a. free States. shou d the yeo
pie desire il. And here again ths sub
jsc, rested until the year 1850.
But in the adjustment OF the dificul
ties growing y Of the acquisition Of
large territories from Mexico. as trophies
OF var. Territorial Governments were
established for Utah aud New Mexico,
with a conditional provision for each
tina, when Admitted az q State. the
said Territory. or any portion Of the
same. shall be received into the Union
with or wiahou, Slavery, 40 their Cons,i
tuition may prescribe a. the nms Of their
admission. i agsa
Here. Cor the first time, the Territorial
policy Of the Government, settled and
uniform for nearly ihreo quarters Of q
centufy, was changed. All the machin.
cry Of The ship of Stale here began 10 re-
volve in a different direction. The
Northwest Territory. now embrs ced
within the limits of GIVE large and power
ful States, was originally staUe territory.
by virtue Of the laws Of Virgins. (sGc
other slave States ceding i. TO the Union.)
as much SO a. The Territory of Kentucky.
once held a. a part o.! her domiaions -
But. BY The Ordiance Of 1857, it was all
dedicated 70 Freedom. N.ss6s{a
The territory now embraced within
the limi.s OF lows. Minnesota, Nsbrasks.
aud Kansas. was doub,lsss slave terrific
ry. BY virtue Of French and Spanish
laws. Blu, by the enactment OF the Mis-
sauri Compromise j, was dedicated 10
Freedom. 3 .aUs
All the vast domain OF Texas was,
without dispute, slave territory. BY vir-
tue Of her own laws, enacted and en-
forced during hesnationslisy. But, by
the legislation Of. Congress admitting
her into the Union. . large part Of Ibis,
ION. 10 prospecivsly dedicated 70 Free.
dom. Hut ihs Territories of Ns~
Mexico and Utah were. BY virtue Of
VI, x,cac laws. ABsoLurELy SREE' when,
by the lsgisla,ion VI the Unilsd STATES,
they were .hsown open to Slavery,
But this revulsion in the Territorial
policy OF The Govssnment in 1850. this
conditional conversion Of free .err,.ory 70
the uses Of Slavery. in vlols,ion Of The
setsed policy Of the country, growing
out Of what had been supposed 10 b
The compromises Of tho Constitution,
and In viohion Of Me moral feelings And
elsas sonsicsioas Of RICH. OF an ovsrwhsl,
ming majority Of the American people
Was secured. not by DENYING the DO wel
Of Congsess 10 exclude Slavery, but ID
the name Of concession and compromise
and a. q condition Tor The admission o.
California. WITHOUT slavery. although
previonsiy free BY forcs Of Msxiesr
laws. and by virtue Of her Co~sliiu.
tion At ths time Of her applicaiiou-ir
connection with the snacimsn. Of Law.
for the modification Of the boundary al
the State Of Texas. the sboliIon Of ,hs
clare trade in the District Of Columbia
and the return Of fugi,ivss from labor.
The passage Il these oreanie laws 70,
Utah aud New Mexico couplstsd th1
se.ls1sns VI the question Of Slavery il
oil the Tsrrito,ies Of he United States.
Slavery was o prohibited in Utah and
New Mexico by the laws Of Congress;
but in oil that vast region, including Min.
lesota. Ksasas, Nebraska, Oregon, and
Washington. Slavery sOas still prohibit.
&C. This sdjuAtment, obtained ,hrouah
che iaausnce Of sucE jmen as Clay and
Webshs-now passed % their 6nal re-
vard-and men .hst l ~ sseund ne,
viii the legislative expericnce or hall :