Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-03-07

Ut1I on FtWNIU lll tAlNAlhk iiifNiH
ed rights, postponed the exercise OF NAY I,t
mower over the States then existing until me
wear 1908 leaving Congress free TO exercise
il over new States anu over the Territories
Of the United States by prohibiting inc M
grafton or importation Of slaves into them'
without any restriction except such as us
own discretion might supply Congress
PROMPTLY availcd itself of this permission oy
rcalfirming the great Ordinance Of the Con
federation by which it was ordained and de-
creed thatnll the territory then belonging to
tho United States should be forever iree.--
-Four new States were formed out ui terrific
nv living south Of the OHIO River, and ad-
mitied into the Union previous to lc2O' bnt
the territory from which they were formed
bad belonged to States 10 which slavery eN-
isted at the time of their formations ana IN
cedlnr il TO the General Government, or IN
asserting to the formation Of new States
within Il, the old States to which II belong
ed had inserted provso against any regula-
ton of Congress that should tend to the C.
Emancipation of slaves Congress was thus
prevented from prohibiting Slavery IN those
new States by the action Of the old States
ont Of which they had been formed. But as
soon as the constitutional limitation upon ITS
power over the States then existing had eN-
PRED Congress prohibited 10y fearful penal
ties the addition by importation OF a single
slave 10 the numbers already in the coun-
try
The trainers ofjhe Constitution, although
the historical record of their opinions proves
that they we're earnest and undivided in
dislike OF Slavery, and IN their conviction
that IL was hostile in ms nature aud influence
TO Republican Freedom, after taking these
steps 10 prevent it's increase. did not inter-
lcra with % further IN the states where II
then existed. Those States were separate
communities, Jealous of their sovereignty
and unwilling to enter into any league which
should trench. M the least degree. upon
their own control over their own affairs
This sentiment the trainers of the Coustiu-
ton were compelled TO respect, aud they ac-
cordlngIy lcfl slavery, as they lelt an other
local interests, TO the control Of the several
States. But no one who reads with care the
debates and recorded opinions Of that age,
can doubt that the ultimate removal of slave
ry was desired by the people of the whole
country, and that Congress had been empow-
cred TO prevent ITS increase, with view to
lbs gradual and ultimate extinction. Nor
did ihe period Of emancipation seem more
remote Slave labor, employed as II was no
agriculture, was less profitable than the free
labor which was pouring ~ TO take ITS place.
And even In States where this consideration
did not prevail, other influences tended TO
the same result. The spirit Of liberty was
then Young, generous aud strong. The men
ID o. ~ nd
ed battles for the Wndicafon of their inallcn-
able rights TO life, liberty aud the pursuit OF
happiness and it was not possible for them
To- SIT down M the quiet enjoyment OF bless
ugs thus achieved, without feeling the ln-
Justice as well MS the Inconvenience OF hold
ing great numbers Of their iellOw-men n
bondage. In all the States, Therefore, there
existed q strong tendency toward emancipa-
ton. The removal of $40 grelt an evil was
felt TO be q worthy object of ambition by the
best aud most sagacious statesmen OF that
age; and Washington. Jefferson, Franklin
and all the great leaders aud representatives
of public opinion, were active and earnest 90
devising measures by which u could be nc
complishcd.
But the great change produced DO the in
dustry of the southern Stqtes. 100 the early
part Of the present century, by the increased
culture of cotton, ihe Introduction OF new
inventions 10 prepare 1t for use, and Us grow
ing Importance 70 the commerce OF the conn-
trv and the labor Of the world, by making
slave labor more profitable than 1t had ever
been before, checked this tendency towards
emancipation and soon put an end 10 % alto
eether As the demand for cotton lncrcas-
ed, the interests ofthe couon-Irowlng states
become more and more connected with alav-
cry; the spirit of Freedom gradually gave
way before the spirit OF gam the sentiments
and the language of the Southern States be-
came changed aud all attempts at emancr
patton began to be regarded and resisted as
assaults upon the rights and interests of ih'
slaycholdlug section of the Union. For ma-
nv wears, however, this change did not alice
the political relations Of the subject. States
both free and slayeho.ding, were successive
., ".ldad 10 the cuniederacy wihlut eNclun-
the fears OF either section. Ncrmont cant
into the Union 10 1874 with q Constitution
excluding Slavery Kentucky, formed on
OF Virginia, was admitted DO 1872 Tennes
see in l7Jj; Mississippi 100 r. l6, add Alaba
ma IN lsl9--ali Slave States, torncd out o.
territory belonging TO the Slave States, am.
having slavery established IN them at th,
time OF their formation. On the other hand
Ohio was admitted 10 1893. lnlmna in Is rs
and Illinois DO 1918, having formed STATE
Governments under acts of Congress which
made It Fundamental condition that then
Constitution should contain nothing repug
uant 90 the ordnance of l7S7-or, DO othe
words, that Slavery should be prohibited %
hon la D. D
cuUenccs, as 100 the admission of l.ousian.
10 1912, there had been no contest between
Freedom and Slavery, for it bad not been gen
orally felt TINT the interests of either werl
seriously involved.
THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
The FIRST contest concerning the admission
ola new State, which turned pom the ques
ton Of Slavery, occurred in 1919, when Mis-
sour, formed out of territory purchased iron
France ia 1903 applied to Congress for ad
mission to the Union as sliyeholdlng State
/ The application was streuuousiy resisted b.
| the people of the Free States II was ever
where felt that the decision involved conse
quences of the last importance to the wei
I fare Of the country, and that, if the progress
Of Slavery was ever to be arrested. that wa
] hlN hiitii ~ arrest IT, ne nIhfENululUE III
/ terest demanded its admission as a right, an
denied the power of Congress to impose con
ditons upon new States applying to be ad
united into the Confedaracy. The powe
rested with the Free States, and Missouri
was denied admission. But the subject wa
reviewed. The slave holding interest, wit
characteristic and timely sagacity, abate,
something Of its pretensions and settled Ia
controversy on the basis Of Compromise
Missouri was admitted into the Union, b.
an act bearing date March 6, 1920, in whic
/ 1t was also declared that In all that terrific
/ ~ coded by France to the United States
under the name of Louisiana, which lie
north of 80 deg, 30 min of north latitude
not included within the limits of the State O
/ Missouri, SLAVERY and involuntary Seruiud,
otherwise than in the punishment Of crime
whereof the pirties shall have been dol
convicted, shall be, and is hereby (oreuer pro
hibited." In each House Of Congress ma
iorty of the members from slaveholdin
States voted in favor Of this bill with TIN
| provision thus declaring and exercising b
their votes the constitutional power of Con
gress to prohibit Slavery IN territories wher
/ II had been permitted by the law of Franc