The daily Gate City., 1856-03-11

Missouri, formed out of territory purchased
from France in 1903, applied to Congress for
admission to the Union as a Slaveholding
State. the application was strenuously re-
sisted by the people of the Free States. II
was everywhere felt that the decision involy-
ed consequences of the last Importance to
the welfare of the country, and that, If the
progress of Slavery was ever to be arrested.
that was the time TO arrest it. The Slave
holding interest demanded its admission as a
right, and denied the power of Congress to
impose conditions upon new States applying
to be admitted into the Confederacy. The
power rested with the Free States, and Mis-
souri, was denied admission. But the sub
ject was reviewed. The Slaveholding inter-
est, with characteristic and timely sagacity,
abated something Of its pretensions, and
settled the controversy en- the basis of com
promise. Missouri was admitted into the
Union by an act bearing date March 6, 1920,
in which it was also declared that sin all
that territory ceded by France to the United
States, under the name of Louisiana, which
lies north of Sc deg. 80 min of north lati-
tude, not included in the limits of the State
OF Missouri, SLAVERY AND INVOLUNTARY SER
ylTrDE, otherwise than in the punishment Of
crimes, whereof the parties shall have been
duly convicted, SHALL BE, AND is HEREBY FOR
EVER PROHIBITED In each House Of Con-
gress, majority of the members of the
Slayeholding States, voted in favor of this
bill with this provision, thus declaring and
exercising by their votes, the Constitutional
power of Congress to prohibit Slavery even
in Territory where it had been permitted by
the law OF France, at the date of their ces-
sion to the United States. A new Slave
State, Arkansas, formed out of that portion
Of this Territory, lying south of 36 deg. so
min, to which the prohibition was not ex-
tended, was admitted into the Union in 1886.
Two Slave States thus came into the Confed-
eracy by virtue of this arrangement while
Freedom gained nothing by it but the prohi-
biton Of Slavery from vast region, which
civilization had made no attempt to penetrate.
Thus ended the first great contest of Free
dom and Slavery for position and power in
the General Government. The Slayeholding
interest had secured virtual victory. 1t Sc
cured all the immediate results for which il
struggled IT acquired the power OF ofsetting
III the Federal Senate, two of the Free States
of the Confederacv; and the time could not
be foreseen when, in the fulfllment Of its
compact, il would yield any positive and
practical advantage to the interests of free
dom. Neither then, nor for many wears
thereafter, did any statesman dream that,
when the period should arrive, the Slavehol-
er's interest would trample on its bond and
fling its faith TO the winds.
A quarter OF century elapsed before the
annexation of Texas. Slavery had been ac-
tive, In the meantime, in fastening its hold
upon the government, in binding political
parties to its chariot, and in seeking in Con-
gress to stihe the right of petition, and TO
a-, oh NIL fraa 1ar,. nd tho
In every Slayeholding State, none but Slave
holders, or those whose interests are identified
with Slavery, were admitted to any office, or
to exercise any authority, civil or political.
Free whites, not Shareholders, in their pres
ence, or in the midst of their society, were
reduced TO vassalage little less degrading
than the slaves themselves. Even at this
day, although the white population OF the
Saveholdlng States As more than SIX millions,
OF whom but 34i ,525, or less than one-Ser-
enh are the owners of slaves, none but u
! Shareholder, or one who will act with exclu-
slye reference to slavery, is ever allowed to
represent the State in anv National Conven-
ton, In either branch of Congress, or in any
high position Of civil trust and political pow
er. The Slayehoiding class, small az 1t is,
Is the governing class and shapes legislation
and guides public action for the advantage
of Its own interest and the promotion Of It's
own ends. During all that time, and from
that time even To the present, all Siayehold-
ing delegates in National Conventions, upon
whatever else they may differ, always concur
IN imposing upon the Convention assent 10
their requlsltions in regard TO slavery, Us the
dspensable condition TO their support.
Holding thus in their hands power 10 decide
the result Of the elections, using that power
undeviatingly and sternly for the extorton
OF their demands, they have always been able
TO control the nominations OF both parties,
and thus, whatever NAV be the issue, TO se-
cure President who is sure TO be the instru-
ment Of their behests. Thus has il come to
pass that for twenty years we have had no
President who would appoint TO the hum
blest Office within his gilt, in any section of
the mon, any man known to hold opinions
hostile to slavery, or TO be active in esistlng
Its aggressions and usurpations Of power.
Men the most upright and the most respecta-
Bile, IN the States where slavery is only known
by name, have been ineligible to the smallest
trust - have been held unfit to distribute
the letters from the federal post Office to
their neighbors, or trim the lamps of light
house upon the remotest point of our extend
ed coast. Millions of our citizens have been
thus dlsfranchlsed for their opinions CON
CeIhiug slavery, anu the vast patronage OF
the General Government has been systemati-
cally welded in its service, for the promotion
Of It's designs.
1t was by such a discipline, and under
such influences, that the Government and the
country were prepared for the second great
stride of Slavery towards new dominion, and
for the ayowal of motives by which it was
attended.
ANNEXATION or TEXAS AND WAR WITH MEXICO.
Texas was admitted into the Union on the
29th December, l645, with constitution
forblding the abolition of Slavery, and stip-
ulatlon that four more States should be.
come members of the Confederacv. xhenev-