Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-10
NEW. SERIES, NO. %.
IEKMS, ss,oO at the years end.


70 the Pacific ocean Congress refused to extend
IT, Attempts were made to confirm the Mexi-
'an laws BY the Wilmot proviso Congress
''uSeu 10 adopt the proviso. 1t would pass no
a0" ID" upon the subject of slavery, because,
~ 10 tha'' would require the repeal of some ex-
,:''hg laws and thereby reopen the slavery oues
''oh' congress refused to pass the Wilmot
pfo'iso' because the Mexican laws in the terri
'ories to which it was applied had already abol-
'Sneo slavery there, and the proviso, while un-
necessary IN itself to the object Of its fy;erds
was pcstiferous by re-opening the slavery ay;.
tation. At the session of 1850, and before II
commenced the question of slavery legislation
had Deen ioreclosed throughout the whole ex.
'eht oil our tie ritorieS; forcclosed by previous.
legislation; and Congress refused to re.onon
the question by repeating, abrogating or alter
ing IN anyway that previous legislation.
This was the state of the Slavery onost;on
and the Slavery a4itation, when the first Con.
gress met under Mr. Pierce's Administration in
the session of 1884 The agitation was
dead legislation was closed up upon it there
was no way to re open the question but to ab-
rogate, or repeal some existing law; no way to
get up agitation but by breaking down law, and
that was done. A bill was brought in to abol-
ish the Missouri Compromise line, pretexted
upon the principles esablised by the legislation
OF 1850 The pretext was libel upon the legis-
lation of that year, and especially upon the
memory of Mr.. Clay, who had taken a promi-
nent part in that legislation. 1t was assumed
by the authors of the repeal that that legisla-
ton established the principles of non-interfer-
ence with Slavery in territories 1t was an as.
sumption without foundation-contra to the
fact--and contradicted by recorded history.
The principle established, SO far Us any prin-
ciple could be established by negative action,
was exactly the contrary exactly the principle
of not interfering with existing laws exactly
the principle of not re opening the Slavery ag-
tation by altering or repeating any law that had
forcclosed the subject and that was the princi-
pie declared in the platform of 1852. And
thus the pretext for the repeal of the compro-
mise was just as unfounded and gratuitous as
the act itself was deplorable and mischievous
No citizens the authors of that repeal find,
not justification, but condemnation in the legis.
lation of 1850. And the further pretext (lor
a bad cause requires many pretoxts, and even
contradictory and inconsistent ones) the further
pretext that the compromise was unconsttution
al and void, is just as gratuitous and unfound.
ed, and aagrantly contradicted by the previous
conduct of its authors, all Of whom are upon
the record, in votes Or in speeches, for the valid
ity of that compromise up to the time of tho
plot to destroy it. They had voted ior it on
the Oregon territorial bill of 1848-in the CAL
ifornia bill of lS5O-in the Minnesota terrtori.
al act and above all, in the Texas annexation
resolutions Of 1915.
The re,enactment of the Missouri Compro-
mise at the admission of Texas, was an er;..
and resting point in our Slavery legislation,
and as such was often referred to, and relied up.
on by our public men, and commended to per-
petual observance. 1t was called the "Texas
Compromise and was considered confirmation
of the lirst one, and a new one within itself
In that light it was treated, on a solemn occa-,
sion by President Polk. In his message ap-
proving the Greg n territorial act in lS48--the
last year of his Administration and which act
prohibited Slavery in Oregon-he took occasion
: to refer to the " Texas Compromise and to
-. present it as an independent measure, growing
out of the same circumstances, and the same
- spirit, which had produced the Missouri Com
promise and like it, not to be violated without
endangering the Union. In that message he
- said :.
: "When Texas was admitted into our Union,
: the same spirit of compromise which guided
u our predecessors in the admission of Missouri,
e n quarter of a century before, prevailed without
d any serious opposition. The joint resolution
II for annexng Texas to the United States, ap
5 proved March the first, 1915, provides, That
: such states as may be formed out of that por-
F, ton of said territory lying south of SO degr,e es
80 minutes north latitude, commonly known as
the Missouri Compromise line, shall be admitted
"
people of each state asking admission may do
sire. And in such state or states as shall he
formed out of the territory north of the said
u compromise line, Slavery or involuntary servi
tude Except for crime) shall be prohibited.
:, And after having thus quoted the act, and
shown that the Texas Compromise, like it:
great predecessor, also settled a great Slavery
:. agitation, Mr., Polk goes on to class the two
, compromises together, to invoke equal perpetu
:. ty to each and to foretell equal dangers to the
~ Union from the violation of either Saying
,e "ought we now to disturb the Missouri and
IS Texas Compromises Ought we, at this late
IN day, in attempting to annul what has so long
\. beep established and acquiesced in, to excite
y sectional divisions and .ealousies-to ALLEVIATE
IN the people of the different portions of the Union
d from each bther-and to endanger the existence
t. of the Uuion ITSELF
If To this impressive appeal, as your repre-
c sentative, when the portentous question wa
h legislatveIy put in the session of Congress
Of 1S53-54, answered No! but majority in Con
t. gress answered, Yes and with that answer
le the majority has come every evil deprecated b
e Mr.. Polk-ealousies, divisions, animosities, SEE
At aional hate, danger to the Union and tn
t country rapidly separating into two geograph
s. ical parties, enraged against each other. Fc
Of that answer lost the favor of my State, an
lie regretted it-regretted the loss of favor ha
0. SO long enjoyed, but not the vote. Of that
IN am proud and would not revoke it this da
/ e.. Ahoh ho..cnn nc