The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-26

,s uould have secured as the abOlitonss say all
the Territories Of the United States freedom forever
except the southern extremity OF California and the
present Territory OF New Mexico Supposing slavery
ever 10 have gone into these regions which is almost
impossfble the North would have been able out Of
the other territories have erected in time, at least
sixteen new States each Of them as large as Wisconsin
Senator Douglas throughout that long contest offered re-
peatedy the proposition extend that line to the Pacific
he offered il as amendment TO the oregon Dill Dat IN
vain Slavery not 10 DO allowed any loot oil terrific
~ not embraced in organized States The proposition to
extend the line was always adopted by the Senate every
southern member of that body and OF the House. voting TO
surrender to the North all the territory north OF SO deg
80 min embracing the vast regions We have described as
included in Washington, Oregon Nebraska Kansas tab,
and all the hababe parts OF California; but the northern
majority in the House refused it. rejected it. They would
have the wmot proyso-a total prohbition-or nothing
The Oregon bill eventually passed with the Wlmot
rrovso in it Senators Benton, and Houston and Dick.
nson and others voting for il upon the express ground
that as Oregon was north of SO 30 they were voting in
het only TO extend that line. In that solitary IN
atance of the Oregon bill is the only case that the Wimo
nroyso has ever received the approval OF Congress
Never except in that case has Congress endorsed ina"
nrobibition of slavery; and then II was passed as
IVA have said-senators and others declaring that
OREGON was north of 80 deg. 80 min, 1t was vir-
tual extension of line Upon that ground expressly
stated in special message Mr.. Polk approved the DBL
The North them in ls47Asd9 positively repudiaed the
Missouri restriction upon the ground thati was but par
tial and not an entire prohibition OF slavery by friend
and by the Missouri line sunk out OF popular avor ana
when Congress convened in December ls4s the question
before Congress was whether the Wmot provso-a total
probbton by Congress of slayeryhoud be enacted for
all the Territories Of the United States Against that
measure Webster and Clay, and hosts of other wings,
united with the democracy They voted it to s grave
few friends of the Missouri line yet remained in Congress
The leader of these the late Vice President Mr. King
of Alabama He renewed the Offer and it was voted down
Mr. Clay being only its opponent but the man who
erected over it that other compromise to leave the settle
ment of the question Of slavery to the people OF the Terri
tories for their determination.
It has been said that Mr. Clay's hand traced in 1920
that line Of SO deg 80 min. in 1850 he not only repud
ated its paternity but buried it alongside of the Wmo
proyso as not fitted proper for the settle
ment of the difficult question of slavery in the Territories
We will publish bis speech Of 1850 these points in few
days
This brief history Of these two measures discoses these
facts that the North through four years of violent
,enton over this subject refused the Missouri line though
il would have given them immense empire OF territory
that demanded total prohibition of slavery in all the
Territories and that in the struggle both propositions
were thrown aside, and new one erected in their stead
Not content with nearly the whole, they grasped at all
and in the effort the territory withdrawn from the
testing parties. and the issue submitted to those people d
recty interested in its settlement.
The utter Reputation of the Missouri line and the Will
mot provso submitted to the people, and nnetenth
of the people endorsed the action We win not stop now
TO pursue the history to the present day. Our purpose
simply show that the abrogaton Of the Missouri restrc
ton was simply carrying out the unanimous approval in
1852 reputation in 1850 and that the North first
repudiaed it, because of its inferory freedom Sc
curty the Wmot proyiso, and assened to the burial
of them both in grave the establishment in Wash
ngton in 1852 and in Kansas and Nebraska in 1854 of
the right Of the people to act upon the question was but
the inevitable consequence Of the attempt to establish the
total instead of partial prohibition of slavery and of
the future acquescence in and approval of the settle
ment