The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-07-19

United States, anu Cnc more tAcieilS oce""Sc
II Is mixed up with unfounded calumnies, l
beg leave to submit to the public the follow
inc statements Of facts and inductions from
them.
Their object is to acquit the Representatives
of the Southern States who voted for the Nc.
braska bill, after having also voted for the
Missouri compromise, from the charge Of bal
|tai,h.
I Although not friend of the Nebraska bill,
nor especially of the repeal of what is styled
the Missouri compromise, utterly deny that
the vote in favor Of the Nebraska bill involved,
beyond the individual members, if any there
were, who had voted for that compromise,
any breach of faith whatever.
| 10 prove this will first refer the reader to
the history of that compromise, and the eX-
pressed opinions and views of the parties to it,
mean especially of the Southern Representa-
tives who voted for the resolution admitting
Missouri into the United.
Its history will be brief A resolution TO
admit Missouri into the Union without any
restriction as to the future admission Of slave
ry within its limits had passed the Senate by
II considerable majority, and been pertinacious-
~ rejected by one as large in the House OF
Representatives Attempts had been made
TO produce an agreement between the two
Houses, and made in vain Mr.. Clay, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, pro-
posed through his friends in both Houses, the
election by the House Of numerous commit
tee, to be united with one from the Senate, to
produce an agreement between them. Mr..
4 Clay wished to be mcmbcro of that committee,
but could not by his own act become one. lie,
had tbn nf m 4 iut
other members for that duty, but not himself
The committee was named in pencil on a pa
per, handed around the House. aud All election
was Effected in accordance with his pencilled
+, list, including himself. The report OF the
committee consisted Of two concurrent rcsO-
lutionS: the first in order provided simply for
the admission Of Missouri without any restric-
ton; the second for the restriction of slavery
to the territory Of the United States south OF
latitude SO deg. 80 min called the Missouri
Compromise" The first resolution passed by
Il bare majority of two or three at most, III the
absence of several gentlemen, three OF whom
| remember by name, who, it was believed,
ahsentcd themselves Intentional y-Mr. Ogdcu,
Mr.. Knscy, and Mr. Edwards. So thought
at the time. In the majority were Mr.. John
Randolph and Mr. VIM 5. Archer, Reprcscn-
tativcs of Virginia, both of whom were appos-
8 ed to the second resolution, and so voted.
The second resolution was approved Wy Il lar
ger majority; such as had always existed, and
, nov augmented by some Southern votes. AS
) soon as Mr. John Randolph perceived that the
resolutions had been passed with the rcSric-
ton lie sprung from his seat and moved re-
consideration of that resolution for which he
had voted. Mr. Archer seconded his motion.
In support OF it Mr. r. announced his deter.
mined opposition to the resolution so long as
the restriction should remain; 50 did Mr.. Ar
cher Taking two votes from the ma orty OF
! two certainly not more than three, by which
! the resolution admitting Missouri had passed
/, and adding the two votes of Mr.. Il. and Mr.
4. to the minority, the first resolution was OBJ
=, viously rejected. Mr.. Randolph declared, in
n support Of his motion to reconsider, that the
cards had been packed, and he would not play
f out the game This he addressed to the
: Speaker directly and personally.
=, BY the rules Of the II ousc II motion to re
consider any proposition that has been adopted
C may be moved by any member who has voted
o for it, and day is allowed during which he
# may make such notion The hour OF ten n
l. night had arrived; member of the House, {
d personal friend of Mr. Randolph, had sunk OF
q the floor in state Of inscnsblity, from anXi
" ety. exhaustion, and proximity to the fmti'
Of atmosphere OF the large lamp chandelier, Otter
Intellectually attempted to be lighted; and Mr.
Randolph was told that the Senate had ad
" journed that his friend was obviously sick, au'
d the resolution could not leave the House tina
j. night, while he was reminded that under it
@ rules he could renew his motion at any time tn
:, ensuing day. Thus assured he, without oppG
= sition, allowed the House to adjourn. Earl
y the next morning, the House having met a
ST soon as the Journal had been read, the Cler
a, was seen walking towards the door with
e paper in his hand, which some one cried on
= was the resolution of the preceding night. MI
>, Randolph loudly ordered him ito stop;" III
~ other member, (Mr. McLane, of Delaware,
e more loudly still, "to 60 on, at his pcr" Th
t. Speaker, in an under tone, babe him ''do hi
lie duty" He did proceed, and took with hin
N to the Senate the resolutions, on which tn
- Senate instantly acted.
~ Mr., r, indignantly renewed his motion {
~ the proceeding night to reconsider the frs
in resolution, and was told by the Speaker tha
y, his motion was not in order, the reports {