The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-07-02
THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE.

There has been so much Misrepresentation
upon this subject that true and impartia
history of the facts is necessary. The "com
PROMISE sras the ,vo'k Of The South, (says Ben
tony sustained by the united voice of MIR
Monroe's cabinet, the upled voice of the
Southern Senators, and majority of the
Southern Representatives. In the Senate
there were is votes against i, and all ofthest
uere from Northern non-sldue Holding States
Even up 10 is4s the Democrats honestly
sustained it, and the very men who now rave
furiously for the "Missouri compromise"
were its destroy ers. In proof: when the
bill TO establish territorial government in
Oregon came up in The United States Senate
Judge Douglass proposed to extend the Mis-
souri, compromise line 10 tie Pacific, and
every uots against that proposition came from
Northern members. Among the Senators who
then voted against the line of go 30 was
VIM. L. DAYTON, the present Republican cen.
didate for Vice President, John P. Hale, Han
nibal Hamlin, Thomas Corwin, John Davis
and Daniel Webster. (See Benlon's Thirty
Years in the U. S. Senate vol. II. p. I'll for
this vo,e.) That proposition Of Douglass
was voted down in the House by Northern
Wings, Freesolers and Abolilonists-m fac,
hy the very political brawlers who now stand
n, the lead and front Of the new Republican
party.
1t was that class of men who for political
agitation first, in 1s46, proposed 10 violate
the compromise OF 1921. By that compro-
mise slavery was permitted 10 exist south OF
the line of $50 30', and the Wllmot proviso
of ls46 first proposed 10 violate that enact
menl By prohibiting slavery in all territory TO
be acquired from Mexico. Judge Douglass
then proposed to extend the Missouri line 10
the Pacific, and The present Republican lead
ers then as in 1s4S opposed the extension Of
the line. In 1s47 Mr.. Buchanan wrote a
lolter 10 his friends in Berks county in favor
of extending the Missouri line 10 the Pacific.
Imnsdia,-iy uaon The acquisition Of a large
territory from Mexico, President Polk IN his
last message 10 Congress recommended The
extension of the Missouri line to the Pacific
But the old weapons of warfare against the
Democratic party had become dull and worn
out, and new cry Of terror was needed
The bank was dead and the tariff was set.
lied. The desperate demagogues and furious
agi'ators continued 10 fight against this SMis-
souri, compromise ine," and defeaied the
propositions Of Douglass, Buchanan and Polk
10 extend it 10 the Pacific.
Aud then necessity required that some 9th.
er basis of adjustment be found 10 settle this
agitation. The North would no, agree TO le.
galze slavery in The new territories, and the
South would not agree 10 have ii prohibited
The Freesoilers and Abolitionisis had broken
down the Missouri line as a basis OF settle.
ment, but ,beY bad no other 10 cffer in its
place; for their object was agitation and moi
peace. And then il was that the patriotic
statesmen of The whole republic joined tc
calm the storm, and a Committee was ap
pointed in the United States Senate 10 repor
a plan Of settlement. That Committee was
Clay, Cass, Dickinson, Bright, Webster
Phelps, Cooper, King, Mason, Downs, Man
gum, Bell and Benien; and from it Heng
Clay made a report which embodied the
principle since forming the basis of The Kan
cas- aud Nebraska bill. The following is lht
sesolulion:
RESOLVED that as slavery does not exist b,
law, and is mol likely 10 be introduced int
any Of The territory acquired by the UniIet
States from the Republic of Mexico, ii is in
sIped,snt for Congress 10 prouide by taw eithe
for lis introduction into or crclustoa from an,
part Of the said territory; and that appropriate
territorial governments ought 10 be establish
ed by Congress in all of The said territory no
assigned as the boundaries of the proposet
State of California, ,0ahom the Adoption Of an,
restriction or condition on The subject of slavery
This contains the principle OF popular sov
ereignty or lel-aione policy, which has sine
been copied into The Kansas. Nebraska act
and chat principle therefore dates to 1850 an
not 1854 for ils fret adoption; and finds i,
origin in ahe committee of thirteen with Hen
sy Clay at the head, and not in Judge Doug
lass.