The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-03-12

resistance which it is their right and their du
ty to make to them, and our determination TO
make that sympathy efficient by all the means
which we may lawfully employ.
Thus, for period Of twenty-five years,
has Slavery been contending, under various
pretexts. but with constant success, against
the tendencies of civilization and the spirit
Of our institutions for the extension and per-
petuation Of its power. The degree In which
the General Government has aided its efforts,
may be traced in the successive steps it has
taken. In 1857 all the States in the Con-
federacy united in ordaining that Slavery
should be forever prohibited from all the ter
rtory belonging to the United States. In
1850 the frs Congress Of the United States
passed law reathrmiug this ordinance and
rs-enacting the prohibition Of Slavery which
It contained. la 1920, the siayeholding IN
terest procured the admission of Missouri,
as a Slave State, into the Union, bv acceding
to similar prohibition of Slavery from the
Louisiana territory, lying north OF 50 deg.
30 min.
In S54 that prohibition was repealed, and
the people OF the territory were left free TO
admit and exclude Slavery, in their own dis
vretion. In 1856, the General Government
proclaims It's determination to use nil the
power Of the United States TO enforce upon
the people obedience to laws imposed upon
them bY armed Invaders, establishing Stay
cry, and visiting with terrible penalties their
exercise Of freedom VI speech, and Of the
press upon that subject. While two-thirds
1f the American people live in States where
Slavery is forbidden by law, and while five
sixths of the capital. enterprise and produc-
tive industry Of the country rest upon free
dom as their basis, Slavery thus controls all
! departments of their common government,
uad wieids their powers in its own behalf.
TIRE PLEAS URGED ~ DErENsE or TaE>E AG-
GGEssT0Ss OF SLAVERY.
As a matter Of course. for these acts and
for all the outrages BY which they have been
attended, the sayeholllng interest pretends
ID find warrant in the Constitution Of the
[ s. All usurpaton, in countries profess
ing to be free, must have the the color Of
law for it's support. NJ outrage committed
bg Power upon Popular rights, is lett with
out some attempt at yindication. The parts
/ ton of Poland, the overthrow of the Con-
stitution Of hungary, the destruction of Irish
Independence, like the repeal Of the M;ssou-
III Compromise and the conquest of Kansas,
We're consummated with a scrupulOus OBJ
seryance Of the forms of law.
TuE PLEA THAI THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE WAS
Nor COMPACT.
/ l. The repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
+ it is urged on behalf Of those by whom il
was effected, involved no violation Of good
faith, because that Compromise was merely
an act Of Congress and as such repealabie ut
Measure. Regarded as legal technicalitv,
! We are not disposed to contest this Plea
| The Compromise was undoubtedly embodied
! ia a Congressional enactment, subject 10 re-
/ peal. But ia this case, by the very nature Of
The transaction, the faith Of the parties was
4 pledged that this enactment should not DO
repealed. The spirit of the law, whatever
4 its form, was the spirit of a compact, It's
enactment WAS secured by an exchange VI
equivalents. fke slayehoidjng iuteres. proc
cured the admission Of Missouri into the
mon, by conserving and voting thorough It's
representatives III Congress, that north al
}ts southern Inc, 10 the Territory Of Loaisi-
! ana, slavery should DC prohibited torerfr.
''lthout ina consent ana that vote the AL
MISSION 81 Missouri could not nave been Sc
! cured nor would the PROHIBITION Of Slave
~ untll 1924, or untii any other GATE, or Tor
any other time than that speclhed IN inc act
--hlmelX' JoFefef--haSe purchased Tue as
sent Of the rec States to the admission OF
Missouri as Q Slave State into the omon'
he word, toffcsf' therefore, was part OF
" 'hc law, uhd o. 'Ae consideration LOT rs
enactment S9ei ~" may DC repeated
hlt lts repeal Is the rupture ol u eompael--
tae reputation OF solemn covenant. Inc
\ MISSOURI compromise ilds peeh regarded as
sdch u compact from the date OF its enact
ineul' IN al sections anu l'y an 'he peopic 81
WE country. successive FfesldeutS nave in-
FoAeu iof i respect anu an ooiga'ioh
scarcely inferior % that 81 me constitution
Hseti, ana senator i'ouglas himself, - late
u lofo, declared taat y haa been canon
Yea IN me hearts o. the american people, a.
saered thns "h'ch no roenieSs manu- wouId
ever pc reckless enough 70 oissaro. hat,
ever thefeio ore, the mere lofin u tile o"ho
may h"Nc permi''eu' eoou ialsh oh the Parl
~ tho REPRESENTATIVES VI tiio 9iaVehoia-
ing INTERESTS requifeo tH"s Il should NC kept