The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-07
No. ,.

No. =.
In early life, Mr. Jefferson was an earnest
opponent of Slavery. The language which, in
the Notes On Virginia. be used in reprehen-
sion of the system, has not been exceeded in
strength by that of the most free-spOken mod
e-n AboEtionist. But after his return from
France. entering on tie race Of popularity, he
tlrsw himself on the Southern interest and the
Southern interest had been establishing an
IDENTITY with that Of the Slave Power. The
cnltnre of cotton had been successfully intro
dnced. and the product Lad risen from mil
lion OF pounds in 1889, TO nearly fifty millions
;p sol. with a prospact of further indefinite
increase. Negroes, the producers of cotton, Of
c,nrse rose in value and Virginia, the great
projucer Of negroes since the closing of the
trade with Africa, had awoke to different
noIicy from that of her Revolutionary states
men. The great interest which had grown up,
coveted more securities. The vigorous element
Of political power which had disclosed itself,
demanded expansion.
A cardinal doctrine of the party, which,
with Mr. Jefferson at its head, had come into
power in the first year of the present century,
was rgd Interpretation of the grants of
the Federal Constitution. That "the powers
not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States,
are reserved to the States, respectively, or to
the people," was the Article of the Constitu-
ton. AS finally ratified, which might be called
the pillar Of their strength. Nothing could be
palmer than that authority to purchase foreign
territory, and to engage by treaty for the ad
mission OF its inhabitants to share in the
privileges Of and the government over, the
original partners, was nowhere vested in the
Federal Administration by the Federal Consti-
fulion. Such was Mr. Jeferson's own avowal,
in his private etters.* Yet two short years
hal scarcely passed, after his Inauguration as
President, before, under his instructions to
livingston and Monroe, Louisiana had been
purchased Of Napoleon, then First Consul Of
France, for price Of fifteen millions of dollars,
aud with a stipulation in the treaty, that "the
inhabitants Of the ceded territory shall be in
corTorated in the Union Of the United States,
and admitted as soon as possible, according to
the principles of the Federal Constitution, to
;he enjoyment of all the rights, advantages, and
imnurities, Of citizens of the United States. -
Art. at
The temptation to get possession of New
Orleans in some way was strong, for the popu
ID, on which had been rapidly gathering on the
baa-s Of the Mississippi and its tributaries
were naturally Inpatient of having their way
10 TIE ocean subject to restrictions from for
oign Powt- The immense departure from the
principles Of The Constitution, and from the
national policy as hitherto understood, by which
he sreaty obtained the desired benefit, did not
esca pc the circumstances Of patriotic statesmen
Of tbs day. But the Administration majority
III 10th Houses in Jefferson's second Congress
vas Overwhelming, and all opposition was
.raiess Ii was renewed in 1911, on the in
rod lction Of the Bill "to enable the people of
ne territory Of Orleans to form a Constitution
and State Government, and for the admission
surh State into the Union, on an equal foot
lg 'yi'h the original States" But this was
u.s. before the war with England. Party ex-
a'peraJi0n was at its height. The Southern
9o.cr, in the nndisputed ascendant as to for
egn relations. carried with it an overbearing
authority in domestic matters. Expostulation
could scarcely get hearing; and the French
>pAnish Creoles OF Louisiana sent to Washing
Ia iWo Senators and Representative, elected
o. lie Slavery basis, to help govern the de-
seeaiants ct those who had won the freedom
% The country in the battles of the Revolution,
and n Tie civil conflicts of hundred and fifty
AZ. n years
me advantage thus gained by the shrewd
@,e 'l specious opportunity did not fail to be
l'jt ed by in future action. The Slave Power
naturally grew confident and aggressive, in
Proportion as it was strengthened by extension,
az as experience had shown the prizes of a
'-orous ambition to be not beyond its reach.
IL February. 1919, bill for the admission of
4'2onrl as State of the Union was introdu-
'a INTO Congress. The controversy occasion
Aeasion Of Slavery was not fully disposed of
'' alter two years. For a long time it seemed
j the cause of Freedom was 10 prevail.
Lien the slave State of Delaware and the city
baltimore espoused 1.-THE former in unani-
-oS resolutions of her Legislature, the latter
2 memorial TO Congress. The Middle States
81 no neutrality. Pennsylvania, through
legislature, called upon her sister States
" refuse 10 covenant with crime,v and by a
\ ---ln0us vote. in which she was initiated by
T9 Jersey, declared it to be the right and duty
onsress 10 prohibit Slavery west of the Mis-
fpi. And New York, Ohio, and Indiana
singular union of all parties, adopted the
AI7 doctrine
~ Songress, the Senate amended the bill for
41nission Of Missouri, by the insertion of a
.-. providing for the admission of Maine
4 - ouhclng It's purpose to coerce the other
4 80 Oy compelling both measures to share
in.' he House passed, by vote of SO
me Dill for the erection of Missouri into
Il F e.. VIVID restriction upon the existence
4 -gry therein, similar to what had been
Il ,l;s On the future States northwest of the
r-r.i >! HE ordinance of 1897. The Senate
L., CO. oc' the restriction and, finally, under
| ~ as auspices, small number of North
| g, V'es having been won over, what has since
Ho%n as the Missouri Compromise v
Is>- @'.leG through the House by vote of &c
~''e became a law. 1t was in the debate
oIi'asion that John Randolph first EN-
~ ohe term doughfaces," since in sc
~ use and that, referring to the people
III 9Ttr. he said, awe DO not govern them
81 a. 81 % black slaves but by their own white
II We know what we are doing. We have
i-eled You once, and we can and we vii
asr you again. Ay, sir, we will drive yor
III wall and when we have you there once
III ~ Ne ~ mean to keep you there, and nail you