The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-03-26


own way, yet it must be expected. and
has always proved true. that the State
has taken the character her pupilage has
prepared her for as we'll in respect to
Slavery as in other respects. Hence,
six of the thirteen Statos are Free States
because Slavery vas prohibited in them
by Congress while Territories. to wit
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan. Wis
consin and Iowa. Seven Of the thirteen
arc Slaveholding States because Slavery
was allowed in them by Congress while
they were territories. to wit Tennessee,
Alabama, Mississippi Florida, Louisiana.
Arkansas and Missouri
On the 9th Of March \ d. 1920. was
passed by Congress the act preparatory
to the admission Of the States OF Missouri
into the Union. Much controversy and
discussion arose on the question. whcth-
er a prohibition of Slavery, within said
State, should be inserted, and it resulted
in this. that said State should be admit
ted, without snch prohibition, but that
Slavery should forcccr be prohiJitcd in
the rest Of that country ccded to us by
France lying north So and so north
latitude and this contract was known
as the Missouri Compromise. Under
this arrangement Missouri was admitted
as Slaveholding State the same having
been Slaveholding Territory. Arkan-
sas, south of the line, was formed into a
Territory, and Slavery allowed therein,
and afterwards admitted as a Slavehold-
lug State. Iowa was made Territory
north of tho line, and under the opera
tion OF the law. was settled up without
slaves, and admitted as a Free State. 1t
was so done The country now making
the Territories of Kansas end Nebraska
in 1870 was almost entirely uninhabit-
ed. and laid north of said line. aud what.
ever settlers entered the same before
1884. did SO under that law forever tor
bidding Slavery therein.
In lSjl Congress passei an act estab-
fishing the two new Territories. Nubras-
ka and Kansas. in this region Of country,
where Slavery had been prohibited for
more than so years, and instead Of lcav-
ing said law against Slavery inoperation
or prohibiting or expressly allowing or
establishing Slavery, Congress left the
subject in said Territories. TO be discus
sed agitated and legislatod on from time
to time, and the elections in said Terri
tories to be conducted with reference to
that subject, from year to year so long
as they should remain Territories. For
whatever laws might DO passed by the
Territorial Legislature on this subject
must be subject to change or repeal by
those of the succeeding years. In all
formal Territorial Governments it was
provided by law that their laws were sub.
jcct to the revision of Congress 50 that
they would be made with caution. In
these Territories that was omitted. The
provision in relation to Slavery in Ne
braska and Kansas is as follows "I be
eighth section Of the act preparatory to
the Union (which being inconsistent with
the 1)rincipIe of ofnOn-intervention by Con-
gross with Slavery in the States and
Territories. as recognized by the Leais.
laiure Of 1850, commonly called the Cal
ifornia measuEes) is hereby declared
imperative and roid; it being the true
intent and meaning Of this act not to
legisate Slavery into said Territory or
State, nor to exclude it thorefrom. but
to leave the people thereof pertcct(yfrec
to form and regulate their domestic in
stitutions in their own way, subject only
to the Constitution of the United States.
provided that nothing herein contained
shall be construed to revive or put in
force any law or regulation which may
have existed prior to one Of 9th March.
lS2O, either protecting, establishing.
prohibiting or aholishing Slavery" Thus
it was promulgated to the people of the
whole country that there was a clear
field for competition, au open course for
the race Of iivolship, the goal of which
was the ultimate establishment of
State, and the prize the reward Of ever.
lasting liberty aud its institutions. Oh the
one hand or the perpetuity of Slavery
and its concomitauts on the other. 1t is
the obvious duty of this Government,
while this law continues. to see this man
ifesto faithfully and honorably and hon
cstly performed, even though its particu-
lar supporters may see cause Of result
unfavOrable to the hopes. 1t is further
to be observed, that in the performance
OF this sacred experiment, it was provid-
ed that all white men who became inhab.
itants in Kansas were entitled to vote.
without regard to their time Of residence.
usually provided in other Territories.
Nor was this right OF voting confined to
American citizens, but included in such
aliens as had or would declare on oath,
their intention to become citizens. This
was the proclamation to the world to be-
come Inhabitants Of Kansas, and eulist
in the great enterprise by the force Of
numbers, BY votes to decide for it the
great question Was it to be expo cted
that the great proclamation for tho poli.
tleal tournament would be listened to
with indifference and apathyl Was it
proposed and presented in that spirit
Did it relate to a subject on which the
people were cool or Indifferent A large
part of tho people of this country look on
domestic Slavery as "only evil and that
continually" alike to master and to slave,
and to the community, TO be left alone
to the management or enjoyment of the
people of the States where it exists, but
not 10 be EXTENDED. more especially as it