The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-14
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name Of Louisiana which lies north Of thirty six degrees
and thirty minutes north latitude not included within the
limits e the State contemplated by this act slavery and
involuntary serynde otherwise than in the punishment OF
crime whereof the parties shall have been duly convicted
shall be- and Is hereby forever prohibited; Provided al
H0dys That any person escaping into the same nom whom
labor or service Is lawfully claimed In any State or Terri
tory Of the United States such fugitive may be lawfully
claimed and conveyed TO the person claiming his or her
II will be observed that this 9Th section Of the Missouri
act commonly called the Missouri Compromisel by its
terms only applied 70 the territory acquired from France
known as the Louisiana purchase the western boundary
of which defined by the treaty with Spain In 1919
and subsequently by treaties with Mexico and Texas be
the Tooth meridian of longitude while the bill under
sderaon under the guse of reyving and restoring that
provision extends 1t more than degrees of longitude
further westward and applies II TO that large extent of
ment Nor 1t be said with fairness truth that this
provision was applied to any portion of the territory in
question by the ont resolution for annexng Texas to the
United States for the that the whole territory en-
braced within the limits Of the republic of Texas was ad
mitted into the Union State with the privilege OF
forming not exceeding four other States out Of the State Of
Texas by the consent of said Sate with the condition
that Gin such State States should be formed out of
said territory, north of said compromise line
slavery involuntary servitude Except for erme shall
II was left discretionary with Texas to remain forever
State and to retain the whole of her territory slave
territory or to consent to division in which the pro-
hibion would take effect by virtue of the compact from
the date OF the formation of State within the limits
OF the republic Of Texas north of SO deg. 80 min IT.
the contrary Texas should determine to withhold her
sent no such new State could he formed and hence
the prohibition would take effect All difficulty,
however this point has been removed by the act OF
1850 purchasing from Texas all that portion Of her terrific
ny lying north OF 36 deg 80 mn and incorporating IL in
the Territory Of New Mexico with the guarantee that
'when admitted State the said Territory any por
ton Of the same shall be received into the Union with
without slavery their constitution may prescribe at the
time of admission Hence all that territory to which it
Is now proposed to apply the Missouri restriction for the
first time under the plea of restoring the Missouri Compro
Ia Dr0tac from any guc
invasion of the rights of the inhabitants form and regu
late their own domestic affairs in their way by the
solemn guarantees contained in the compromise
OF 1850, which blotted out the geographical line
dividing line between free territory and slave territory
and substituted for it the cardinal principle of segovern
ment in accordance with the constitution. But it will
also be observed that the bill under consideration does
propose to limit the restriction the territory acquired
from Texas nor the country the east side of the Rio
Grande but extend it that river portion OF
che territory acquired from Mexico which claim
ed by Texas embraced within the Louisiana purchase
ana 70 which there is no preex for asserting that the
MISSOURI Compromise applied IT, in the application
OF the 9Th section of the act of the 9Th of March, 1920
Commonly called the Missouri Compromise large
district Of country to which 1t had any previous
application 1t be the policy of the House of Representa-
hves to return to the Obsolete idea of geographical
Line as dividing line in all time to come between
slave territory and free territory perpetual bar
rier against the advancement of slavery on the one
hand and free institutions the otherthe measure falls
short of accomplishing the whole of their object in not
extending the line to the Pacific oceen Your Committee
can perceive many weghty cons founded in no
Cyl although wanting the snncon Of sound constitutional
principles which might De urged in favor of such meas
ue, uli .e barrier once erected from ocean to
ooeanlpermulg slavery the side and prohibiting
1t on the obar-i universally acquesced in and reigousy
observed as patriotic offering upon the altar of our com
mon country would put end the controversy forever
and form bond of peace and brotherhood in the future
But unfortunately, when this sxpeden proposed by
he Senate in ls4s 1t was Indignantly repudated by the
house oil Representatives and consequence the whole
country was plunged into whirlpool Of sectional strife
and angry erimnation which alarmed the greatest and
purst patriots of the land for the safety of the republic
and was only rescued from the impending perils by the
aaopaon OF the compromise measures of 1850, which
abandoned the policy of geographical line and substtu
ssa ior Il the great principles Of ssgovernment and
state equality In obedience 10 the federal constitu
ton In view Of the history Of the past your committee
can perceive no safety in the future except in strict and
reng,ous ndey to TIE true principles Of the constitution
as Embodied In the adjustment Of that unfortunate contro
yer and adopted whole country as rules Of action
20 De applied in all future time when in the progress Of
events should be necessary to organize Territories or
admit new States. The Kansas-Nebr act was -
logical sequence Of the compromise measures Of so and
imPerayey necessary in order 20 establish and
Perpetuate the principles Of seryoyernment and State
equality In the organization of Territories and
OF new States For these your committee cannot
WIN tne House Of Representatives in the proposition
10 blot out from the organic act of Kansas and
tnose essential provisions and cardinal pripeines the
nui observance Of which can alone preserve The in
gns o. the inhabitants Of the Territories and maintain
e peace unity and fraternity Of the republic The great
ooect TO withdraw the slavery question from the halls
OF Congress and remand its decision 10 the peope NJ The
o@'es and Territories subject TO no other cond-
OF restrictions then those imposed by the constitution
OF the United States Those provisions of the bill unde
consideration which introduce and establish sIavary e.
gether with those which abolish and prohibit II ara IiI
OBNOXIOUS on the score Of principle nnsrpcb "a H.. 49,
sert and exercise the right of Conr,ss 10 form ana
hte the local affairs and DOME dc nsttions ~ d.s,
ana osunct people wout their consent and recardIe,
en rghts ano wishes. To avoid all msconstruction
oWeSer upon ts point your COMMITTEES deem Il pron.1
ark that their objections do not apply TO that mari
de OIL which extends the provisions of the fugitive
hVe law TO the Territories Of Kansas and Nebraska and
provides that any person lawfully held 10 service In any
s@te OF Territory and escaping into either the Ter
ory OF Kansas or Nebraska, may be reclaimed and re-
49, 20 'ne person or place where such service is due
Ioce nPon the subject In this clause your Committed
IYood to lind frank and conscientious
zoe duty OF Congress TO provide efficient laws for
ing INTO hfal execution the provision OF the
uon OF the United States which provides for the rendition
by that instrument. 'PO''N
The preservation Of free institutions depends pnon
nu observance Of the constitution In all its parts ana
assurance thus furnished that the representatives al
o people are ever ready TO provide new and additional
when supposed to be necessary for the faithful
performance Of that constitutional obligation which has
tne subject OF the severes criticism in some portions
- me country cannot fail TO CRAFTY every true friend az
the Union In this case however no such Legislation
necessary inasmuch the organic Of Kansas and Ne
oraska extended the provisions Of the ugtyesaye law 10
both Of those Territories ~" "
The fifteenth and sixteenth sections Of the bill under CON-
siderston read as follows: WIN
SIC. IT, And Be further enacted That all .;,. ro,..,
ana poceeangs civil and criminal law and in chancery
ana al indictments and nformatons which sha be pend
g ana undetermined In the courts of the Territory of
Kansas or OF New Mexico, when this act shall take effect
remain IN SAID courts where pending, to be heard