Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-08-29

who enacted laws to carry the free ordinance
Of 1857 into effect. The Fugitive Slave Act
Of 1893 was passed in view Of the binding
force Of the original compact Of the Consti-
tuition. The new free STATES Of Ohio, Indl-
ana, Michigan and Wisconsin, have been
formed out oi the Northwest Territory, and
Kentucky. Tennessee, Alabama and Missis-
sipi, have been formed without Objection
out Of slave territory, included in the origi-
nal thirteen States. Daniel Webster. speak
ing on this suhjcct as late as May 22l, 1851, f,
uscs the following language;
81 contend and always have contcndcd
that after the adoption Of the Constitution
any measure Of the government; calculated
IN bring more slave territory into the United
States. was beyond the power of the Constl-
tuition. and against IL provisions. That i
my opinion, and il always has been my
opinion.
"I never would consent and never have
consented that there should b. one foot Of
slave territory hcyond what the old thirteen
States lad at the time oi the foundation VI
the Union" IWcbstcr's Works, vol. =, =.
5il.
The purchase Of Louisiana brought new
territory into the Union, in which a species
OF qualified slavery existed a, the time Of the
purchase, though Spanish slavery never ~
duccd a man TO a cha,tcl, hutat all times
as in Cuba at tins day-thc right TO pur.
chase hi. freedom {. the inheritance Of every
person held in bondage.
When Missouri sought admission into the
Union as a Slave state, therisht' of freedom
were invoked by the North. There was
nothing in the soil, climate or productions
II Missouri that rendered slavery desirable
in tha, territory, any more than there is to
invite slavery int, Kansas to-day. The
great bulk Of the frrc men II Missouri, to-
day regret that it was not made frcc State.
\ small body Of planters hold power over It,
and or N, present, keep back efforts for
her emancipation from the cunC q negro
bondage. The Ecccnt clcC,ion in Missouri
show, that a mighty change Of opinion has
hccn already cG,c,cl in that State. In an
evil hour, in lS2O, a few Northern Senators
and Representatives from the North, united
with the South and allowed Missouri 20
come in ~ a slave State. Tho terrific con.
sequences Of their ,rrachcry TO the con,,i,u.
ton is seen in the degrading condition u
society in Missouri as compared with new
free States west. Tho history of that whole
country would have been different, had it
no, brrn for the vote, ola few Northern
men in the Congress of ls@o.
Senator B,npmin, on THURSDAY evening,
undertook 70 review the event. Of thc same
period as that above spoken Of by ", md
praised in the most exaggerated terms the
Few men OF the North who AZ that time, rs
he stated, dii justice % the South. H. De.
nounccd al.o m the mos, fierce and bitter
manner those who all that time resisted the
admission Of Missouri rs slave State. l,
is no more than fir to say that his speech
was an opcn, bold AMI unhlushing defence
II slavery. Tie stood mp FOR slavery and
with the calmncs. aud compla.
ccncy Of NTrofcssional ad,orat,-spclkinS
in defence Of the rights Of his client, orTay.
lie had no regrets TO make over the wrongs
of the system. H. never seemed 10 unlcr-
stand that he Wa addressing New England
audience, who were listening with attention
and with a suhducl adherence Of hi. doc
trincs. lie spoke Of the men who resisted
the extension Of slavery into Missouri Is
worthy Of indignant rcprohAtion. lis at.
tack on the North was - emphatic that be
resented the fact that at the next election,
the members Of Congress who stood 10y the
South In that struggle wcr, r,ruiiatcd, cast
OF, loathed, dishon5r,l and dsspIs'i forever
after a, home.
lie .iicmatircl the north and those at the
north who showed anti.slavcry rrcjuliccs,
as false 20 the Union AMI The Constitution
then, a. those are false 20 It now, who re-
sist tho Kansas.Ncbraska act, by which
slavery was admitted into Kansas. Both,
he .ays, are false to the Union and the Con.
sti,u,ion
Ills argument is ,his--ihat the purchase
Of Louisiana was made by the common treas
urc Of the whole country, and therefore that
slavery had the same right to 20 into Kan
sas as freedom. That as California, New
Mexico, Utah and Texas were acquired by
the blood and treasure Of the whole Union,
that slavery had the right to 60 there with
out rrstnint under the Constitution. That
the North had no right to exclude slavery
from the Territories and that i;s exclusion
was practical denial Of the rights Of the
South inconsistent with the continuance OF
the South in the Union. lis speech was
repetition Of what he had previously stated
in the Senate.
This we believe, is fair statement Of the
argument Of Senator Benjamin on Thursday
evening, IL argument it can be called.
Mr.. Benjamin has a frank manner and a
good voice. lie concealed the bitterness OF
his invoctiyc by theabundant use Of imagery
and u proper discharge Of rhetorical flour
ishcs. While giving him full credit for in
gcnuity and tact, sense Of duty requires
US To -ay thata more barciaccd misstatcment
was never before attempted in public debate.
Ills statement Of the case was ialsilication