The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-13

In all he territory north Of the southern line of Missouri
except within the comparatively small limits Of Missouri
herself Where is the who in the face OF these facts
assert that the slave power commenced the aggression
There not an instance recorded upon the history OF the
country where we have violated the rights OF the people OF
the North. In evil ho1r sir when unprepared
to expect it you entered these halls and with sacregous
hands violated the constitution of your country by seizng
vast territory upon which slavery existed and attempted
TO appropriate 1t to freedom The Senate checked your
efforts so far as Missouri herself concerned but
ant-savery determined 10 avail herself Of that OPP
portuniy to do US injustice and so managed the egs
laton TO perfect her plan without committing her
self to the principle therein contained The act OF 1920
in regard TO Missouri has been claimed as sacred COM
pact between the North and the South that should
have been disturbeda settlement of the slavery ques
tion-and act in which the "pghted faith" Of both
sections had been given that ought to have remained
inviolate This is insisted upon, especially by the
men OF the North and every who advocated its
peal is denounced plant tool Of the slave power and
traitor to his section The great question in conrover
sy when this act passed was, how far drive
slavery from the territory acquired from Francef This
House for prohibiting it in Missouri. The northern
pshed Without dissolution, determined to allow it to
remain In Missouri but to appropriate to freesoi all the
territory north of SO deg min not included therein
and hence the clause prohibiting sa, IN missouri was
stricken out and another inserted prohibiting ~ ~ all tne
remainder Of French purchase Let us see who sup
ported this great compromise and who has observed It,
In the first place. the record shows that Senator Thomas
from Illinois, introduced the restriction In reference to
| slavery, and which is in the following words:
"SEo And be Il further enacted That all that Territory
ceded by France the United States under the Of
minutes north latitude not included within the limits of the
State contemplated by this act. Mssoaril slavery and in
voluntary servitude otherwise than in the punishment OF
crimes whereof parties shall have been duly convicted,
shall be, and is hereby, forever prohibited. ..t
Many persons especially in the South have supposed
that Mr. Clay WAS the author of this provision but 80 far
from that being the case, he not even member OF
the Senate therefore could not have introduced or
supported it. But sir to the question as to whether
the North ever did support only when it was her inter
do So The journal shows upon adding the section
above quoed anxious they to take advantage OF
the occasion to strike slavery blow that every northern
senator but two voted for IT. They were willing to lend
their help to asten unlawful restriction upon that Ter
rtory and still they unwilling to allow Missouri 10
in with constitution allowing her people the enjoy
of rights which every other State permitted, and
which admit reject slavery the people might
determine. This the only part of that Compromise to
which the North agreed They made this contract and
then, when the important question OF ordering the DILL
amended to be engrossed and read third time every
northern senator except four repudiaed that part OF the
compromise which to allow Missouri the right to be ad
mtted slave State by voting against the notion and
it passed by southern vote as choice of the two
evils which the North oeredhe prohibiting in the
State the other in the balance Of the Territory So this
compromise became law, not by the help but In spite OF
northern votes Missouri in pursuance OF the law thus
passed. framed her constitution and in December of the
year asked admission joint resolution passed the
Senate providing for it, but when it came to this House 1t
resisted by the northern men, and an amendment Of
ed to the Senate resolution providing for such admission
upon condition that sdUery should Be excluded by the
con'on of the said proposed and upon this repu-
dlaon of the compromise twohirds OF the northern
stood and voted for the amendment thus showing that no
recognised it binding upon the NORTH either in the
House the Senate; for she into the Union AZ
all under the OF 1920 but under the proclamation Of
the President in obedience TO and distinct resolu
on in nowise connected with the legislation of the prece-
ding year. but requiring Missouri 10 consfrus her constitution
according to the wishes of majority of Congress- and
upon her agreeing to do she was allowed to come into
| the Union.
7 ist that
sion upon the South and the open violation Of our const
tuition. | have thus infinitely detailed IL for the reason
that its restoration is to be the great burden in the present
contest for the presidency and believe that majority OF
the people of this great country are prepared to do justice
to all its parts, and upon this presumption have acted.
Notwithstanding have denied the authority of Con-
gress pass the Missouri restriction yet statesmen
for the sake Of peace and harmony have been content to
abide by the line therein named proper boundary be-
tween and in good faith to carry out regardless Of ad
vanages that may have accrued either have shown
that 1t with the North the time Of Its adoption
nor has IL been since In ls46, when the threemon
BILL it called before Congress of money
which Mr. Polk asked for to negotiate peace with Mexico
the Missouri restriction added TO the bill authorizing
the loan forever prohibiting slavery any territory which
might be acquired Herewith and majority Of northern
in this House by their votes repudated again the Mis-
souri, Compromise because II well known that ter
ory could be acquired except large proportion thereof
must necessarily fall below the line Of thrysr thirty
majority of southern members voted twice not three
times in favor of the Missouri Compromise to apply
il to the vast Territory Of Oregon and the members from
the North willingly recognised that line because II was
working their advantage but the very moment that il
proposed to extend the line through California
and New Mexico 1t again and again repudated by the
North and yet southern President after they had thus
acted towards the South determined TO recognise IT. and
discharge his duty he understood II to the whole nation
and ftbere to be any violation Of compac that
sacred 1t should never rest upon him.
The North rejected by her four represent who
appointed the Clayton committee in lS45 to adjust and
settle the territorial government for Oregon and the amend
proposed thereto together with the message Of the
President far related to New Mexico and California
the four southern senators upon that committee proposed
the Missouri line fair and just settlement of the contro-
versy in regard TO slavery, and IL again repudated
In 1850, and repeated offers Of this line
proposed in the House and in the Senate and they
repeatedly rejected. The South willing TO take
that fair settlement Of this dangerous and alarming
question convention of the southern States proposed to
accept the Missouri Compromise not because Of its cons
utonaty nors equity; but for the that had
been in existence for thirty years. and the "eary fathers
had agreed to it, and we for the sake Of peace would
rejected with indignation, and the antsavery sent
ment of the North demanded that southern shareholders
should be excluded from every part Of this newly yacqured
territory So deeply had this abolition feeling taken root
in the North that IL prepared to say that these lands
shall be appropriated solely to the and enjoyment OF
the freesoers from the South shall be allowed
TO enter this Territory unless be leaves behind him por
ton Of his property zoe have determined recognise
slaves property and resolved not TO allow Others to
do in the domain have assumed to regulate
what shall be property not only in State but
will also control this subject in the national Territories
The strength and power Of this feeling was great that
IL swept away the landmarks that had distinguished the
two old political partiesone had yielded to its influence
and prepared do its bidding the other had its ranks
thinned by this wild and ansca feeling that the
remaining portion poweress to Defend unaided the
constitution Of country and protect the rights OF Amer
can citizens under that sacred instrument The men Of the