The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-21
VOLUME XII.-NUMBER ls.

either section. vermont came into the Tn
ion Of l19l, with constitution excluding
Slavery. kentucky, formed out OF Virgin
, ia, was admitted in 1872 Tennessee In IL.
90: Mississippi in 1917, and Alal ana In
lSl9,-all Slave States, formed out Of Ter.
ritory belonging to Slave States, and having
Slavery established in them ut the time ol
their formation. On the other hand Ohio
was admitted In 1903, Indiana in 1916, and
Illinois in 1918, having formed State Gov
crnments under acts Of Congress which
made Il fundamental condition. that their
Constitutions should contain nothing repug-
nant to the ordinance of l7S7,-or in other
words, that Slavery should be prohibited
within their limits forever. In all these
occurrences, as in the admission Of Louis
lana in 1879, there had been no contest be-
tween Freedom and Slavery, for II had not
been gescrally felt that the interests Of eth
or were seriously involved.
THE MISSOURI oxrRouIsE.
The first contest concerning the admission
of new State, which turned upon the
question OF Slavery, occurred In lS49, when
Missouri, formed out Of the territory pur.
chased from Fnncc in 1903, applied to Con.
grcs for admission to the Union us slave
holding State. The application was strcn-
uously resisted by the people Of the Fre
States. II was everywhere felt that the de-
cision involved consequences Of the last I'M
portancc to the welfare Of the country, and
that, if the progress Of Slavery was ever to
bc arrested, that was the time 10 arrest II.
The Slaveholding interest demanded its AL
mission as right, and denied the power Of
Congress to impose conditions upon new
States applying to be admitted into the Con.
federacy. The power rested with the Free
States, and Missouri was denied admission.
But the subject was reviewed. The Slave
holding interest, with Characteristic and
timely sagacity, abated something Of its pre-
tensions and settled the controversy on tho
basis of compromise. Missouri was admit.
ted into the Union, by nm act bearing date
March 6, 1890, in which Il was also declared
that "in all that territory ccded by France
to the United States, under the name Of
Louisiana, which lies north Of &c deg. 30
min. Of north latitude, not included within
the limits Of the State Of Missouri. SLAVE
Ry AND INVOLUNTARY sERyITuDE, other wise
than in the punishment Of crimes whereof
the parties shall have been duly convicted,
SHALL BE, AND rs nERgBY FOREVER PRouBI-
TEd." In each house of Congress, a major
ity Of the members from Slayeholding States
voted in favor of this bill with this proyis-
ion, thus declaring and exercising by their
votes, the Constitutional power Of Congress
to prohibit Slavery even IN territories where
il had been permitted by the law of France,
at the date of their ccssion TO the United
States a new Slave State, Arkansas,
formed out of that portion Of this territory
lying South of 80 deg. 80 min. to which the
prohibition was not extended, was admitted
to tho Union in 1886. Two Slave States
thus came into the Confcdcrlcy by virtue
of this arrangement; while Frcedom gained
nothing by il but the prohibition of Slavery
from vast region, which civilization has
made no attempt 10 pcnetntc.
Thus ended this first great contest Of Free
dom and Slavery for position and power in
tho general government. The Slayeholding
interest had achieved virtual victory. IL
secured all the immediate results for which
it struggled; il acquired the power OF Off
setting in the federal Senate, two Of the Free
States Of the Confcderacy; and the time
could not be forsecn when, in the fulflment
of It's compact, il would yield any positive
and practical advantage TO the interests Of
Freedom. Neither then, nor for many years
thereafter, did any statesman dream that.
when that period should arrive, the Slave
holding interest would tnmplc on Its bond
and fling its faith to the winds.
Texas, CALIFORNIA AND THE CoMRoAIsns or
1850.
A quarter Of a century elapsed before the
annexation Of Texas. Slavery had been ac-
tive. meantime, in fastening It's hold upon
the Government, in binding political parties
u its chariot, and in seeking in Congress to
stiilc the right of petition, and to crush all
freedom Of speech and of the press. In
every slaycholding State, none but slave
holders, or those whose interests are identi.
Gcd with slavery, were admitted to Gil any
Office, or exercise any authority. civil or
political. Free whites, not Shareholders,
In their presence, or in the midst Of their
society were reduced TO yassalagc little less
degmding than that of tho slaves themselves.
Even at this day, although the white pop
ulation Of the slayeholding States is more
than six millions, Of whom but 3i7 sos, or
less than one seventeenth, arc the owners of
slaves, none but stakeholder, or one who
will act with exclusive reference 10 slavery,
is ever allowed to represent the Safe in any
National Convention, In either branch Of
Congress, or in any high position Of civil
trust and political power. The slayehold-
ing class, small rs II is, Is the governing
class, and shapes legislation and guides all
puplic action for the Advancement Of its
own interests and the promotion Of its own
ends.
During all that time, and from that time
even 10 the present, all slaveholding dele
gates in the National Conventions, upon
whatever else they may differ, always con-
cur in imposing upon the Convention, as
sent to their requisitions in regard to slay-
cry, as the Indispensable condition Of their
support. Holding thus in their hands pow
or TO decide the result of the election, and
using that power undeyiatingly and sternly
for the extortion Of their demands, they
have alwuys been able 10 control the noun
nations oil both parties, and thus, whatever
may be the issuc, TO secure q President who
is sure to b. the instrument Of their behests.
Thus has il como TO pas that for twenty
years We have never had President who
would appoint to the humblest Offices with
in his gift, in any section Of the Union, any
man known to hold opinions hostile TO slay-
cry. or 20 be active in resisting its aggres-
sions and usurIations Of power. Men, tho
most upright and the most respectable. in
States where slavery is only known by name,
have been ineligible TO the smallest ,rrst--
have been held unit to distribute letters
from the federal post-ofhcc 20 their neigh.
bors, or trim the lamps Of lighthouse up
on the rcnotcst point Of our extended cost.
Millions Of our citizens have been thus dis.
fnnchiscd, for their opinions concerning
slavery, and the vast patronage Of the gen.
cral government has been systematically
welded in its service, and Tor the promotion
Of its design. bu
Il was by such discipline, and under
. such influences, that the government and
the country were prepared for the second
great stride OF slavery towards now domin.
ion, and Ear the avowal ofmotives by which