The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-03-27
Another Night Session ia the Senate,

On Monday, the day set to take the final
vote on the Leoompton Constitution, The
Senate chamber galleries were filled 10 over
flowing, The session was prolonged all-mghi
but tiru euuutr fuuiiy adjourned without t''E-
ing a vote, Below we give Senator Douglass
final appeal against Lecamptoni
Mr.. Douglas, upon entering the Chamber
was received with loud and enthusiastic APP
plause, which he deprecated By shaking hls
head and making gestures 10 stop
There was not one foot Of vacant roam ~
the galleries and the reporters were nNrTnn
by invading Wsituis. Al the seats On the
floor were occupied aud The WindoWs near
the roof were lilled, The spectators gallery
was nearly al filed by adies, most Of whom
remained over recess lut I O'clock and con
tnucd through the whole sitting until halt
past eleven,
On nation Of Mr., Gwin, the ladies were
admitted 81 the ilaar, aud lu - ieW moments
Il was crowded with them,
Mr.. Douglas said-l know not that my
strength Is sufficient 10 enable me- 10 protaot
/ trust / may be- pHIdQUed for brIcily referring
10 my course ON the slavery question. Re-
frring % the Missouri Compromise line, Mr..
Douglas stated that when in Compress al the
time IL was proposed o. admit IeXaA, lac "a
nmincd into the question Of that geographical
line, aud although unable 90 justify a. yet ne
was unwilling Ia awaken hcnrlburnings and
the slavery agitation. Hence, IN the PROPOSE
ton 90 admit, he cordially ncquicsccd in the
insertion Of u clause, with the ay0wed pur-
pose Of extending that line 20 the Puclilc
When New MeXico WAS acquired, the Senate
adopted, on his motion, proposition tu cN-
tend the line 10 the Pacific Ocean,
LIlr record of bis vote was here read by
the Clerk,
This proposition was adopted by twelve
but the House struck ont the amend.
mcnt BIS 80 majority, Hence, that proposal
tu define slavery by geographical line "a
lhc Pacific NiNAbandoncd by Congress, lie
would not discuss now whether that course
was wise or uuwisc he would leave IL 10
history. Most OF the Southern men, be- said,
voted for the repeal Of the Missouri Com-
promise, Most Of thCrNorthcm men against
u. II Mas argued If slavery was unjust inn
polite and iujudiciuus North Of that line, 10
was so South OF 10,
The argument wa, difficult Ia answer. In
fact, the only answer that could be given, was
HAT the line had its origin IN patriotic motives
and, Tor the sake Of peace, harmony aud con-
.orl, ought 10 be adhered 10. For that
reason, be- felt, as much as any man, when
ID, repeal plunged the country into am ugit-
ion that caused the wisc,t and purcst patriots
IN the country TO ucmhlc Tor its existence,
We all remember said he, the ugituiions of
1913, and 1851, when the Spgc of Ashland
was called from his retirement 60 add the
weight of the influence Of the councils &c the
and, with the assistance OF Daniel
Webster, Gen, Ca,,, and other patriots, horm-
.d a ucw compromise, and restored peace 90
Doe country again, Had TINT Missouri line
been extended 10 the pac,!ic, slavery agitation
would have been closed forever, aud cmigra-.
lion would have sought one side OF the line
1r the other, according as they preferred.
lie thought If there was toLInve been any
advantage TO one section uvTf~ another Il
would have accrued To the South, for South.
'rn men voted for it almost 90 man, while
Northern men not only went against il, but
proposed, instead, a law toOTt,cnt slavery
Ia the Territories, Tl/sc Compromise
said Mr. ID. We familiar to the
senate and thS\GnAILsv---c congress eventually
decided thnt. new Fcri,orir, should choose
heir domestic policy for themselves.
For want of power to carry out has own
measures, he argued with this new liur of ;
policy, With the view of healing sociiopal .
strife, and restoring peace TO the country.