The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-21
soRMER AaHAnoSs coSomSIsa sIAvIRY IN orIIHR STATES
AND rERRiroRIks

Since the formation of our constitution every slavery
agitation that has occurred has been started for political
effect and by the enemies Of democracy feeble breeze
raised by northern federasts the acquisition Of
Louisiana by Mr. Jefferson In 1903 The party In
the Hartford convention in 1914 passed pointed resolves
upon the subject but so great portion Of their pro
eeengs bordered upon the confines of treason that their
only effect 10 sink those participating in them into
dsgaoeful oblivion from which the hand Of resurrection
raised them.
The next movement was In lsl9-'2o when an effort
made TO prevent the admission of Missouri until she
should consent 70 in upon terms not imposed upon
other States but with diminished rights and privileges
She slave Territory, and her constitution recognised
slavery and prohibited emancipation without the consent
OF the making compensation. 1t was insisted
that she should not be admitted until this feature should
be changed The adversaes insisted that they had the
constitutional right to impose terms as the condition Of
her admission and thus control her domestic policy In
ths respect BY agtlting not this constitutional and
only and real question: in open and frank MANNER
but another not legtately involved that OF freedom
slavery the country became aiamingy convulsed and
shower Of evil consequences followed 10 the provision
admitting the State, section appended that in the
Louisiana purchase north of hiysx and half degrees
slavery should be prohibited, with which was coupled
however strong and distinct fugitive-slave law Kan
lies on both sides Of this ne which called the
Missouri Compromise. With the admission of the State
the agitation ceased.
The next considerable agitation grew out Of the VA
mot proso which was contrved to nislead thousands
of we'll meaning During the with Mexico we
had taken possession Of California and New Mexico and
proposed TO secure treaty title instead Of one by
quest, through the agency of small in ready money
To the provision making the appropriation proyso
moved requiring the exclusion Of slavery by treaty stpu
laton The did not expect, probably really
desire, this measure to prevail They knew treaty
containing such provision could be ratified by vote of
twothrs of the Senate, and it must therefore fail The
consequences would be that must the with
out proyocaton give up acquisitions without
curing any indemnity for the past The former would
shock the moral of the world and the latter would
have made the objects of universal contempt for
throwing away the fruits of contest which Mexico had
forced upon The movement served its purpose of
excitement and evaporation 1t divided and defeated
the democrats and brought the wings into power in
48they eecting stakeholder, General Taylor, Presi
dent This fact demonstrated the extent Of sincerity of
the mass of the republican party they being then wings
Wilmots movement failed, did its successor pre-
Bented by republican leader. The golden State
California; and immense Territory besides acquired
hereafter to be received in the Union States upon the
footing of equality with the original thirteen and the
Others since admitted. The friends of the acquisition,
who also democrats then offered to extend the Mis-
souri, compromise line, which limited to the Louis
purchase, to the Pacific, and moved amendments to
that effect But they resisted by the friends of the
proviso, and mainly defeated by their votes Had they
voted for this extension it would have been adopted
Their consistency is illustrated by their refusing the ex
tension and complaining because it has been repealed
not to operate upon and divide this belt of land
forming Kansas In both cases political agitation was
clearly the object without reference to the public good
Civil governments needed in the newly acquired
Territories several states the whlgs TO the
ascendency coured the abolitonss and rendered them
al the aid and comfort In their power To this end they
passed laws not only forbddng State unctionarics to
aid in the return of runaway slaves but Others inter
posing many obstacles to the execution OF the fugitive
slave law This oocasioned the necessity for amend
melt Of that law which committed its execution to the
hands of federal officers When these measures came
before Congress- large share of the whg party joined
the agators demanding the exclusion of slavery in
new acquisitions, and opposing all amendment OF the
fugtyesavc law the legal effect Of which they had pre-
vously aided to destroy This whole series of
being passed were called the Compromise of 1850 The
agitation mostly ceased and, mainly by its connection
with the aboos the whig party died, and democracy
| again triumphed a., ..a
| ORGANIZATION OF KANSAS AND NEBRASKA. @ *
In 1854 there belt Of good land lying west of
Arkansas Missouri, and Iowa, which being settled,
and was without suitable government 1t lay within
the old Louisiana purchase, and the Missouri Compro
mise line through it, Its size indicated the propriety
of instituting two territorial governments This pre-
| sentcd opportunity of agitation, which was i'm
proved with pertnacious zeal bill finally report
ed comforting upon the territorial legislatures Of Nebraska
and Kansas full power to legislae upon M righful sub
jects of legislation " 1t abolished the line prescribing
different privileges its respective sdes and pledged
the faith of Congress to admit these Territories when
titled to come in States, with without slavery,
the people thereof should determine Forgetting that
the climate had determined the question against slavery,
exertons were made through emigration to desired
results in Kansas. The whole republican party at the
North devoted to coloiang that Territory with its
friends while efforts to neutralze its cxertions made
at the South. The passions of became intlamed,
and civil ragged, and wrought into fury
| by tho northern and western republican press and
travelling orators. An army of brigandsr
kept employed in Kansas to foment difficulties and
and furnish of excitement, while they
tanned through contributions levied upon the credulous
under the preonce of feeding the hungry and clothing the
naked, and furnished and, in instances
through the instrumenality of churches and of those
who profess the peaceful doctrines of the Saviour
harvest of excitement for the benefit Of republican par
sans followed though not sufficient to PROSTATE the
Of all for, when at its highest point Mr. buchanan
elected President, and democratic majorties were
elected to both houses of Congress- @
After many occurrences painful to memory, where
neither side gained credit added aurels but won dis
grace the territorial legislature passed law authorizing
the election of delegates to form constitution prepara
tory to admission as State This was, in my Judgment
clearly rightful subject Of legislation" Under adj
vice and direction Of the republican press and orators
those in Kansas who had previously conformed to their
views refused for dgaes and consequently all were
selected from the opposite party This refusal
pied with the allegation that those who declined TO vote
many times the most numerous, and could control
tho election IL they chose A marked absurdity
cannot than for majority to complain Of the lesul
when they themselves occsoned it by their refusal
and what they professed desire to obtain
The convention framed constitution recognising slavery
and providing for its protection There being legsla
tive provision for submitting it to the people for airma
ton rejection the question extensively discussed
democratic organ at Washington, with many others
took ground in favor Of full submission and series OF
articles urging it appeared in that paper for which am
responsible. The convention in effect subnttod the