Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-02

ed by Rufus King, delegate from Massachusetts, Thus
early did our commonwealth thrOush us talthul repre-
sentatives insist upon prohibition by congress. 1t was
then embodied by Nathan Dame, another representa-
tive from Massachusetts, in the ordinance for the goT
ernment Northwest Territory, and finally on the
18th july 7S7-d day memorable in the annals Of
hnman FREEDMEN was alopted with ONLY one vote in
the negative and became the cornerstone Of those i'm
peral states destined TO exercise such controlling in
uenco in our history This was before the federal
sthution.
The ordinance thus adopted by the continental con
eress was affirmed in july 1883 by the first congress that
under the constitution, law which bears the sig
nature of George Washington In pursuance OF lis pro
Visions Ohio was admitted into the Union 18th Feb,
1903; Indiana llth Dee lS6; Illinois 3D. Dec ISIS;
Michigan 10Th Jan, 1881; and Wisconsin 18th May,
lS4s In the various acts congress preparatory to the
admission of these sates the validity of the ordinance
was recognized TO the fullest extent Meanwhile the
same principle was applied in the Missouri compromise
under which slavery prohibited by congress in all
the territory west of the Mississippi and north of So de-
territory 18th June, 1885 and especially of Oregon
territory 10th August 1873. Thus from the beginning
ns ts power Deen affirmed by successive congresses
ana by presidents from George Wa hneton
~ Jaies N oik II IS impossible to present any prih-
Se IN our history sustained by line OF presidents SO
The necessity of this prohibition as safeguard to the
terrlIoes Is apparent from well attested Incidents The
people Of the territory of Indiana the larger
part OF the whole northwestern teTritoryn 1902 then
ag IN leOo then again in 1901 and at other times also,
win e pertnaclty which marks all struggles for slave
~ petoned congress to suspend the prohibition,
to allow the introduction OF slaves if the squatters
should desire it To the honor congress their petitions
We're rejected; but they memorable from brief
port adverse TO their by John Randolph Of Nir
enia Here it is bearing date ID March, 1903:
clenty eVhces, in the opinion of your committee that
the labor OF slaves necessary promote the growth
Dor demonstraby the dearest of any only be
plGyed to advantage in cultivation OF products val
uahie than any known to that quarter of the United
States That the committee deem highly dangerous
and t Tpedten 10 impair provision riseiy catcalaed
10 promote the happiness and prosperity Of the NorGeSt-
eFH country ana to give strength and security to that
extensive frontier IN tbs sataaJy operation Of this
gacioqs and denerolent restraint it is believed that tile
inhabitants OF Indiana WILL at very distant day, find
and of emigration"
With these bengnant and most suggestive words of
the Prohibition confirmed Had the modern preten-
SION OF Popular sovereignty then prevailed the States of
Indiana Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, Of be-
me the smiling home of Free Labor would be now suf-
1erns from the blight of slavery Instead of joining in
the triumphant vote for Lincoln, they would like their
neighbour Missouri be linked with the slave States in the
support of Breckenridge, Bell, Douglas and would
constitute part of that slave power uuder whose tyran
ny the country has so long suffered.
Inc advantage of the Prohibition is clear its
tSsSiy 10 NOT now dwell on the comparison between
me Tree states aud the slave Staes between free labor
anu slave laDor between the social system established
,Ieeuo ana tile social system engendercd by slavery
between the civilization of the and the barbarism of
e oer nut call attention simply to two states, COW
otS ieal te same spaces OF latitude, resembling each
pthe III SOIL climate and natural productions, lying side
~ STU am orS;zed at about the same time Illinois,
'ih s 10 the irohlDluon Free state, and Missouri,
cursed WIN elghty'seveA thousand four hundred al
TWENTY-FIVE slaves Look at the statistics these
9la'esi you would Know the contrast which, day by
day, magnifes the Prohibition.
And yet, in the face Of all this experience showing
Irst me necessity OF prohibition safeguard to the
territories ana secondly its unreasonable advantages,
you are now called to abandon the early policy of
M @ 10 sci your ace against this policy as rration-
al ana unwse; and 10 adopt a pretension, with a
been tried, has produced discord strife and blood You
are called to give up the old Aladdn's lamp magical
power Milling the land with untold and all the
elOres OF freedom and to take in exchange patent
article nov hawked about the streets of Worcester
TINS new pretension in the name of popular sover
elgnty, were merely idea, and nothing more coined
III the brain OF an ingenious thenrst pressed per-
be left with kindred errors to pass away quietly into The
LIMBO OF things lost on earth as described by Mllton;