Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-01

Il asCendanCY
onal councils This uneasiness continued to increase
until 1920 when il developed itself practically by an at
tempt impose restrictions the State oil missouri as
conditions precedent her admission into the Union
IL is but just however, to state that the struggle on 'ns
question was marked not much by hostility 10 slavery
as by jealousy of the growing political power OF the
Southern States The contest in regard to the terms on
which Missouri should be admitted created deep eelng
throughout the Union. IL the first occasion on when
parties were arrayed according geographical divisions
and it was at once perceived that contest of that char
acer fraught with danger to the harmony and per-
manency of the Union Fortunately, the restrictions on
the State of Missouri defeated line Of partition
subsequently, drawn through the unoccupied Terri
tory of the United States along the parallel OF 80 deg
80 min to our Western frontier with enactment that
slavery was be prohibited in all the Territory North OF
that line and permitted if desired by the people IN all
South Of it, BY this arrangement, the two systems oil
civilization and labor were left to progress westward SIDE
by side.
Under this compromise it supposed that all causes
of controversy arising of the irritating subject of sa-
very would be baRished from the halls OF Federal egsa-
ton. But in few years inconsderable band OF IA
natics nsgaed by mischievOus spirit, beseged the
houses of Congress with petitions abolish slavery
in the district of Columbia, and to prohibit the slave
trade between the States The effect of these petitions
much irritation and ieeing between dill
ferent parts Of the Union.
Such was the aspect of the slavery question in 1884
when Texas which had recently established 1er indepen
dence after gallant struggle with Mexico, sought admls
sion into Union. There great diversity of opin
ion among the people of the United States both in the
Northern and Southern States to the policy of receiv
ing her into COntederacy Animated discussions en-
sued i'll all parts of the country this great question
and finally, absorbing the interest which was felt
in it, that the question of admission non-admssion be-
important element in the Presidential election
of 1914 James X. Polk the representative of those
favorable to admission and Henry Clay of those opposed
to it, On this great issue the parties before the
country and the verdict of public opinion was in favor
OF the admission Of Texas a slave State and with
stipulation in the form Of irrevOcable compact that at
future day four more slave States might be carved out
of her territory the convenience OF her advancing
population might require. The Northern or non-slave-
holding States which voted for Ne. Polk, were Maine,
New HAMPSHIRE New York Pennsylvania Indiana, ILL
and Michigan giving 1913 electoral votes. The slave
States voting with them were Virginia. South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri aud
Arkansas-67 electoral votes
This addition the slave territory Of the United
States therefore approved by the concurrent votes
of the slavehoding and non-slavehod;ng States, and
whatever responsibility belongs to the act, in moral
social political aspect necessarily attaches itself to
them in common.
The admission of Texas was soon followed by the war
with Mexico which, after a series of brilliant victories,
resulted in the subjugation of her capital and the ra
cation of the treaty of Guadalupe dago by which she
ceded to the United States Upper California, New MeGi-
co. and other territory west of our ancient frontier The
status of these territories in regard to slavery, was I'M
ty ofpeace animated struggle this question arose
in the two branches of Congress.
The South promptly proposed Il compromise, by which
the line Of partition along the parallel of 81 deg 30 min.
should be extended the Pacific ocean, and that the
covenants ofthe Missouri compromise should be extend
ed to all the newly acquired territory This proposition
rejected by the North, aud an angry contest ensued
which seriously endangered the peace and tranquility of
the Union Peaceful counsels however prevailed The
most eminent men, of both political parties and of all
sof no IN fppta an
Adjustment and finally in September, 1880, under the
auspices of Clay and Cass and Webster and Dickenson
and Douglas and Foote and other distinguished men,
series Of measures matured, sanctioned by both
branches of Congress and approved by the President
Under this system of compromise, California, in con-
formty with her wishes, expressed through her State
Convention, which though irreguarly convened, was
supposed represent the sentiments Of her people,
to be admitted free state, and the status OF the re-
sidue of the territory ceded by Mexico be deter
mined by the people of tho territories when they sought
admission into the Union. The system of adjustment
also embraced two other important features, OF
which adopted in Difference the wishes ofthe north
aud the other for the benefit of the South The first
the abolition of the slave trade in the District OF Co
lumbia and the second the passage Of a eff
cient law for the rendition OF fugyes from labor, to
supply the defects Of the act Of 1898.
This series Of measures though passed in the form Of
separate bills constituted substantially system of
paccation The passage OF one act the consideration
for the passage of the Others Neither could have passed
without the OF the passage of the others The
provisions embraced by them in the of mu
tually dependent covenants and if it be possible to in
the ancty and validity Of law by superadding
the obligations OF a compact and OF plghted faith no
eH'~re can be found statute books better cacu
lated to illustrate the principle than the fugitive slave
law of 1850. All the covenants entered into by the
South Of nature which required that they should
be performed without delay, while the compromising
agreements of the North were be executed in future
The South acqgieCcd in the admission of California
a free State-permitted Texas to be dsmembered of
portion OF her territory in which, by her compact with
her sister States, slavery eIst-and allowed the
slave trade to be prohibited in the District of Columbia
The price which the North agreed to pay for these
cession-, nominal being the recognition of the right
OF New Mexico and the other newly acquired territory
introduce exclude slavery, they might think proper
aud the passage of law which would faithfully fulfil all
the constitutional requirements in regard to the
der of fugitive slaves.
Under this compromise the South has performed every
thing that was incumbent on her. California has been
admitted free State-Texas has been dismembered
and the slave trade in the District of Columbia has been
abolished.
The South now asks the ilfment of the compromising
covenants on the part of the North 1t is that the
fugitive slave law has passed through all the forms Of leg
-aton and has place among tue acts of Congress
But il is fact notorious TO the world that the law is
dead etter-tha while it keeps the promise the ear,
it hath broken 10 the hope From the time of its pas
sage the present hour the people thelegsative
blies and the judicial tribunals of the Northern States
have manifested the determined purpose at
naught Although il has been adjudged by the highest
court of the United States be in conformity with the
constitution and therefore be part of the supreme
law Of the land the Legislatures OF almost all the North
States have passed to nuly evdde its practi
cal execution Many OF their courts have interposed
cry obstacle in their power to its enforcement and mobs
have risen in most of the Northern cities resist the law
and the fugtues from labor by force of
and several Southern citizens have been murdered whilst
engaged in attempts to arrest their slaves.
From the compendium of the census of 1850, it ap-
pears that the number of slaves who escaped from their
masters in the year lS495O was OIL whose aggregate
value was near million dollars.
This condition of things furnishes striking evidence
OF the growth Of spirit unrendy to the guarantees OF
the constitution and at with all the obligations OF
national faith which is in painful contrast with the pat
otic conduct Of Vermont in the better days of the
public, which has already been adverted to.
The compromise measures of 1850 were by no means
acceptable in all their features either the North
the South. But patriotic men of both sections
willing sacrifice their opinions and wishes for the pub
lie good; and in aa2 both the great political parties
which then divided the country, aud contended for the
power to guide its policy, through their respective
tonal conventions declred their purpose to abide by
the compromises Of 1880 and to dscountenance the fur
Their agitation of the slavery question in OF Con-
gress President Pierce having been elected this plat
FORM ayailed himself of the earliest appropriate occa-
sion, in his first annual message Congress in Dec.
1858, his purpose conform TO the pledges
given in his behalf by those who elected him.
In 1851, a bill was introduced into Congress- under
the auspices Of distinguished Senator from Illinois, for
the organization Of territorial governments in Kansas
and Nebraska. As originally reported the bill was silent
in regard to slavery. Subsequently, the bill was modi-
fed embrace clause which declared the law of
1920 commonly known as the Missouri compromise act
imperative and void and in this form it became a law