The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-09-22
Does the Compromise of 1850 contain
the Primo Iplc OF Non..EterE eElion

The editor OF the H-g,rGm, having all
mitted on behalf of himself and his Re-
publican brethren that they 'acquiesced'
in the Compromise measures of 1870, finds
himself and them IN Z very uncomfortable
position-in fact, in position OF complete
self stuItificatior-ifit is admitted that the
principle of non intervention, as now adyo-
Gated by Judge Douglas, was embraced in
those measures. So he writes anarticle Of
two columns to prove the negative Of the
above question.
Mr.. Douglas principle of non-iutervcn-
ton, every honest man will admit, is fairly
stated in these words:
THAT Congress shall neither establish
nor prohibit slavery in the Territories, bat
leave the people thereof perfectly FREQ to
regulate their domestic institutions in
their OWN way, subject TO the Constitution,
The UTg,rz,a says the only non-inteTven-
ton contained in the measures Of 1870
was "a stern refusal Of Congress to inter-
vene BY an act to repeal the Mexican Ian
! aboIishing slavery in the Territories &C
/ quired from Mexico
That's all, says Ciaudtus.
There was one Henry Clay, wo believe
had something TO do with those measures
! of 1850, and probably knew as much about
what they meant as Cjaudius 3. King
knows. Let Us see how ha understood
them. In APP Cong Globe, 1880, part .
D. 1910, wo fiad Mr Clay explaining the
New Mexico bill thus:
The provisions Of the bill are that the
( pc,pL5 are lrti FIRE. 10 20 rs ticycta1ss. There
/ is, indeed, one provision which did na:
! saee' s-th ,y appreciation, auG wiki whl>a
! | would have been better satisfied had 1t
/ been left out, and that j., the provision
which does not permit ne g5rsy7.asnt O. TIE
! Territories TO ESTABLISH or rEouIuiT sLAvERT.
! But it was introduced at the instance OF
some Southern gontiener.
The '-one provision, which did not meet
| his depreciation, WAS stricken out Of the
bill So that, according to Hfr. Clay, the
people were left free % do ss they
choose '-either TO ESTABLISH or PROHIBIT
sIAyERy
Again, in another place, Mr Clay,
speaking Of slavery in the territories, Sid:
distinct much more fitting suh,ec;
/ for the consideration Of the l.o-k LCl.s'1-
f.a--e which we propose by this Ill. or soa,e
other bill, 10 e5taCi ,a-is i not. ! s8v. a
a.a-i mare t1as sal Fl" tg- such LyrsL L,g F.
, trrss t. consider. We have never been
amoug them We know nothing Of them.
but tie Ls-l~!at;-cz Of the localities VII
he particularly Informed of its operation,
- F4.-N
Injurious, they VIII doubtless rrgea. =.
/ Is not that full enough as to the inteu-
/ ton Of those measure. to let the terrific
ries establish or prohibit slavery as they
. choose? Eu: 1lr. Douglas says subject 20
I the Constitution. Tina; has reference TO
/ 4 gucs.;oa winch IA, raised then and i
still orru. whether the territorial ler;sla,
lure. under the constitution, can establish
or prohibit slavery. 5Er Douglas says
/ they can but i Wiling to leave the ques-
ZION TO tie courts. whore Il properly h.
longs. What did III Clay say alousthac:
On the 18th Aay, $50, we Gnd Sir. Clay
saying
while am w.ll.ur 20 Iar c.. Inc ter
ritor.es without tAe Wi.mot T7ryiso on
. the one hand, and without 90 at-ougs e.
Introduce slavery into the territories o-
the other. ! an content TIA. tie l0-a.
law which prohibited slavery saa. pre-
vail. and leave the question Of their con
sti:G.ional:sy Is he s:r-:.,;o ly tie h.gLcs
Judicial authority OF ilv country.
That Is IT. Douglas, subject TO tx
Constitution to . hair We should IiE,