The Placer herald., 1861-12-14
From the Columbus (Oho) Crisis.
A Terrible Warning and Prophecy.

"reminiscences Of Douglas.
FRIEND Misunderstanding never been Doug
las man, but yet great admirer OF the speech
which that gentleman made in the United States
Senate on the Sd of January last. have selected
for Tile Crisis some of its prominent points, for
the benefit OF your readers. Mr.. Douglas dis
tincty defines his own position before the country
and the Senate. both before making the speech,
and ut the time of It's delivery He concludes by
manly. patriotic, and powerful appeal to his
fellow Senators or to the spirit and policy with
which the great crisis should lie met. giving free
and unrestrained utterance to sentiments in every
way worthy OF hmsclf and the occasion. II.
Il repeat. it was the reputation of the
policy of the Missouri Compromise, the refusal TO
apply ii to the territory acquired from Mexico,
when offered by Inc. and supported by the whole
South, in August, 1913, which re-opcned the agi-
tation and revived the Missouri controversy
The Compromise OF 1920 once repudiated. the
policy OF an equitable partition OF the territory
abandoned. the proposition to extend it to the
Pacific being rejected, and the original conrover-
sy opened with incl eased bitterness, each party
threw itself back It's original position--the
one demanding its exclusion every where, and
the other insisting upon its right to go every
where in the Territories. regardless of the wishes
of the people inbabiting them. All the argu-
mcnts. pro and cou used in lSl9-2O, were re-
peated in l849-50. The question was the same.
and the relative positions Of the two sections the
same.
Such was the condition of things at the open-
ing OF the session OF 1880, when Mr.. Clay re-
sumed his seat in this body.
THE purest patriots in the land had become
alarmed for the safety of the Republic. The i'm
mortal Clay. whose lie had been devoted to the
rights. interests aud glory Of his country had re
tired 10 the shades OF Ashland TO prepare for ano-
thcr and better world. When, in his retirement.
hearing the harsh and discordant notes OF sec
tional strife and disunion. he consented, at the
oIi icif nj frV M To
his seat in the Senate, the theatre Of his great
deeds. to see il. by his experience. his wisdom.
the rcnoWn OF his great name. and his strong hold
upon the confidence and affections oi the Ameri-
can people he could not do something to restore
peace to distracted country. From the moment
OF his arrival among us, he became, by common
consent. and as Il matter OF course, the leader OF
the union men. lis first idea was TO revive and
extend TO the Pacific Ocean th" Missouri Compro-
mise Line. with The same understanding and legal
effect in which ii had been adopted IL 1920. and
continued through Texas in 1915. ! was one OF
his humble followers and trusted friends in en-
dcavorng to carry out that policy and III con-
nection with Others at his special request care
fully canvassed both Houses oi Congress to aScer-
tain whether it was possible 10 obtain a majority
vote in each House for the measure. We found
no d ficulv vita the Southern Senatorsand Rep
rcSentalivcs and could sccure the cooperation OF
a majority iiCm5 the North: hut not enough to
give Us a miloiiy in botn Houses. Hence the
Missouri ComprOmse was abandoned by is friends,
NOT fr0ni ,h0'tr. hut from INABILITY 10 Gerry Il
itf0 r6rri IN 400d f0ii. 1t was with extreme
reluctance thai Air. Clay and thosc OF us who act
cd with hiu ana shared uis confidence, were
brought to ne conclusion that we must abandon.
from nap,iuv to cary oat. the line Of policy
which bad saved the Union in 1870. and given
peace 10 the counjiy for May hApoy years.
"Finding ouselAes unable to maintain that
policy. we vicheu 10 stcrn necessity, and turncd
If 10 Ina. nj q "
by Wiich the c;istng difficulties could ne settled.
and future troubles avoided. | need nj detail
the circumstances under which Mr.. Clay brought
forward his plan OF adjustment. which received
the sanction o the two Houses OF Congress, ana
the anproD' zion OF the American people, and Is
mlnil;arly known rs the Compromise Measure OF
1850. These measures were designed TO accom-
plish the results as the act OF lS20, but IN
different mode. The leading feature and chief
merit Of each was TO abolish the slavery agita-
ton from the halls o. Congress and the arena OF
Federal politics. The act of $40 was intended
10 attain this end by an equitable partition OF the
Territories between inc cOntendinG sections. The
acts OF 1850 were designed to attain the same
end by vcmitting the whole question OF slavery
10 the decision of the people OF the Territories,
subject TO the limitations of the Constitution. and
let The Federal Courts determine The validity and
constitute onality of the territorial enactments
from time to time, as cases should arise and ap-
peals be taken TO the Supreme Court OF the Unit
ed States. The one proposed to settle lhe qucs-
ton by Il geographical line and an equitable par
,iton and the 9th by the principles Of popular
sovereignty in accordance WITH the Constitution.
1ha object Of both being the same, l supported
each in turn as Il means O. attaining desirable
end"
Mr.. Douglas next addresses himself 10 his own
repeal measure of 1854, and says:
"No soone, was this report and bill printed and
laid upon the tai les Of Senators. than address
was prepared and issued over the signatures OF
those party leaders who had always denounced
the Missouri Compromise us a crime against
freedom, and compact with iniamv.' in which
the bill was arrai gued as gross violation OF Il
sacred pledges; and the report denounced rs "a
mere invention designed to cover up from public
reprchension mcdidated bad faith"
The Missouri Compromise was Infamous in
| their estimation. SO long as it remalnad on the
statute book and was carried out in good fallh'
| as n means Of preserving he peace of the coun-
| try and preventing the slavery agitation in Con-
nress But it suddenly became "a sacred pledge
a .solemn compact for the preservation OF precious
rights the moment they had succeeded IN pre-
venting its faithful execution and in causing II to
! he abandoned when it ceased to he an lmpreSMa-
ble barrier against slavery agitation and section
al strife The pill against which the hue aud cry
was raised and the crusade preached, dld not con-
tain a word about the Missouri Compromise nor
in auv manner refer to it. 1t simply allowed the
peopie Of the Territory to legslate for themselves
| on all rehiul subjects OF Legislation ana le't
them free TO form and regulate their domestic IN
| sttutions in their own way, subject only 10 the
Constitutions So far as the Missouri act, or any
other statute mi eht be supposed to conflict win
This RIGHT OF seli.oovernment in the Territories,
II was. bv inference. rendered null and VOID 70
that extent and for no other pu' pose.'
Speaking Of The present condition OF the coun-
try. Mr. Douglas said:
in my opinion we have reached point where
d;snni on is inevitable. unless some compromise,
founded upon mutual concession, can DE maze;
When avowed myself in favor OF compromlse: s l
do not mean that one side should give up all that