Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-15
MONDAY MORNING, APRIL Is, 1861.


ern men, Calhoun, Writ and Crawford
That was the Missouri Compromise; and
sir, it not only received that sanction al
the time was not onlj sustained by the
voice Of Virginia. at that day, but it has
since distinctly, YER and over again re-
celved the approval Of Virginia, rs We shall
see.
The next instance Of slavery restriction
was during the administration Of the dis
tinsuiahcd gentleman from Charles City,
(Ex-Presidcnt TTIER,) now q member Of
this body, measure which received his
distinct approval and support.
Ex-Prcsidcnt TrLEs.--Will the honorable
gentleman from Augusta give way for mo-
ment. In regard 10 the Missouri Compromise
was an actor upon the stage at that time
a member Of the Congress Of the United
States. The gentleman has very correctly
stated the proposition. lie has given you
the history, but he has forgotten one por-
tioa c! i, Of which beg leave to remind
him, and that is, that Virginia being repre-
scntcd by ~ persons upon the floor Of the
! House Of Representatives, the negative 20
that proposition was sustained throuG Ghout,
and would have been sustained, rs verify
believe, to the present moment, by l8mem-
bers out Of the 22 represented. The gen.
tlcman is aware Of that fact.
In regard to my own agency in that con-
ncclior, my humble vote has been record
cd Throughout, against i, .nd | would
have stood there until pcriShed, before
would have recognized that line. be-
lieved it to be constitutional. ] believed
it to be, moreover, if the gentleman will
pardon me for interrupting him thus longer
TO be the opening Of Pandora'S box,
which would let ou! upon Us all the pre-
sent evils which have gathered over the
land. In regard 10 my own action in the
administration Of the government, am
entirely persuaded
Mr.. BALowIH-Thc distinguished gentle
man might have waited for the attack 10 be
made before Offering his defence.
Ey-PrcSilent TYLEg--I did not under
stand that was attacked. | merely de-
signed TO make an explanation ofmy course.
Mr.. BlLnwlH-1 hope the gentleman be-
fore he replies, will allow me to state the
case. | believe the prosecutor is entitled
TO the opening and closing Of the argu
men..
Ex-Pres:dcnt TTLEE-I was merely en-
tcring into an explanation Of this matter Of
the Missouri Compromise line in conncc-
tion with the annexation Of Texas, which
was spoken Of by the distinguished gen.
tleinan. [Mr. BA1nwIy.l
Mr.. Chairman, it is essentially differ
cnt mater between - question OF original
jurisdiction and right Oil the part Of Con-
gress where you have Territory like this
in question, TO draw Determinations unfa-
rorah!c 10 any portion Of the country, and
to s,ipulae for terms in The negotiation Of
tory. Why, I should no more question
the right Of the government in the
even. of our feeling desire hereafter for
the annexation Of Canada to the United
States, TO stipula.c with Great Britain that
| slavery should never exist within the
Canadas. And SO in negotiating with
Texas, we had Il right not only to present
our terms, but We had also right
to consider the terms to present 10 ii;
and when therefore it occurred 10 us that
| it would he wise TO throw oil the 50 80
| line. We had an ungucStionable right 10 do
! il in that treaty. | remember 10 have seen
this statement upon 4 previous occasion,
and it was answered by mt At the time, for
[ wanted 20 stand right in the forum Of
| history. Whatever there is Of me, is al
together Of al historical character.
want above ali things TO preserve the
| little space may occupy upon the page OF
history, lcgibli' and corrctlly written.
never would have yielded to that Missouri
Compromise. would have died in ID shoes,
suffered any sort Of punishment you could
have inflicted upon me, before l would
have done it. In regard to Texas it was
altogether the acquisition OF new Terrific
ry, and we were authorized to stipulate
orr terms. beg pardon for having occu-
pied so much Of your time in making this
explanation.
Mr.. BaL:w;3-You will observe, Mr..
| Chairman. that it was not question Of
Constitutional power, that was consider
ing. | was not cnqurng whether the
gentleman had ever conceded the question
| Of Constitutional power: but was speak
ing Of the recognition Of the slavery re-
strct:on. claim that under the admins
tra.ion Of the distinguished gentleman
rren Charles City, (Ex-President TYLER,)
AMI in n measure which he and his friends
| have ever claimed as the crowning act Of
| his administration. emitting it to
consideration before the world, that in
that very act he recognized the extension
Of this odious Missouri Compromise line,
as to which, he says, he would have dled
| before he would have allowed it TO be cs-
tahlishctl: he recognized and approved the
extension Of tha: very line through this
newly acquired Territory OF Texas. It is
that, sir, I speak of, and that is, as the
gentleman says. in reference to the coursr
Of his l:fc, matter historical.
But. sir, I referred To this matter as
showing but one Of the series OF rec0gnl-
ton of this Missouri Compromise line by
Virginia. In 1916 comes the next slavery
restriction; IN which we have first recognl-
,ion by Virginia Of the power Of Congress
over the subject Of slavery restriction, and
then a recognition again OF the Missouri
Compromisc line. How is that, sir? Upon the
establishment; OF the Territorial Govern
mcnL Of Oregon during the administration
Of Mr.. Polh-to which administration Vir-
sinia is always proud to point as one exem-
plifying sound Virginia princlple-durlng
the administration OF Mr.. Polk. / repeat,
| the Territory of Oregon was established:
and in the bill organizing it, was inserted
the prcriso that had been used in the ordi-
nance Of l7T7I, prohibiting slavery or in
voluntary srrritude fore"eT in the Terri
tory Of Oregon. That measure passed
both Houses Of Congress, and was ap-
proved by MIR. POLK. And why? On what
Ground did nc place his approval? lie Ger
iainly must be taken to have conceded the
Constitutional power, because, | presume
he wonld hardly have felt justified in sign
irg bill which he regarded as unconsti-
tutional; but. sir, he placed his approval
oft upon the ground that the Territory Of
Oregon lay North Of the line OF &c 80; and
he declared it to he his policy to recognize
The Missouri Compromise as applying to
al the Territories Of the United States
whether embraced By it at the time or not.
That was the position assumed by Mr.:
Polk !; and in takingit, he has been over and
over again justified, endorsed and sustained
by the people Of Virginia.
In the year 1871, this subject came up