Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-06-01
dead. That war is now recorded in
the golden annals Of the nation.

SdSC lliiONcd, ClSluI bSd Otfi} D} thC
polstica1 discussions of the day, until
the warofISIa, again proved the pow
Ter of the nation and strengthened our
| patriotism as people. Time passed
by, and the war with Mexico, evinced
the salor OF our citizens and the sta
bility and enduring qualities of our
government. Victory again perchtd
on our banners.
During all these years. however, a
small cloud was visible in our South
ern heavens. Old men gazed at it,
and shook their heads, with grave
fears and apprehensions of coming dan
ger. This cloud enveioped the ques-
ton of slavery We can now view
and discuss that question freely and
fairly. for it was one of difficulty and
compromise from the birth of the ma
tional government. 1t grew in irn
portance and bitterness as we grew
in strength and Importance. until it
become the vital issue, calling forth
the learning and craftsmanship of TIE
nation, and finally causing the great
civil war, of which you are numbered
among the survivors.
Slavery had taken root readily not
only in the South, bat in the North,
since the first fourteen negroes were
sold into slavery in Virginia in 1920,
! by tie crew Of a Dutch man DIVA
Massachusetts herself was for years
a stronghold of slavery. but she abol-
ished it in 1880. With the Constitu-
tional debates, set in the current
against slavery. Some of tie dele
gates thought it would naturally die
out Thomas Jefferson declared that
he "tvembled for his country, when
he remembered that God was just, y
and eloquently and powerfully urged
and pleaded for its extinction. The
question was then compromised. and
slavery recoe nized and the slave states
were given representation on basis
of population determined by adding
to the whole number of flee persons
three fifths of all other persons, ="
and these werethe negroes. Compar-
tive quietude marked the first quar-
ter Of a century after the adoption of
the Constitution, i'll regard TO the fu-
ture of slavery. 1t died anatural death
in the North The first great civic
battle was in 1920 over the so-called
Missouri Compromise, and the coun-
1 try then drew its first sectional line.
State after State had been admitted
into the Union, but the political bal
ance was undisturbed. Alabama had
been admitted last as a slave State
and now that Missouri was about to
be admitted, it was proposed that
slavery be prohibited within her bor-
ders. This the slave states refused to
tolerate for moment. Finally by the
personal influence and efforts of Hen
~ Clay, the Missouri Compromise
was made. Slavery was permitted in
Missouri, but absolutely prohibited
in all the territory lying north of 500
| so latitude Here rested the ques-
ton for thirty odd years, SO far as
national legislation was concerned.
Bat during these years the Quakers
and Abolitionists. though prosecuted
and punished, waged incessant war
fare against sltve owners. Then
came Wendell Philips matchless or
atory, Horace Greely's economic argu-
Inents, the wise state ;manship OF
Charles Sumner, the fervid writings
of Emerson and Chatham. and the
string poetry of Whittier all setting
the North, East and West on fire with
indignation against slavery. In the
South, however, slavery mad even
more deeply entrencl,ed itself. by the
Invention OF the cotton gin, and the
hall apologize tones OF the Southerr
statesman were changed to the de'
claration OF calhoun mat slavery
could not be destroyed WITHOUT de
stroying the peace and prosperity o
hall the States OF the Union.
Such was the conoition OF aiiair'
when assembled the congress OF 1850
Inc ADMISSION OF laiifornia was ths
ground OF the great debate III ths
senate oil that bocy,w herein WeDster'
! Calhoun, Douglas and Seward wor
their tame Another compromise iol
/ lowed. by which California was per
miited to settle the question OF siav
cry Tor nerseii, slavery was iHohtbit
ed IN the Distinct OF Columbia ane
the fugitive slave law--thc most IN
famous and un-Christian measure
ever sanctioned by Congress--was en-
j acted. Inc conflict soon re-openea
however, and the kansas-Nebraski
Bill annuiled the Missouri Compro