New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

President Jefferson a Democrat wanted TO
embro the United States in the affairs OF Eu-
rope. ami he tried to bring about an offensive
end defensive alliance with France a course
which would have involved this then weak and
struggling Republic in utter ruin.
With reference to the sale OF the public lands
In the Western wilderness the Democratic party
steadily legislated during this period to place
the public domain under the ownership OF South
ern planters and large spectators; end they re-
tarded. to the extent Of their power, the settle
ment Of those lands On easy terms By small
farmers
THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY.
During the Administration Of President Mon
the Democratic party became in a marked
manner the especial champion OF negro slavery.
The facts Of the case are remarkable. One OF
the last acts of the ole Congress- under the Con-
federation of 1871, had been the famous Ordi-
nance Of 1877 for the government of the North
west Territory "a district comprising the pres
ent States of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota east of the Missis-
sipID. This ordinance provided that human :'lav
cry should never be tolerated in that territory
in any OF the States to be formed out Of 1t. II
is probable that the anti-slavery restriction
would also have been imposed upon the public
territory south of the Ohio River II Congress
had had the power. But south of the Ohio the
unoccupied territory belonged to the Southern
States not to the Nation; and they refused to
allow States to be organized in that region,
except on the express stipulation that slavery
should always exist there. AS frequently pointed
out by historians the new Republic had begun
its constitutional existence, half slave. half
free" All north Of the Ohio River, free forever;
all south. slave. In 1905 under the provisions of
the Federal Constitution the African slave trade
had been abolished and the Democrats, then in
power. had assented to its perpetual extinction.
But later on in history they agitated for re-
newal OF this Infamous traffic, and began. in
violation of law. to import slaves to the South
ern States
In the admission Of new States the slave
holding interest demanded, almost from the be-
ginning, that for every free State. organized on
the public domain. slave State should also he
created II was by this proceeding that the
shareholders hoped to retain control in both
houses Of Congress. Vermont in 1891 was fol-
loved by Kentucky in 1892 and Tennessee in
1856. Ohio free, was admitted in 1902. Louis
lana, slave, in 1912. Indiana. free was created
in 1916, and Mississippi slave, in 1917 Illinois,
free, admitted in 1878. and Alabama, slave,
IN 1919
THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE"
During President Monroes first term Maine
and Missouri also applied for admission to the
Union States, and the question then came
W. il Congress squarely, whether the United
Stases would establish slavery in a region where
ii had no legal existence A violent contest
arose over this question. The Wings and Free
Soil men insisted that Missouri should be add
rnitted a free State. The Democrats and the
South insisted on slavery in Missouri The
South threatened dsunion unless its wishes were
complied with. Passion allayed only by the
famous Missouri Compromise" of 1890 which
admitted Missouri a slave State. but again
dedicated all the remaining public domain, north
Of the latitude of $3.50 Uhe southern boundary
o. Missouri. forever to freedom. Maine was
then. in 1871, admitted as a free State. The
Union thus yet remained half slave, half free"
Arkansas. slave. was admitted in 1886, Michi-
gan, free. in 1887. Florida and Texas fol-
lowed in 1916. Iowa in 1916 and Wisconsin In
1SlS
In the controversy in Congress oven the ad-
mission Of Texas a State Chat 1t was to be
a slave State a foregone conclusion). there
was another fight over slavery, and the famous
"Wimot proviso' was introduced in the House
Of Representatives on August y, 1876, by David
Wiimot Democrat from Pennsylvania, which
provided that in any territory acquired from
Mexico slavery should be forever forbidden. 1t
was defeated by Democratic votes.
In Congress- in 1880. the Democratic slave
holders deliberately broke faith with the peo-
pie and proposed a violation OF the Missouri
Compromise. which had been sOlemny ratified
by them, and had been accepted final end
VI the slavery controversy. report was pre-
scented to Congress by John c. Calhoun, Demo
crat, signed by forty-eight Southern Senators
end Representatives. declaring that, In their