The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12

DuS not originated. As n matter OF TACT, Mi
Clay did not support this measure. though h
may have voted for It at the last momen
us the only alternative to dlsunion. thi
being certainly the only motive which
could have induced Southern men TO consen
to what they believed to be not only a viola
ton OF the Constitution, but the creates
wrong to themselves and their posterity. no
only as regarded territory. but also as re
garded their rightful equality in the Union o
the States.
1t Ia Mrs. Dixon's purpose to show that moi
only have the circumstance under which the
Missouri Compromise was passed been mis-.
conceived, but tho motives OF the authors Of
the repeal OF that measure have been misin.
terpreted. In a chapter on the origin OF the
repeal she undertakes TO refute tho charges OF
plot and OF intrigue which have been made In
widely circulated books. not with any unjust
intention, but apparently because the writer's
have relied on secondhand theories and asser-
tions. Especial attention is directed to one mis-
statement, for.the reason,that it is circumstan-
tial In its details. personal in its reflections
and, to a certain extent. calumnious in its
character. 1t is not alleged that the writer who
has given currency to this misstatement de-
signed to falsify the facts. but 1t ia maintained
that he has permitted himself to say what he
did not know to be true. The misstatement to
which Mrs. Dixon refers is made by Major
Henry C. Whitney in his Life on the Circuit
with Lincoln" and runs as follows: 1T is a
very singular fact. and one that attests in
q marked degree that God moves in
q mysterious way His wonders to per-
form.' that, while the original Kansas-Ne-
braska bill was pending In the Senate. as orig
inally presented by Senator Douglas. without
the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise as
amended. that William H. Seward. then a Wing
Senator. approached his friend. Archibald
Dixon. likewise a Wing Senator, and proposed
to him that he ought to offer an amendment
repeating the Mi souri, Compromise and that
Dixon. after a little reflection. arose and gave
notice OF his intention to do so on the
first parliamentary occasion. This alarmed
Douglas. who came at once to Dixon's
seat and demonstrated with him. but in
vain. He tDixonl believed. as all the South
ern statesmen did, that the Missouri Compro-
mise was wrong. and ought to be repealed
and his will was infexible. although no other
Southerner had ever before dreamed OF dis
turbing the compromise. Even Atchison. the
direct representative OF the border-ruf1an
element, publicly stated that. while it 1.-THE
COMPROMISED was wrong in its inception. yet
that 1t was a flnality on that subject: and
Douglas had stated that it was canonized in
the hearts OF the people. and no hand should
be 80 ruthless as to disturb it. But when
Douglas saw. as a sagacious politician. that
the solid South would. OF necessity. support
the measure. he desired to link his political
with 1t and share its fate. which he
thought would succeed. and install him in the
Mansion so 1t became a party and
administration meG1ire. and was also the
knell OF slavery" MAJOR Whitney then gives in
q note the following extract from q letter Of
Montgomery Blair's: Il shall never forget how
l was at his Seward telling me
that he put Archie Dixon. the Whig Sem
ator from Kentucky. in 1854. up to NOV
ing a repeal OF the Missouri Compromise
as an amendment to Douglass first Kan
sas bill. and had himself forced the re-
peal by that movement. and had thus brought
to life the Republican party. Dixon was to out
Herod in the South. and he would out
Herod at the North. He did not oontem-
plate what followed. He did not believe in the
passions he excited. because he felt none him
SELF" No sooner did Mr.. Archibald Dixon. who
then living. hear of this assertion than he
Mr.. Henry Wilson OF Massachusetts,.
IN response to an inquiry. that Seward had
no knowledge Of his intended action. An
examination OF the history which Mr..
Wilson was doubtless engaged in pre-
pairing at the time will show that he makes
10 mention OF Mr.. Stewards having any con-
lection with the origin or authorship OF the
'epeal Of the Missouri Compromise. or OF the
offered by Mr.. Dixon. Evidently
10 accepted Mr.. Dixon's denial. Contempo-
that is to say in November. 1873. in
letter to the st. Louis Republican. Mr.. Dixon
gave an unqualified denial to the statement
made by Mr.. Blair. "Of any communication"
lie said. that may have passed between Mr..
seward and Mr.. Blair l know nothing, nor OF
he motives which may have influenced one or
he other to make a statement in regard to me
Which is utterly without foundation in fact. But
here is one thing 1 do know and most posi-
lively assert. that there never was any CONVEX
alton between Mr.. Seward and myself respect
ng my amendment to tho Kansas-Nebraska
ill previous to Offering that amendment: nor
vas there atterward. SO, far as l can recollect.
Neither did he use. nor attempt to use. any in
Iuence. direct or indirect. to induce me to offer
he said amendment In the same letter Mr..
Dixon declared that the principal objecthe had
n Offering the amendment repeating the Mis-
ouri Compromise was to take the Ques-
ion as to the liberation of slavery in
lansas and Nebraska from the halls OF
and to localize it in the Territories.
lie protested that so far from having any de-
ire to create a sectional feeling between
'orth and South. / most honestly believed that
he localization OF the question in the Terri
0ries and leaving 1t to the people to decide for
hemselves was the best and surest way to
ettle it. In this view ! was not alone. A
iree majority Of tho member OF Congress,
lany Of them from the Northern and non
laveholding States. concurred with me and
oted for my amendment. as practically
dopted by Judge Douglas. Chairman OF the
enate Committee on Territories. and incor-
Grated into the Kansas Nebraska bill. The
nth is Congress and the good men OF the
ountry everywhere were tired OF the agitation
{ slavery and wanted to get rid OF it; and the
i'll. as passed by Congress. was hailed with
by a large majority OF the people
5 the best means for such an end. ] say moth
Il OF the causes which conspired after
ard to defeat its object. and brought about
state OF things which all true patriots must
eeply deplore." Mr.. Dixon added that. after
rawing up his amendment. he showed it be-
ire Offering it to Gov. Jones OF Tennessee, who
OF only approved it. but became one OF it's
armest supporters. MY impression Is" he
,ntinued. that l also submitted it to Gen.
and Gen. Breckinridge. then in Con-