The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-12

tion came very nearly bein" extended to that
portion lying south of the Ohio. which wcud
have most fortunately changed the whole
history OF the cnuniry. But few save
holders from Virginia and North Carolina
had taken their slaves into Kentucky and
Tennessee, and Oil account of them the pro-
hibition stopped at the Ohio.
In 1903 when Louisiana was annexed.
there was a comparatively small number OF
slaves held by the French ar uud New
Orleans, with some more scattered about st.
Louis and other places III the Mississippi
Valley. The treaty of cess on with France
provided that the people should enjoy all the
rights and privileges that they had hitherto
had as subjects of France.
The Pro-S.a,ery advocates successfully
held that this legalized the peculiar insti-
tuition in all tn immense territory acquired
from France. The Anti-Siayery advocates
were no less active and determined that
slavery should lac - localized and not made
general" The discussion reached an
acute stage in 1919, when Missouri applied
for admission as a State. Up till that time
the number of Free and Slave STATES had
been kept equal Vermont had been ad-
mitIe,i as Free State, md Offset by Ken
tucky; Ohio by Tennessee, Louisiana by
~ <hif'
bama had applied for admission, and the
Anti-Slaveryites in Missouri and elsewhere
| stiove to have that State made free to offset
Alabama.
A provision prohibiting the introduction
| of any more slaves and the setting free Of
| the children OF those already there when they
should reach the aye of -. was offered as an
amendment to the enabling act, and received
| the votes OF all the Northern members of the
| House. Tie Senate struck off the amend
ment, but the House adhered 10 IL, and he
case went 10 the country, with both sides de-
teTmined To fight the battle between Freedom
ami Slavery to a finish.
The discussion that followed was fierce and
bitter, and cailed out, the ablest minds. The
line-of-battle was formed then which was
maintained until the rebellion opened. The
! PrO-Slatery men claimed that all citizens OF
| the Union were alike before the law, lually
entitled 10 all its benefits, and equally en-
/ titled TO all the advantages of the common
| property of The Aation-the Territories-and
that. consequently, slaves being properly,
| they had the same rights as other citizens To
take their property there and be protected
in lis enjoyment The Anti-Slavery men
argued that slavery was local institution,
and only existed by yiitue of local laws. A
slave WAS property only Dy virtue oi Tie law
! IN The State IN which he WAS held. and the
stakeholder could not take that law with him
into the common Territory, any more than
lie could take, for example bank which
WAS authorized by another State, and have
the benefit OF the law protecting its notes
and giving them value.
Finally, Henry Clay came forward with
the famous Missouri Compromise. BY this
| il was provided that Missouri should he ad :
mitted as a Slave State, and he Offset by the
admission of Maine, the Democratic people
Of which had long wanted separation fiom
I the Massachusetts federalists, as a Free State
Thereafter, slavery was TO be forever pro
hibited ir all the States and Territories living
north $50 30. Clay appea.ed to his Northern
friends to vote for the Compromise as an act
| OF humanity to the slaves, that they s. be not