The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-12

questions in one measure, providing for
the admission of Maine as free and Mis-
souri, with slavery, thus uniting tho
fortunes of the two measures, in the hope
of forcing the lower house to accept slav-
cry in one state for the sake of having
freedom in the other. The house refused
acquiescence and the fight went on.
Never before in our history had the pas
sions of men been so excited. There vera
threats of war, of blood, of secession
The very foundation of the government
seemed shaking under foot and threaten
ing to dissolve.
The "NiissOuri Compromises"
At this juncture was introduced the
famous measures known in history as
the Missouri Compromise" BY this bill
Missouri was to be admitted with slavery;
thus the South would be pleased 1t also
provided that in new territory thereafter
organized slavery should not be per-
mitted north of the parallel of So degrees
80 minutes north latitude, so the North
would be comforted. Clay was not the
author of this measure, but he supported
it with all his heart. He feared for. the
Union if the agitation should continue,
and he hoped by the adoption of the
compromise to put an end to discussion,
so that in years to come new states
might be admitted without throwing the
country into commissions. 1t is probable
that had it not been for his powerful and
eloquent support the measure would have
failed. He secured its passage and the
turbulent waves settled into tranquility.
TO him more than to any other man the
country owed nearly a generation Of
comparative freedom from acrimonious
discussion of this subject in congress.
In 1923 congress passed high protec-
tive tariff law. This law pressed very
CT ms Apa 81
the law the legislatures of South Caro-
Ina and Georgia protested. Protest
proving of no avail they went further and
declared that arr state might declare
null and void any act Of congress which
that state might think unconstitutional
This was the doctrine of notification,
which had its terrible CONSUMING tfol in
secession i'll 1861 In response to the
strong opposition a new bill was pass
ed in 1882 greatly reducing the duties.
AS the principle of protection was 1e-
tanned, however. this halfway measure
failed to appease the South. Perceiving
that New England was determined to
make protection the settled policy of the
country, South Carolina through a con-
vention declared the tariffs ri 1928 AMI
1882 to be null, void and no law, nor bind
Ing upon South Carolina, and issued
warning that any attempt to use force
would be followed by the withdrawal OF
the state from the Union. But Andrew
Jackson was in the presidents chair,
and lie gave South Carolina to under
stand that the law would be enforced
The fiery little state knew that Andrew
Jackson twas not a safe man to fool
with" and it did not secede.
Prompt Action Needed.
But something must be done. The
policy OF protection, which has always
been prolific source of trouble, must
make some concession or 1t might dis
member the Union. So Clay introduced
a compromise on this subject. He pro-
posed in 1929 that there should be
gradual reduction of the tariff until 1872,
when there should be a uniform rate Of
20 per cent. This was the compromise
tariff of 1893, and through his influence
it became law.
Again in 1850 Clay showed his genius
as "the great paetificator." While the
compromise Of 1920 had done much to d.
minish discussion of the slavery ques-
ton in congress. 1t had not altogether
abolished such discussion In the mean
time, California had been added to our
territory and now wished to become
state. The old question was sprung
slave or free? Like Banquos ghost, 1t
would not down. The Missouri COM
promise had scotched the snake, not
killed 1t, and now under new conditions
IL revived WITH more IHdIl IFS lOIAlOk
virulence and venom. Clay was now
an old man of seveneyt-three. He had
been member of congress, speaker, sena-
tor, secretary of state, foreign repres-
entative, candidate for president. He
loved the country which he had served
so long and so illustriously, and he could
not contemplate with equanimity the
dismemberment of that country into
separate. perhaps beliigerent, states. To
avoid such a calamity he introduced
bill to reconcile the warning interests
This was the so-called omnibus bill,
or compromise of 1885," The particulars
of this measure must be left for another
article Backed by the tremendous elo-
euence of Webster, Clay secured the
passage of the bill, and by so doing I'M
doubtedIy postponed the Civil war ten
years and perhaps saved the Union
who knows? Two years later he died.
This man, like Webster, desired to be
president, and, like Webster, he failed.
It was a worthy noble ambition. Yet
the presidency could have added no lus-
ter to the name of Henry Clay.
Copyright. 1901