The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-02-27
CHAPTER vIIL
Dougla, and the Mi,soun COMPROMISE
Repeal.

|
miiier on territories o. the
senate u the United States.
reported Bin 10 establish terrific.
nal government IN Nebraska This hill
foutained nothing ia relation TO the
Missouri compromise which silll ~
malned upon the statute book nj.
though the principle on which i was
, tased had been violated in the com
promise legislation of 1870. A Nhig
senator from Kentucky gave notice
that when the committees bill came
before the senate he would move an
amendment repeating the Missouri
compromise With this admonition In
mind the committee instructed Mr.
Douglas TO report n substitute. which
be did on the 23d Of the same month.
The substitute made two territories
out 81 Nebraska and called one Of
them Kansas II nnnulled the Mis-
souri compromise, forbade It's applca.
ton TO Kansas, Nebraska or any 9th.
er territory and as amended and final.
ly passed fixed he following rules:
1T being the true intent aud
meaning of this act not to legislate
slavery into any territory or state nor
to exclude IL therefrom, but TO leave
The people thereof perfectly free TO
form aud regulate their domestic In.
stitutions In their own way, subject
only 70 the constitution OF the United
States
Mr. Douglas had long since denounc.
Ell his impreeations upon "the ruth.
less hand" that should disturb that
ancient compact of peace between the
sections. and now he put forth his own
Ingenious hand 10 do the deed and to
take the curse IN both OF which he
was eminently successful Not that
the Missouri act may not have been
repugnant 10 the constitution for no
court had ever passed upon II. but II
was enacted for a holy purpose. was
venerable IN age, was consecrated In
the hearts Of the people by the unsur
passed eloquence of the patriots of a
previous generation. and. having the
authority of law, Of reason and OF
covenant, It had TN then preserved the
Union. as its authors designed II
snUniu. anu, Ieing m mum suvrru I
thing II was not a proper subject for |
the ruthless" Interference Of mere
politicians, Ike those who now deyot- |
ed IL 10 destruction, II. upon n regu |
larry heard and decided issue the su |
premc court should declare II nncon-
stitntlonal, the decision OF the compact |
could be attributed 10 no party mel |
ther 10 slavery nor 10 antlslaycry |
aud the peace Of the country might |
stlll sulislst. But It's repeal by the par
ty that did it-a coalition OF southern
Wings and Democrats with northern |
Democrats was evidence Of design |
TO carry slavery into the region north |
Of 80 degrees 30 minutes or the legls-
latIon was without purpose at all
II was the first aggression Of the
south, but I've Il remembered In com.
mon justice that she was tempted TO
II by the treacherous proffers Of rest
less but powerful northern leader who
asked no recompense but her electoral
votes. In due time he opened her eyes
10 the nature OF the fraud and If he
carried through the Kansas. Nebraska
act 10 catch the votes OF the south In
1856 II cost him no Inconvenience TO
give II false and startling constrnc-
tlon 10 catch the votes OF the north In
1850. In the repeal OF the compromise
the northern Democrats submitted
with reluctance TO the dictation OF
Douglas and the south. II was the
great error OF the narty-the one dis
astrous error Of all lis history. The
PARTY succeeded in 1856 only by the
nomination Of Nr, Buchanan who was
out OF the country when the Kansas
Nebraska act was passed and who was
known to have opposed II. But the
questions which grew out Of Il, the
false and dIsingenuous construction of
the act by It's author, the slavery agl.
tations In Kansas and throughout the
country. disrupted the party At
Charleston aud made possible Mr.. Lin
coins election by minority of the
votes cast. And 10 the Whig party.
whose senators and representatives
from the south voted for the Douglas
bin IA body, the renewal of the
slavery agitation, invited aud Insured
by their action. was the signal Of nc
tnai dissolution