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Show 224 THE MISSOURI QUESTION. and object of their meeting was called a compromise. What did they do? 'l'hcy debated some months and then came to the obviously necessary rc ·ult--compromi ·c. It was plainly seen then as now-that, to obtain the object sought, it was necessary to make some sacrifices and to assume some evils. They thus thought the goou sought was worth the sacrifices necessary to obtain it; and now after thirty years' successful experience, who dare arraign their wisdom or tbcir patriotism ? Rashness itself must forever remain dumb to this ucmand. If gentlemen are in favor of any compromise, it is a fit time to discuss that subject, and sec if any can be hit on that will give general satisfaction. I am in favor of a compromise, Lut have strong objections to that now under con ideration. I greatly fear it would tend to perpetuate the evil we seck to rcme<1y. 'l'~e south Iiuc of Pennsylvania State and the Ohio waters now form the boundary line between the two parties. If you continue that line, by the 36° 30' of north latit udc, to the Pacific Ocean, I fear it will not prove a paciHc measure. This would L~ to place on your record.· a perpetual sallying place for party. It is devoutly to be wi hcd t.bat such compromise might be hit on as would forcYcr put an end to the unhappy existence of parties in their pre. cut shape. I should prefer a prohibition of the admission of slaves into that Slate, as a measure most likely to c[ect that desirnulc object. The number already there is not so great now as to be a subject of any great unca ·incss to those most op· posed to the continuance of slavery. Few gentlemen have risen in debate on this question, without deeply lamenting (and I think with great rcnson) the existence of parties, designated by geographical lines and boundaries. I also deprecate it, us being a division of the Union into parties so equal in number, wealth, intelligence, and extent of territory. Indeed, sir, there is no view of this unhappy 'J'TH~ M1SHOU H.1 QUE::)'l'ION. ~25 division of onr country, but must be Rickcnincr to the patriot, and in direct violation of the dictate of wisdom and the l. 1 thotwh not lea, L, imporln.nt n.tlvicc of tile father and a.~~, b friend of bis country. lie forbids the usc of the words N orthcrn and SouLit(•rn , A iln.n tic and 'V esL<·ru, as de cri p· Live of the variuu · parLs of' your country. Allll will you forgcL so importn.nt an iujunction from that u.an in o short a Lime? \Vas tllCre no political wi~dom in the comm11nd? lf not1 c, why has it been so long venerated? I should prefer a compromise forbidding the imporiatiou of o,ny more slaves int.o the Slate of Mi~so~ri. . . This, I think, would allay pn.rty feelmg, dnvc 111to for-getfulness present f ·uds, aud sati 'fy my fri~ncls to the north and east, with whom I have acted, and delight to act. Iu common with them, 1 have an heredilury dislike Lo slavery, strengthened by a. rc, idcnce all my life, to the prescn t lime, in a country where iL Joe ' not exist. I honor their tlislike of slavery, anu firmly believe there is not a gentleman in this llousc but deprecates its existence. Agreeing in this all-import ant point, let us 11ot separate bcc;wsc we cannot think precisely alike of the means best calcu ln. teLl Lo eradi-cate it. Was it ever kuown that a body so numerous thought ex:1ctly alike throughout any one grand, all-important measure for public good, in all the detail? And is it not the circumstaucc of a division in sentiment in so large 1\ body, so equal in point of number, a thing that should leu.d both to suspect they may be wrong? G cntlemcn who have mnch property of this sort, I agree, arc deeply interc teu; bnt candor mu. t at the same time admit they have, from the Ltet of being slaveholders, tunch practical and useful knowledge on this sttl1j ect that cannot Le claimeu by nonsluvcho. ldcrs. .A.nd Lh is knowlc(lgc is extremely useful, not to say inuispcnsn.blc, especially us to the extent of the eril to the slaves, and to the comrnuuity generally. This know· 15 |