All the evidences of public
opinion at that day seemed to indicate that this compromise had been
canonized in the hearts of the American people, as a sacred thing which
no ruthless hand would ever be reckless enough to disturb."
I do not read this extract to involve Judge Douglas in an inconsistency.
If he afterward thought he had been wrong, it was right for him to
change. I bring this forward merely to show the high estimate placed on
the Missouri Compromise by all parties up to so late as the year 1849.
But going back a little in point of time. Our war with Mexico broke out
in 1846. When Congress was about adjourning that session, President Polk
asked them to place two millions of dollars under his control, to be used
by him in the recess, if found practicable and expedient, in negotiating
a treaty of peace with Mexico, and acquiring some part of her territory.
A bill was duly gotten up for the purpose, and was progressing swimmingly
in the House of Representatives, when a member by the name of David
Wilmot, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, moved as an amendment, "Provided,
that in any territory thus acquired there never shall be slavery."
This is the origin of the far-famed Wilmot Proviso.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226