To show the
generosity of the Northern members toward the Southern side: on a test
vote to exclude slavery from Missouri, ninety voted not to exclude, and
eighty-seven to exclude, every vote from the slave States being ranged
with the former and fourteen votes from the free States, of whom seven
were from New England alone; while on a vote to exclude slavery from what
is now Kansas, the vote was one hundred and thirty-four for, to forty-two
against. The scheme, as a whole, was, of course, a Southern triumph. It
is idle to contend otherwise, as is now being done by the Nebraskites; it
was so shown by the votes and quite as emphatically by the expressions of
representative men. Mr. Lowndes of South Carolina was never known to
commit a political mistake; his was the great judgment of that section;
and he declared that this measure "would restore tranquillity to the
country--a result demanded by every consideration of discretion, of
moderation, of wisdom, and of virtue." When the measure came before
President Monroe for his approval, he put to each member of his cabinet
this question: "Has Congress the constitutional power to prohibit slavery
in a Territory?" And John C.
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