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1 The Missouri Compromise: Sketch of the Remarks of James O. Putnam, upon the Nebraska Resolutions, in Senate of State of N. York, Feb. 3, 1854 1 (1854)

handle is hein.slavery/mocskjp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE. SKETCH OF THE RIEMARKS OF JAMES 0. PUTNAM, UPON THE .VE B R dldS RESO-L UTIO*S , LN SENATE OF STATE OF N. YORK, FEB. 3, 1854. Mr. PUTNAM said: Mr. President-I cannot After months of discussion, and of patrioti concur with the sentiment that the introduction labor and sacrifice, their work was accomplish- (f this subject is untimely, and legislative ac- ed, the Constitution presented to the States. In tion is unnecessary. I think, that in the history the language of WASHINGTON, it was framed in of the question connected with these resolutions, the spirit of amity and compromise. No'cw York has a vital interest. I think the State The South consented to the partnership, pro- of New York would be false to herself, false to vided she could be protected in her slave pro- her past legislation on the questions which con- perty by the restoration of her fugitive slaves. vulsed the country to its centre, when Missouri She also insisted upon a representation of heT asked admission into the Union, if she did not slave property, in Congress. Althoigh the now, thirty-four years after that action, at a moral sense of the Nortlf was against it, she time when all good faith is to be wantonly sacri- yielded to the first demand, and she yielded the ficed and trampled on, if she did not most em- second for an equivalent in the matter of taxa- phatically rebuke this project of the Senator tion. These questions at rest, the Constitution fiom Illinois. I am unwilling to have these res- was presented to the States for ratification. olutions disposed of quite so summarily, and Here ensued another, and for a long time, upon a silent vote. doubtful struggle. But at length the last State Sir, let us look for a moment at the basis df the gave in its adhesion, and then arose this gov- Union of these States. All free government is the ernment in its own proper beauty, and granite result of mutual compromise. The government strength, to take its place among the powers of under which we live, has no other original basis. the earth. The convention at Philadelphia, which framed The Northern Atlantic States were commercial the Constitution of the United States, represent- States; commerce, everywhere a leading and ed the most extreme views, and the most antag- controling element, ever has been, and ever will onistic interests of the several States. Of all be, aggressive. And when uniied to it are the questions which patriotism was there called up- higher elements of civilization, it elevates where on to settle, none more threateningly menaced the it subdues, and becomes the advance-guard of objects of the Convention than that of Slavery. the institutions of Christianity. the South, Slavery had incorporated itself in- The commercial spirit early discovered the jWI the relations of society. The character of importance of controlling the Valley of the Mis- Souh,-ru climate and products had stimulated sissippi, and the outlet to the Gulf of Mexico. this vigorous growth. While it had a nominal Mr. JEFFEfRSON, with a clear prescience of his existence at the North, it had no such relations country's future, appreciated the same necessity. to northera capital or industry as promised per- He opened the negotiation with France which uanency to the system. Hence arose the con- resulted in the treaty of 1803, which secured tc fliAti, political and moral views in the conven- the United States the territory of Lousiana. In ,on on this great question. 1804, Louisiana, in pursuance of the treaty, was

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