Let the People Rule.New Haven, Connecticut, Register [Democratic](4 February 1854)
The Courier says that the Compromise measures
of 1850, did not supersede the Missouri Compromise
of 1820, because one of the acts of '50, says that
nothing in it contained shall be construed to impair
or qualify the third article of the act of 1845, for
the admission of Texas into the Union; and this
act of 1845 provided that the Texas country might
be divided into four States, part free, and part slave,
according to the Missouri line extended, It is
evident, however, that the act of 1850, in this part of it,
could only have reference to the number of States
to be carved out of Texas; for it at the same time
provided, that a large slice of the free part of Texas
should be added to New Mexico, and that New
Mexico might come into the Union with slaves, or
be free, just as the people should determine for
themselves. This slice was larger in extent than
Massachusetts and Connecticut, and Congress had,
by former legislation, prohibited slavery in any new
State to be made out of it, except for crime. But
notwithstanding this former prohibition, Mr. Clay
and the Compromise men of 1850, took it from the
north side of the Missouri line, (the free side,) and
annexed it to New Mexico, where it might be free or
not, just as the people should themselves decide the
matter. It was brought within the pale of the
Compromise principles of1850, which was, Let the
People Rule. This principle, the patriotic men
who went for the Compromise of 1850, put in the
place of a Geographical line - the latter, the line,
was superceded by the former, the principle. And
it is this same principle, so eloquently advanced by
Clay and Webster and the Democratic statesmen
who went with them in that movement, that is
incorporated in the new bill for Nebraska, now before
Congress.
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