Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/446

 438 Southern Historical Society Papers,

the territories of Utah and New Mexico. The organization of New Mexico had been the battle field, and among other things it was finally provided " that when admitted as a State, the said territory or any portion of the same, shall . be received into the union, with or without slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at the time of their admission." This is known as the compromise of 1850, and was generally understood by one school of politicians to repeal the compromise of 1820. This compromise had long been construed as impairing the rights of the slave-holder.

The consideration of the restriction of slavery from newly acquired territories was raised on different occasions after the introduction of the Wilmot proviso, but the fear that the prosecution of the Mexican war might be impeded, restrained many from voting in its favor un- til after the treaty of peace had made secure the coveted areas of New Mexico and California and other lands which were included in its terms. Slavery was at this time considered by many to be upon an equal footing with freedom, and the questions between the two were considered to be at rest. The free democratic vote of John P. Hale, in 1852, was consequently about 100,000 less than that of Van Buren four years before. The general disposition was more pacific and quiet, and by the year 1854 it was supposed to have subsided altogether.

In the formation of the Kansas- Nebraska Act, the people were left free to choose for themselves upon this question, and the free soil doctrine prevailed.