Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/708

. The testimony clearly shows, that before the proposition to repeal the Missouri compromise was introduced into congress, the people of western Missouri appeared indifferent to the prohibition of slavery in the territory, and neither asked nor desired its repeal.

When, however, the prohibition was removed by the action of congress, the aspect of affairs entirely changed. The whole country was agitated by the reopening of a controversy which conservative men in different sections hoped had been settled, in every state and territory, by some law beyond the danger of repeal. The excitement which has always accompanied the discussion of the slavery question was greatly increased by the hope on the one hand of extending slavery into a region from which it had been excluded by law, and on the other by a sense of wrong done by what was regarded as a dishonor of a national compact. This excitement was naturally transferred into the border counties of Missouri and the territory, as settlers favoring free or slave institutions moved into it. A new difficulty soon occurred. Different constructions were put upon the organic law. It was contended by the one party that the right to hold slaves in the territory existed, and that neither the people nor the territorial legislature could prohibit slavery—that the power was alone possessed by the people when they were authorized to form a state government. It was contended that the removal of the restriction virtually established slavery in the territory. This claim was urged by many prominent men in western Missouri, who actively engaged in the affairs of the territory. Every movement of whatever character, which tended to establish free institutions, was regarded as an interference with their rights.

Within a few days after the organic law passed, and as soon as its passage could be known on the border, leading citizens of Missouri crossed into the territory, held squatter meetings, and then returned to their homes. Among their resolutions are the following:

"That we will afford protection to no abolitionist as a settler of this territory." "That we recognize the institution of slavery as already existing in this territory, and advise slaveholders to introduce their property as early as possible."

Similar resolutions were passed in various parts of the territory, and by meetings in several counties of Missouri. Thus the first effect of the repeal of the restriction against slavery was to substitute the resolves of squatter meetings, composed almost exclusively of citizens of a single state, for the deliberate action of congress, acquiesced in for thirty-five years.

This unlawful interference has been continued iu every important event in the history of the territory; every election has been controlled not by the actual settlers, but by citizens of Missouri, and as a consequence every officer in the territory, from constables to legislators, except those appointed by the president, owe their positions to non-resident voters. None have been elected by the settlers, and your committee have been unable to find that any political power whatever, however unimportant, has been exercised by the people of the territory.