Missouri was next in order in 1821.  She could plead no privilege, on the score of being part of one of the original states; the country too, was relieved from the pressure of her late conflict with England; it was prosperous and quiet; every thing seemed propitious to a calm and dispassionate consideration of the claims of slaveholders to add props to their system, by admitting indefinitely, new slave states to the Union.  Up to this time, the “EVIL” of slavery had been almost universally acknowledged and deplored by the South, and its termination (apparently) sincerely hoped for.[A] By this management its friends succeeded in blinding the confiding people of the North.  They thought for the most part, that the slaveholders were acting in good faith.  It is not intended by this remark, to make the impression, that the South had all along pressed the admission of new slave states, simply with a view to the increase of its own relative power.  By no means:  slavery had insinuated itself into favor because of its being mixed up with (other) supposed benefits—­and because its ultimate influence on the government was neither suspected nor dreaded.  But, on the Missouri question, there was a fair trial of strength between the friends of Slavery and the friends of the Constitution.  The former triumphed, and by the prime agency of one whose raiment, the remainder of his days, ought to be sackcloth and ashes,—­because of the disgrace he has continued on the name of his country, and the consequent injury that he has inflicted on the cause of Freedom throughout the world.  Although all the different Administrations, from the first organization of the government, had, in the indirect manner already mentioned, favored slavery,—­there had not been on any previous occasion, a direct struggle between its pretensions and the principles of liberty ingrafted on the Constitution.  The friends of the latter were induced to believe, whenever they should be arrayed against each other, that theirs would be the triumph.  Tremendous error!  Mistake almost fatal!  The battle was fought.  Slavery emerged from it unhurt—­her hands made gory—­her bloody plume still floating in the air—­exultingly brandishing her dripping sword over her prostrate and vanquished enemy.  She had won all for which she fought.  Her victory was complete—­THE SANCTION OF THE NATION WAS GIVEN TO SLAVERY![B]

[Footnote A:  Mr. Clay, in conducting the Missouri compromise, found it necessary to argue, that the admission of Missouri, as a slaveholding state, would aid in bringing about the termination of slavery.  His argument is thus stated by Mr. Sergeant, who replied to him:—­“In this long view of remote and distant consequences, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Clay) thinks he sees how slavery, when thus spread, is at last to find its end.  It is to be brought about by the combined operation of the laws which regulate the price of labor, and the laws which govern population.  When the country shall be filled with