I have said that this doctrine of supersedure is new.  I have now proved that it is a plant of but ten days’ growth.  It was never seen or heard of until the 23d day of January, 1854.  It was upon that day that this tree of Upas was planted; we already see its poison fruits. * * *

The truth is, that the compromise acts of 1850 were not intended to introduce any principles of territorial organization applicable to any other Territory except that covered by them.  The professed object of the friends of the compromise acts was to compose the whole slavery agitation.  There were various matters of complaint.  The non-surrender of fugitives from service was one.  The existence of slavery and the slave-trade here in this District and elsewhere, under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress, was another.  The apprehended introduction of slavery into the Territories furnished other grounds of controversy.  The slave States complained of the free States, and the free States complained of the slave States.  It was supposed by some that this whole agitation might be stayed, and finally put at rest by skilfully adjusted legislation.  So, sir, we had the omnibus bill, and its appendages the fugitive-slave bill and the District slave-trade suppression bill.  To please the North—­to please the free States—­California was to be admitted, and the slave depots here in the District were to be broken up.  To please the slave States, a stringent fugitive-slave act was to be passed, and slavery was to have a chance to get into the new Territories.  The support of the Senators and Representatives from Texas was to be gained by a liberal adjustment of boundary, and by the assumption of a large portion of their State debt.  The general result contemplated was a complete and final adjustment of all questions relating to slavery.  The acts passed.  A number of the friends of the acts signed a compact pledging themselves to support no man for any office who would in any way renew the agitation.  The country was required to acquiesce in the settlement as an absolute finality.  No man concerned in carrying those measures through Congress, and least of all the distinguished man whose efforts mainly contributed to their success, ever imagined that in the Territorial acts, which formed a part of the series, they were planting the germs of a new agitation.  Indeed, I have proved that one of these acts contained an express stipulation which precludes the revival of the agitation in the form in which it is now thrust upon the country, without manifest disregard of the provisions of those acts themselves.