Compromise of 1850: What's Up With the Closing Lines?

    Compromise of 1850: What's Up With the Closing Lines?

      Like the opening lines, it's a little tricky to pick out the closing lines, given that all the different bills were passed independently. But the actual final lines are the final section of the act banning the slave trade in Washington, D.C.:

      And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for each of the corporations of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, from time to time, and as often as may be necessary, to abate, break up, and abolish any depot or place of confinement of slaves brought into the said District as merchandize, contrary to the provisions of this act, by such appropriate means as may appear to either of the said corporations expedient and proper. And the same power is hereby vested in the Levy Court of Washington county, if any attempt shall be made, within its jurisdictional limits, to establish a depot or place of confinement for slaves brought into the said District as merchandize for sale contrary to this act. (DC.Section 2.1-2)

      It doesn't really give us a summarized, final ending to the Compromise, because it's specific to a particular statute. There is something kind of poetic about ending with a strong statement giving the government the power to break up any slave depots in its own capital. It's as if, after all that the North had to concede to the South, the bill ends with a pro-abolition statement.

      Or it could just be that this was the last bill passed. Which is probably more accurate.