"The fixing of a line on the west of the Mississippi, north of which Slavery should not be tolerated, _had always been with him a favorite policy_, and he hoped the day was not distant, when, upon principles of _fair compromise_, it might constitutionally be effected."[44] [43] Secretary of State and Minister to England under President Jackson, and a second time Minister to England under President Polk. [44] Annals of Congress, 15th Cong. 2d Sess., Feb. 17, 1819, Vol. II. col. 1228. The present attempt, however, he regarded as premature. After opposing the restriction on Missouri, he concluded by declaring:-- "At the same time, I do not mean to abandon the policy to which I alluded in the commencement of my remarks. I think it but fair that both sections of the Union should be accommodated on this subject, with regard to which so much feeling has been manifested. The same great motives of policy which reconciled and harmonized the jarring and discordant elements of our system originally, and which enabled the framers of our happy Constitution to compromise the different interests which then prevailed upon this and other subjects, if properly cherished by us, will enable us to achieve similar objects. If we meet upon principles of reciprocity, we cannot fail to do justice to all. _It has already been avowed by gentlemen on this floor, from the South and the West, that they will agree upon a line which shall divide the slaveholding from the non-slaveholding States. It is this proposition I am anxious to effect; but I wish to effect it by some COMPACT which shall be binding upon all parties and all subsequent Legislatures_,--which cannot be changed, and will not fluctuate with the diversity of feeling and of sentiment to which this empire, in its march, must be destined. There is a vast and immense tract of country west of the Mississippi yet to be settled, and intimately connected with the northern section of the Union, _upon which this compromise can be effected_."[45] [45] Ibid., 1235. The suggestions of Compromise were at this time vain: each party was determined. The North, by the prevailing voice of its Representatives, claimed all for Freedom; the South, by its potential command of the Senate, claimed all for Slavery.