what did thomas jefferson mean when he said the missouri compromise was like a firebell in the night?

did he mean that it was never going to work or something like that?

I am not certain, but a firebell in the night wrecks havoc at the least expected time, and most folks are asleep when it happens. Often , it leads to disaster, as few are ready for it.

At this site scan down to the section on Impact of Political Discourse. It explains what Jefferson thought the Compromise would cause.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Compromise

When Thomas Jefferson referred to the Missouri Compromise as a "firebell in the night," he was not necessarily expressing his belief that it would never work. Instead, he was conveying his concern about the potential consequences and future conflicts that might arise from the compromise.

To understand Jefferson's statement, it's helpful to provide some background. The Missouri Compromise was a legislative agreement reached in 1820 between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, while simultaneously admitting Maine as a free state to maintain the balance between slave and free states.

Now, going back to Jefferson's explanation, "firebell in the night" is a metaphor that expresses his apprehension. Imagine a firebell ringing loudly in the dead of night, alerting everyone to a sudden and pressing danger. Jefferson saw the issue of slavery as a potentially divisive and explosive issue for the young United States. He feared that the Missouri Compromise might merely delay the inevitable conflict between the North and South over the expansion of slavery in new territories.

In essence, Jefferson's metaphor emphasized the urgency and alarm he felt towards the issue of slavery. He recognized that the compromise was a temporary solution, and he believed it could lead to future crises and threats to the unity of the nation.

It's important to note that Jefferson was not directly involved in creating the Missouri Compromise, as he had retired from political life by the time it was enacted. However, his correspondence and writings reveal his concerns about the long-term consequences of allowing the expansion of slavery.