Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-03
mDesmye,gnADa $50 algA2a GET 8, aa4se

suPeIlOT VIII OF cOntTOi. Dut, SuDmlt
snch conclusions must appear from theil
simple statement, 10 be wrong. All the
provisions Of The Constitution, or none,
extend over territory acquired. All The
provisions of the Constitution extend over
them-those guaranteeing republican
form of government to all the States ad-
milted, or TO be admitted. into the Uuion,
arising in our terrilories-prohi5itins or
ders f'nobility-securing The habeas cor
pus acI, and trial by jury, TO The cilizen-
and especially that provision in the Con-
stitulion defining the powers Of Congress
over our territories, and declaring 10 whom
they beIong-all are Of force over any ac.
quired territory. Congress has 40 iegisla.
tive powers. but those "herein granted"
granted in the Constitution. But is the
principle Of The gentleman, sounder than
his conclusion '.ll is the necessary in
cident TO all government TO acquire terri
lory!" Sir, think il would have been
bellerif the gentleman had announced his
proposition in another form sit is the ne.
cessary incident Of all government 10 rob"
For why should government have, as q
necessary incident, the right of 'lespoiling
neighbor Of his territory, and not take
his other properly? Land is only one spe-
cies ofproperIy. It may not DO a whit
less convenient, and far more valuable, TO
take ships ON the ocean, or levy contribu,-
,ions from cities or towus. The republic
Of Rome seemed 10 think that it was ne
cessary incident to their government, to
exact tribute from all nations. Their ter
ritory, they scorned. The Barhary pow
ers, short time since, confined this ne
cessary incident ih their government to the
sea; and the commercial nations of all
Europe, were put under contribution
We, however, did no, like The doctrine,
and abolishedit al once, by the potent ar
gumeuls Of gunpowder and cotton. Mex.
leo, also, has carried out this incident to
her government, in despoilibs our citizens
Of many millions. Sir, lhiuk 10 acquire
territory, or any other property. is not an
incident to any government. Territory
may be desirable or convenient 10 a eoun
try, or it may be injurious and dangerous.
Location and circumstances, must; deter-
mine the question of interest. Take the
case which gives rise to this discussion.-
Is the acquisition of territory from Mexi-
co, necessary 10 the existence Or liberties
of the Unionl No QUE will affirm that it
is whilst the veil Of futurity covers so
lhickly its results, that whether ii. will
prove blessing or cnrse, will strengthen
or dissolve the Union, is sihe DIRK tbeHe
Of 6ercest speculation. But adtnitthe ben
e6l-wlien territory is ACQUIRED, it must
5elonsto those to whom the government
belongs. If the government belongs 10 u
despotrsm, then the territory belongs to
the despot; but iftlle government belongs
10 the people, then the territory belongs 10
the people-the people Of the States, with
whom, in our system of government. SOW
ereisnIy exists. Where tho Government
OF the United States, can acquire terri
tory for the people Of the United States, is
nc longer a question. The power was
alrong!y doubted on our first acquisition Of
territory /; but the Supreme Court, and the
subsequent action The Government, have
settled The question. But it never has
been setrled, that the Government Of the
United States is sovereign over tho Terri
tories and ale, therefore, beyond the reach
and limitations OF the Constitution.
Anpther doctrine has been announced,
only little variant from that Of The gen.
lIeman from Illinois. 1t is said, that there
is an inherent sovereignty IN The Gorern-
ment Of the Cniled States, whereby it ac
quires territory; and when acquired, this
inherent sovereignty operates over the
territory. beside and above the Conslitu-
ton. 1t is not easy to answer this posi-
lion, because there is no reasoning 10 il.
1t is naked assumption; and if it is good
in regard to the territories, | cannot per.
ceive that it will not hold good as to any
other object Of government. l, therefore,
abolishes the Constitution. | may moi,
however, understand wi:at gentlemen
mean by inherent sovereignty. ln one
sense, all sovereignty is inherent; bul
suppose the word "inlierenI" to be used as
conIra distinguished from derived. For
merely it was argued. that sovereignty in
The General Government, was derived
ilOui 'iiO N'diCoi sihouSh 'h0 SohS'tStob
The United Stales, which granting SOW.
ereign powers. granted sovereignty, 10
this view, the sovereignty must be CO.
extensive with The granled powers only.
But this will moi suit the new advocates
for sovereignty, in the present emergency.
II will restrict the alleged sovcign powers
within tho terms Of the Constitution and
the Constitution gives Congress only the
power 10 dispose Of and make all needful
rules and regulations concerning lLe terri
tory aud other property belonging TO the
United Slales. This is decided rebuffpo
their pretensions. They therefore got up
this inherent sovereignty in the Govern
nent TO acquire territory, that the Gov
ernmont and Congress may be absolute
over it when acquired, aud the free States
may, by their instrumentality, appropri-
ale i. all 10 themselves.
Sir, here is a doctrine, at which the old
Federalists of'95 and '99 would have stood
aghast. They regarded the Constitution,