The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-14


ton, and modified The resolution, by making the hour
O'Clock, instead OF O'Clock and 80 minutes and renewed
his demand for the previous question; which was sec
onded
The main question then ordered be put and the
vote being taken, the resolution was agreed to.
SO il was resolved that the debate should
o'clock this day.
THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF OREGON
On motion OF Mr.. DOUGLASS the House resolved it.
self into Committee OF the Whole on the state OF the
Union (AIr HopKNs the char) and resumed the con-
sideraton of the BIl establish the Territorial govern
ment of Oregon; the question pending being upon the
following amendment submitted by Mr. Burt:
Insert in the i2l section after the word and and be-
fore the words shall be subject the words, inasnnch
The whole OF the said Territory lies no Of thirysx de-
grees and thirty minutes north atitude known the line
OF the Missouri compromise +"
Mr.. BURT then and addressed the committee He
said that the interference of Congress in the domestic
terests of the States at all times an exciting subject
was IN the present uncture of the national AFFAIRS and
the form proposed the present OCCASION subject OF
trancenden importance to his constituents, and, he
solemny believed TO the south and the whole country
crisis approached with rapid fand fearful strides He
told the norhhe told the south that il could not be evad
ed. Thrust be met they shrank from il to-day, would
come with renewed force tomorrow He believed that
il unmanly to desire its posponemen for an hour
He could not hope to speak TO this question He did not
desire to speak to II without the earnestness which be-
fitted the occasion but he trusted he should repress all
passion and all excitement He reflected upon the
resolutions of the last memorable and eventfu session of
Congress, without "a sense approaching 10 awe OF the
moderation and wisdom which ayerted war from the
United States and Great Britain by the happy and peace
full adjustment of their proraced and long pending
troversy about limits on the northwest coast OF
this continent. II was signal triumph OF mod
Grafton and justice passion and pride He knew
instance in ancient modern history of nobler ex
ample to the nations OF the earth BY that treaty they
acquired territory west OF the Rocky mountains ex-
tending from the parallel ~ degrees to the parallel OF
40 degrees OF north latitude They obtained country
whose area was sufficient for the formation of four or
five States of the medium size Ii a country which
possessed many and important advantages 1t had mild
and genial climate generous and fertile soil Portions
of adapted to the growth of the staples of tobacco
and cotton. 1t would command the commerce of China
of nda of Japan and the islands of the South Its
position in reference to the Pacific emf
neny advantageous that of these States the Attain
tic ocean That country had great mineral resources It'll
capable of sustaining dense population, and was
destined to be the home OF enterpsing people They
were now about to establish for that Territory Temporal
ry government, government to endure only until the |
population and resources Of the country would enable
to become State. The population was now sparse and
of mixed character Its inhabitants had no representa-
ves that floor 1t then proposed to apply that
Territory by the legislation of Congress the prohbi-
tons, conditions, and restrictions of the ordinance of
unknown and UNDECIDED These opinions were not
at all consulted in this proposed legislation Slavery
did not exist in that territory He did not know that
slave made would make footprint on its
SOIL Ii the article OF the ordinance OF 1857 adopt
ed designed to be eternal nterct upon slavery
in that territory Had Congress the power he asked to
impose upon the people of Oregon that restriction! He
proposed to institute and that inquiry. First,
what the article OF the ordinance OF 1857, which it
was proposed to apply to this Terr9ry Of Oregon II
ordinances denomina'ed ''artc!es of compact be-
tween the orgnal States and the people and States the
territory northwest of the river Ohio The sixth article
provides:
''rhere a be neither slavery involuntary servitude
in the said territory otherwise than in the punishment of
crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted"
That vast territory northwest of the Ohio coded BY
the State OF Virginia in 1884, and oil the territory thus adj
mted into the Union included the States OF
Ohio Indiana Illinois, and Michigan; and Wisconsin,
he adm hafnr
sion OF Congress terminated Virginia in that munifi-
cent donation, made provision which, also she desired
read In her cesson of the Isl March, 1884, she reel
ted the of Congress inviting the States ceie to the
United States their vacant territory, and she adopted the
conditions of the act as the terms OF her cession saying
however, that they entirely satisfactory to her
But the condition was this:
That is say, upon condition that the territory cedea
shall be laid and formed into States, containing suita
han one hundred and fifty miles SQUARE or as near
circumstances will admit and that the States formed
shall be distinct republican States, and admitted members
ofthe federal Union having the rights sovereignty
freedom and independence, as the Other States
That was the condition OF the cesson The donation, he
might remark, was made before the adoption of the pres
ent constitution. He begged 10 know-he trusted that
some member of the House would be pleased TO say
whence that Congress of ST derived the power orain
certain articles OF compact which should be mmutable
which should be of eternal and universal obligation upon
the people OF the territory Was it the articles Of conede
Of Congress which invited this cesson of territory from the
States lie should be glad 10 he instructed that point
There Tar he had been able TO perceive not the
slightest authority for the ordinance any of those
sources Of authority Would any member Of the House
would any gentleman there undertake to say that was
by virtue OF any inherent power in that Congress lie
apprehended not That ordinance inconsistent with
all the conditions of the cesson of Virginia Ii was in
consistent and poscrpve to her, and 10 the other south
ern states II was never ratified by Virginia, and he
thought that act in the history of her Legislation could
be adduced which countenanced that Interpolation upon
the conditions OF her grant III was assumption of
power. Mr.. Madison q member of that Congress-one
Of those who had active agency in the formation of
the constitution of the United States-pronounced it
usupaon-he pronounced If, amongst the acts performed
BY that Congress, without the color of constitutional
authority He (Nr. b. begged leave read what Mr.
Madison said upon that subject:
Congress have undertaken do more they have
proceeded form States: temporary govern
nens appoint officers TOR them, and prescribe the
conditions which sch States shall be admitted into the
All this has been DONE and done without
the least color of constitutional authority"
He would now proceed to inquire whether that orii-
consistent with the interests and wishes of
The inhabitants OF the Territory which had been thus coded
II il should be shown he trusted il had been done
that it without the slightest color of consti-
utional authority, and opposed TO the interests and
wishes OF the inhabitants OF the Northwest Territory,
he demanded to know upon what ground II could be /
justified, and heldupasa precedentn the future legislation
Of this country He had then, chapter from the his
tory OF the northwest country, which he begged leave
10 commend to the attention of the House. In 1904,
here meeting OF representatives of the people OF
The Northwest Territory, assembled from all points and
At that meeting General William H. Harrison presided
Il adopted memorial to Congress, which was submit
ed by their president, and referred committee
IF that House, which committee through its chairman
Mr. Rodney, made the following report:
'sAr ROONEY from the committee which had been re-
erred letter from William Henry Harrison, president of
he general convention of the people of the Indiana Terri