The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-03-10
ABBEVILLE G. H., S. c., MARCH 10, 1S47

are its constituents, and not the people.
The twenty eight Statcs-:he twenty nine
States Gncluding Iowa-stand under this
government as twenty mine individuals, or as
twcnty-ninc individuals would stand to con-
solidated power. 1t was not made for the
mere individual prosperity Of the State as
individuals. No, sir. 1t was made for
higher ends. 1t was formed that every
State constituting q portion of this great
Union of ours should enjoy all its advantages,
natural and acquired, with greater security,
and enjoy them more perfectly. The whole
system is based OH Justice and equality
perfect equality between the members of
this republic. Nor can that be consistent
with equality which will make this public
domain monopoly on one sidc-which, in
its consequences, would place the whole
welded against the other sections of the
Union? Is that equality?
How do we stand in reference to this ter
rtorial qucstion-this public domain of ours?
Why, sir, what is it? 1t is the common
property of the States of this Union. They
arc called "the territories of the limited
Statcs." And what arc the ''Unitcd States"
but the States united? Sir, these territories
arc the property of the States united; held
Jointly for their common use. And is it con-
sistent with justice, is it consistent with
equality, that any portion of the partners,
outnumbering another portion, shall orlst
them in this common property of theirs
shall pass any law which shall prescribe
the citizens of other portions of the Union
from emigrating with their property to the
territories of the United States? Would
that be consistent-can it be consistent with
the idea of a common property, held Jointly
for the common benefit of all? Would it be
so considered i'll private life? Would it not
be considered the greatest outrage in the
world, and which any Court on the face of
the globe would at once overrulc?
MIR. President, not only is that proposition
grossly inconsistent with the Constitution,
but the other, which undertakes to say that
no State shall be admitted into this Union,
which shall not prohibit by its Constitution
the existence of slaves, is equally great
outrage against the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. Sir,I hold it to be funcamcn-
tai principle of our political system, that the
people have a right to establish what 60
vernment they may think proper for them
selves; that every State about to become
member of this Union has a right to form its
| own government as it pleases: and that, in
order to be admitted, there is but one qualifi-
cation, and that is, that the government shall
be republican. 1t is not so expressly pre-
scribed by the instrument itself, but by that
great section which guarantees to every
State in this Union republican form of 60
vernment. Now, sir, what is proposed? 1t
is proposed, from vague, indefinite, erro-
neous, and most dangerous conception of
private individual liberty, to overrule this
great common liberty which people have
of framing their own constitution Sir the
individual right of men is not nearly so easi-
ly to be established by any course of rea-
soning, as his common liberty. And yet,sir,
there are men of such delicate feeling on
the subject of liberty-thcre are men who
cannot possibly bear what they call slavery
in one section Of the country-(and it is not
so much slavery as an institution indispcnsa-
BILE for the good of both races)-men so
squeamish on this point, that they are ready
to strike down the higher right of commu-
nifty to govern themselves, in order to main
tain the absolute right of individuals in all
circumstances to govern themselves!
Mr.. President, the resolutions that have
proposed present, in exact terms, these great
truths. propose to present them to the
Senate; propose to have vote upon
them; and / trust there is no gentleman
here who will refuse direct vote upon
these propositions. 1t is manly that we
should know the state of things. 1t is due
to our constituents that we should insist up
ON it; and /, as one, will insist upon it
that the sense of this body shalt be taken:
the body which represents the States in
their capacity as communities, and the men,
bcrs of which are to be their special guar
dians. It is due to them, sir, that there
should be fair. expression of what is the
sense Of this. body. Upon that expression
much depends. 1t is the only stand which
we can have. 1t is the only position which
we can take, which will uphold us with
anything like independence will
give us any chancefat all to maintain an
equality in this Union, on those great princi-
pies to which have had reference. Over
rule these principles, and we are nothingl
Preserve them, and we-will ever be a re-
spectacle portion of the community.
Sir, here let me say a word as to the
compromise line. i have always conside.
red It as a great error highly injurious to;
the South, because it surrendered, for mere
temporary purposes : ~ priincc c'