The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-01

$50 ~ 'hss S'fshss Did o~. the be-.
THREE ssis- asers sNEs~J ek isw smA ~ s.s.y~~ h,
The laws 81 these sisse- sss~si % tbs tsr,ss, ~
the Congress 81 the uaiisd StAss. ~ Iii "a. 800,
and from thai day - th,~. tss bas been ~ sseh ,e
as slavery ia thai iAsosed f.iftsoa ~ ,his tns,a.
Sit. IN regard W the ips~aana Tsfssss isS f,ai~
ana pureha~e-slaseFy ss~iea her. wh<s 4 eams ip,o
the Union, and, hy the N-~s4n etsnsassni~~ n was ca
pressly abolished north u - degrees ~ ran,es IN al
The Territory OF louisiana With the sscepsloh ~ Me
>ouri.
In regard TO the Oregon Terrisor, sh,. Hqass h.
twice incorporated ~ the ball osasas le Tsusspsssi
contained in the ordnsncs Of 1857 no, aho.hlss slave
ry there, because does ~s-i. but excluding s@a Iu.
ever prohibiting iron paas,fw rs food hcrs Saver
has been protected both a. FIesd. A.s !. i>os..s.aA.
while they Were respectively Tcutofes ii thss Ussoa
This institution existing there when these T~ssos,ss
came into the union. Il Iso~efcd mot IA lwraA hal
whole power Of the Un,,cd ssssss. ssd /, W~ssv. -,
And want to know il the treaty making power !. The
part OF the government which authorized 10 regulate
or abolish slavery the TeIrtos,es while Congress has
no power over the subject Lock ~ the constitution
read it; and IT, IN the treaty nak ing power there de-.
lned you can lind word about eStxb -has az ahol.
again and again acted upon this subject Bat southern
men will give to the treaty making power the right al &C.
ton upon it, while they deny TO the Legislative power
make treaty, and the smallest slave State has AS many
votes in the Senate the largest free State Sir il ex-
,sts IN both the treaty making and Legislative power. and
The honorable gentleman from Virginia, who spoke
some time SINCE Mr. Seldom in his furious onslaught,
IN his violent attack upon the unanswerabe remarks Of
my colleague. Mr. kINGl said that thai speech Of his
or personal explanation, was no, only a violation in
single particular of the constitution, but violation OF
the whole instrument And the gentleman from yr.
gina Mr. BAYLY] to-day said that this provision was
destructive of all the ends of the ttuton y, that in
this ordinance of 7s7 in the treaty regard 10 Florida
IN our action upon the Oregon bill in the whole history
of the legislation and action of the reatymakng power
OF this government we have been. according TO th.
modern doctrine violating the constitution of the United
States Sir should like to know in what school these
gentlemen studied the constitution of the United States
Certainly not in the school of the founders of this
eminent and the trainers of the constitution for all the
great men OF that age who participated in the revolution.
and in founding the government concurred in the power
of this government to exclude slavery FROM abolish
in, the territories that belonged to the Union.
have no doubt Congress has the power TO abolish
non upon that subject. and, in fact this southern
doctrine.
In the cession of this territory to the Union by Mary
land and Virginia. the idea of the abolition of slavery IN
the District OF Columbia probably did not to the
States making the cesson and agree with the distn-
gushed man who received the patronage and suffrage Of
man with southern principles" who met this question.
which was distinctly put to him when he was about to
the sutrages OF the SOUTH and declared openly
vested in i to abolish slavery in this District yet he would
veto any bill for it, because it would be surprise upon
the States OF Maryland and Virginia. Nor would Tin
ishing it here in this District, almost in the heart of the
SOUTH against the will or without the consent of the peo
pie of the southern States will now state the rea.
Mr. Van Buren, is not the only public man who ha,
asserted the right and power Of Congress to egslac
upon this subject in the territory Of the United States He
IS not the only President can refer to Mr.. Madison
IN support OF the same position And will take occa
sion here to read short speech Of Mr. Madison, from
Ellios Debates touching this question. which de-
OF 1857 was established upon committing the memorials
Of the Quakers upon the slave trade Mr. Burke, from
the south reprobated the commitment subyersve of
the constitution, surrendering claim, and blowing
the trumpet OF sedition in the southern States
And others took the same ground They were alarm
ed at the proposition, and talked very much in the style
Of some of the celebrated orators from the SOUTH at this
day Mr.. Madison, cool, clearheaded, tried statesman
coming from the south, from the leading State of the
SOUTH who may be said be the father OF the consttu
hon almost, rebuked this kind of talk in the arguments
he advanced:
'Mr Madison observed that his opinion yesterday,
that the best way proceed in the business to commit
has taken place. more convinced Of the proprey OF
the ideas but, the business has engaged the attention OF
would offer few observations for the consideration Of the
House. He then entered into critical review of the cir
custaces respecting the adoption OF tho constitution the
ideas upon the Limitation of the powers Of Congress inter
tere in the regulations Of commerce in slaves, and showing
poation and generally to regulate the mode in which
species Of business shall be transacted lie advert
which Congress have certainly the power regulate the
subject of slavery which shows that gentlemen are mis-
taken in supposng that Congress constituonay in
tcrferein tie bushes. in any degree whatever He
in favor of committing the petition, and justified the meas
by repeated presidents in the proceedings OF the
House."
And in defence of the position he took he stated many
instances in which that power had been exercised he
instanced the cesson of Georgia, in which
Now, undertake to say, that from the organization of
this government, down to this tme Congress had in
unbroken series OF acts of legislation, prohibited and
abolished slavery and legislated upon the subject of
slavery in the Territories belonging to the general gov
eminent
ton to the powers conferred by the constitution upon
Congress, which nobody understand, even ii they
comprehended by those who utter these fne-spun
guments, it is sufficient for me to say that is too late
in the day to question the rights and power Of Congress
to exercise its discretion upon the subject of slavery in
any all the Territories belonging to the government
They begun this legislation while we but con-
fedeacy, when the power of the Union far less po-
tentia than it is under the constitution This power has
never been abandoned and trust that the true sentiment
exclude from this government the power TO egsate
this subject of slavery in the Territories Certainly the
north will never yield the power this government undoub
eddy has, and always has exercised over the subject
Now, while assert and maintain the power and right of
Congress over this subject in the territories am free to
slavery shall shall not exist in any State in this
unlon is question which the State can alone decide
Tor itself and the Congress of the United States the
morrill, the south, and every Legislative power of this peo
pie Will be brought into requison, to protect the States
in their rights upon this subject under the constitution
be allowed to interfere in this matter at all within the
States. But whether shall Iegisate or not upon the
subject in the territories of this government is matter
to be left to the discretion OF Congress The power is