The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-06

I
Where was the authority to prevent of these com
munities from setting itself up AMI claiming control the
actions and interests Of the other wo Or suppose Con-
sess shall pass law organizing them altogether
peope, and they set about establishing local constu
ton; could they erect themselves sovereignty with
aterltory less extensive than that determined by Con-
gress IL they attempted H. such boundary would be
only mere flight n the Congress might shape
their territory and make 1t triangular or quadrangular
without remedy on their part
Mr. w. then produced the authority of Mr. Madison,
IN the "federals to show that Congress, in legsatng
tor the Territories, had overIeaped their constitutional
limits BY the necessity of the case The same paper
which he read from (the Federals characterized this
legislation as task imposed upon Congress- MIR. Mad
ison, IN the convenhon made it objection TO the
Authority ike that of Mr. Madison was not to give way
before mere philosophical deaocainn from the Dsclara
ton Of Independence, or Tom Paines Rights OF Man
The Declaration OF Independence itself was nothing more
than revolutionary pronuncamento-a brilliant and
glorious it was, but nothing 1t emanaed from
an association OF men who were composed OF monarch
lists and democrats, which the former greatly prepon
DEBATED. He went into enumeration of the constitu-
nonal powers awarded to the President of the United
States, TO show how unreasonable the feelings OF
horror with which gentlemen allow themselves now TO
contemplate the control exercised by the general govern
ment over these Juvenile communities composed of the
He looked into the origin OF this authority in Congress
legslae for the Territories The condition OF the gov
eminent at It's origin made the exercise OF this power
cessary These external colonial dependencies part
OF the United States, and the constitution made for
all
he showed the power or congress over the Post Of-
fee; and the whole postage system was derived wholly
from the constitutional provision that Congress shall have
power to establish post offices and post roads, to illustrate
the authority of Congress legslae for territories de-
rived from the second clause OF the third section of the
fourth article of the constitution.
The rights involved in legislation for territories
are the rights OF perssns-ndivduas of Staies-he
right to property. Previous the adoption of the con-
suton, there guarantees for the delivering up
OF fugitive slaves; and the constitution has thus recog
Missed slaves property This provision of the constt
ton was personal guarantee. States do not
slaves Personal rights all absolute, with which
conventions and constitutions have nothing to do but
citizen is under the authority OF two constitutions
the State constitution, and the constitution OF the Uni
ted States whereas, the Territories there extends
only the authority of the latter. If State consitu-
lions abolished, he showed that all these guaan
tees of absolute rights would remain every of these
guarantees would stand. The distinction between State
government and Territorial government was that one
was federative, and the other was consolidated.
Mr.. w went into the history OF the acts of Congress,
to show that Congress has enjoned upon sundry
rial governments the practice OF non-inerventon the
matter OF the right TO property in slaves Nonnerven
ton being enoned upon Congress by the constitution,
Congress makes the same injunction upon all lis Deepen
dencies and all he claimed that this nterven
ton should be enoined upon all the Territories
Let this Congress do lis duty and let the President do
his duty upon this subject and he willing to trust the
decisions OF the judiciary to which all such questions
must come at last He felt assured, from his acquain
with long series of decisions upon this subject
that the interests of the south would be in the
When Mr.. " IS hour had expired,
Mr. PRESTON took the floor, and proposed to Justify
his integrity the interests of the south and the
of the wing party He pursued the constitutional argu-
mt upon this question: and treated of other questions
which parties have brought into the presidential contest
At the hour of two O'Clock. according to previous
der, the Chairman arrested the debate
MIR. VlNTON said the Committee of Ways and Means
had prepared for the DILL under consideration great
many amendments and he believed that other amend
ments were prepared to be presented by individual
members, which would occupy time He proposed there
fore, present lay the whole aside for the
purpose Of taking the Senate amendments the post
office appropriation bill. which he thought might be dis
posed OF to-day.
ny y1STo% the sd order ,s y M
Mr.. VlNION'S motion was agreed to-
POST OFFICE APPROPRIATIONS
The committee then took up the post office appropria
ton bill and the first amendment OF the Senate
ported by the Clerk together with the report Of the Com
nittee of Ways and Means thereon.
Mr.. BIRDSALL took the floor, and inquired if the
House were still in Committee of the Whole the state
of the Union.
The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative; but re-
minded the gentleman from New York that ii would not
be in order for him extend his remarks not
pertaining to the amendment under consideration,
MIR. JONES OF Tennessee appealed from this decision
of the Chair; insisting that the debate might range
widely the subjects connected with the interests Of the
Union generally.
And after explanation of the point of order, teers be-
ing demanded and ordered upon the question. and the
being taken, the decision OF the Char affirmed
affirmative ~, negative A.
Mr. vINTON stated that the Committee OF Ways and
Means had agreed the Senate reduction of the aggre
gate of approprations-$45,0o0 But while the Senate
made this reduction the general em they had appro
prated the towards the specific object of
ryins the mail by steam from Charleston to the Havana
and IS besides towards carrying the mail from Key
West to the Havana. The Committee of Ways and
Means had instructed him to report
the Senate amendments, excepting the reduction pro-
posed
The committee then concurred in the amendment re-
ducing the general item.
Mr. POLLOCK moved concurrence in these two
amendments of the Senate and proceeded to relate how
these very items agreed to in Committee OF the
Whole House
MIR HOLMES of South Carolina explained the acts
OF the Postmaster General in this matter, to show that
already existed between that officer and OF
his constituents for this very service upon the faith OF
which contract his constituent had proceeded to
struct vessel for the purpose.
MIR. FICkLlN referred to letter by the Postmaster
General, which ntmates that the appropriation not
necessary to the service OF the department The appro
priaton had been twice deliberately voted down by the
House, after full debate by the South Carolina members
He understood also that the contract was made SUBJECT
to the ratification OF Congress He then, no VIOLA
ton of faith with the contractors in withholding the
appropriation. He trusted that the committee would
stand up for its former decision and determination to
econoniise in these appropriations
Mr. RHETT replied and quoted the opinion of the
Postmaster General favor of this contract which,
his letter. he characterzes one OF the most important
contracts which he had made. Upon his demand, the
Postmaster Generals letter produced and read
by the Clerk
Mr r. admitted that Congress was rot legally bound
rafy the contracts but he argued thai the contractors
had to entertain the utmost confidence that Con-
gress would carry out the contract Ii plain
OF equity that the appropriation should be made The
appropriation important in of the accession II