Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-17
VOLUME XLV.-NUMBER 48.

ing the introduction of any more slavery; or, in
other words, the powerof Congress to pass the
Wilmot Proyiso. Now in the same paragraph,
and in the same connection, General Cass says.
"During this temporary condition, it is hardly
expedient TO call into exercise doubtful and
invidious authority, which questions the intelll-
gence Of respectable portion Of our citizens.
and whose limitation, whatever il may be, will
be rapidly approaching its termination-an au-
thorify ,ohieh Doud give 10 Congress d. spoic
potcer, uncontrolled By HE Constitution, orer
most important sections Of our common coGn-
try" Now according to this common and
practised rule of construction, The whole
of an instrument must be taken and CON-
pared together, 10 make the whole consistent
with lis paris ard The paris with The whole, and
not take the parts and with studied purpose
make them clash and conficr. Ii will be seen,
even in this part oil his letter, tina; Gen. Cass
claims no such power to Congress as is attributed
10 him by ''AlbemSrle" or his distinguished De-
mocral"-on the contrary he expressly denies It,
To grant the power 10 prohibit slavery or in
pose such terms OF admission as Congress CHOOSES
would be to concede 10 Congress net only e1clu-
siye but absolute and unconditional power and,
in The language OF Gen. Cas- "Gespolic power,
uncontrolled by the Con tulioD, over most i'm
portant sections OF our common country"
But TO test the validity Of "AlbemaIle's" own
reasoning, for The sake OF The argument, | will
admit that The Government oil the United States
is compact formed by c0ntraetins parties. A
contrac, is an agreement, upon suffc consider
alton, TO do or moi 10 do particular thing. From
which definition there arise three points 10 be con
lemplaIcd: Isl, the agreement; q, the conSdera-
tim; 81, the hing TO be done or omitted In
other words, contract is mutual bargain or
convention. Now, il This is The proper definition
OF a contract and these three ingredients necessa-
riy enter INFO and are the component paris OF
contract how can the government OF the United
States dictate terms and prescribe conditions p
If The government OF the United States can con-
tract with Stale or territory then the State ter
rory has right 10 agree or disagree to the terms
oil admission, and can propose and insist upon
certain terms herself When State, as il comes
into The Union, contracts with The Government,
first, il bargains and agrees, or enters into mu
lual covenant or convention with the Govern
men; secondly, il contracts Tor a consideration;
and, thirdly, il contracts for thing 10 be done n
omitted. There can be no such thing as con-
traet between Two parties who are able 10 con-
tract and 11iiing to contract, when one parry has
The power 10 preJztte and dptate terms 10 The 9th
er II is An absurdity in law, and soecism in
the Eoslish language. Therefore, Congress has
no right 10 prescribe terms 10 a territory asking
admission into The Union, and consequently has
no right to insist that she shall abolish or proh-
81! slavery as a prerequisite Tor admission-a
right which would give TO Congress "despoiic
power, uncontrolled by the Constitution, over
mos imporan; sections OF our common couE-
try" il IS one thing 10 possess an ereiusire and
quite differen, Thing 10 possess an absolute pow
er-admilting, for moment, tina, Congress has
CT .iasice power over The lerri;ores-a conclusion,
however, which is by no means entertained. SO
much Tor "Albsma.le's, or his distinguished De-
mocrat's" argument.
Again Ii has been asserted in round terms
that Gen. Cass is not committed upon The vii.
mot Proviso and that he vii! not veto BILL o.
ganiziug lerrilory, incorporating it in its pro-
visions and This is The impression which al
bemarle" and hi, distinguished Democrat" have
sough; TO make. Now, undertake 10 say lha,
he is dearly and unquah6sdts committed upon
his whole subject, and upon this isolated ques.
lion. 1t is strange perversion Of language, ard
lamentable prejudice or obuscness Of intellect,
10 pretend or esn the contrary will dsmor-
srale 1t. ITO BE- continually CULPEPER.