The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-09


yet so the rights OF private
garded that the claims Of the mcanest subject in the
by the whole strength OF the How
strange this guaranty Of the private rights in
trat with the claims here set up that the
OF TINS conederacy, government Of limited 20 wers
may dispossess the citizens Of fifteen Of the st OF
the unon 81 their rights Of property in
OF the Union reservBg those territories exclusively
the advantage of the other fifteen members OF
the confederation, Stripped Of NIL sophistry this
was the true state of the question. Reverse the
case, ana how would 1t go down with the peo-
PIE OF the North. Suppose the slave States had
the power In this government, and that exercising
h they should declare by act Of that
none but holders and sase labor shoxd be adj
mited into the territories of this Union what right
wouiu .ne north have to complain, If they admit the
power In question! For you admit the power to
clude slavery you admit the power its exclusive
PRODUCTION. IL you have the right to abolish it, you
have the right to establish it. But you have au-
thority over the question here Is such power in
the constitution. 1t becomes simply question of
tioDa strength in Congress: and if you adopt this
principle II will not be from any right so to do but
from the simple fact that you possess the numerical
strength to do appea to our friends of the free
States against this spurious and morbid phila
which ha7 so alarmngly extended itself in the North
Mr. johnson pleaded the absence Of constitutional
authority for this lsined the compromise
Of 1877 ording authority whatever this provi-
so Passing from the discussion of the power of
timore platform and declared that the resolution
caripg that Congress has power the question
Of slavery in the States understood by the South
10 apply just forcibly to the territories This
luton bad received The support Of Messrs Hamln Of
Me. Bright and flanagan, of Indiana, and Dickinson,
Of New York in the Baltimore Convention and these
Senators knew that of tho South considered this
resolution applying to the territories, we'll to
the States and knowing this they are bound in good
faith to stand by in this Senate upon this
bill. Deneuncing MIR. Van Buren, an arch traitor
and the movements OF the barn burners and abolition
lists as reasonable dangerous to the Union and fatal
70 the democratic party the Senator from Georgia
turned to the question Of the of the territories
over the question OF slavery 1t absurd to cone
that few semi barbarians on being transferred
with their conquered territory to this Union should
possess the elements Of sovereignty this any
other subject
MIR. CALHOUN nodded assent
Mr.. MANeUM-ls not that the doctrine of the nomi-
nee Of the Baltimore Convention
Mr. JonNsor-l will come to that presently. shall
not pass 1t over and after further discussion of
the general question he desired Mr. Mangum to reit
Mr. MANcuM asked If the doctrine that the terrific
ries alone had jurisdiction this question slavery
wltnln their borders. not the doc Gen Case
and if not, why not
MIR. JoHNsoN-The doctrine of Gen Cass is that
ne declare that the territories have Jurisdictions but
that he is in favor of leaving the question the people
right.
MIR MANGUM-Well, sir cannot discover then that
Gen Cass Is anywhere He says there is no pswer in
Congress the subect-t is not in the States as
applied to the territories; and he says he leave
the power to the territories What desire, then to
know, is whether General Cass means by this to say
that the exists the territories or that it exists
any where or where.
MIR. JoHNsoN--That's our doctrine Let us alone
Leave the question with the people, to whom belongs
II you have different view this side should like
to hear it,
MIR. MArcuM-That is not to the point. Accord.
ing to the doctrine Of General Cass, he must veto
any bill passed by Congress, coming from the
OF aterritory either for against slavery General
Cass must therefore veto my bill relating the ter
Congress does not possess any jurisdiction over the
territories Now sir, ask what the real opinions
OF General Cass on this subject
Mr. DowNs-Wi the Senator from North Carolina
tel us what are the opinions Of Gen. Taylor Ola
ha on this subject
MIR. MANGUM-I really do not know; Cha. ha! hay
but when Gen. Taylor shall write treatise on the
subject he has that simple straightforward drectness
about him, which will enable everybody to understand
him without the necessity Of interpreter.
Mr. JoHNsoN-We should like to hear the opinious
OF Gen Taylor but all the oracles speak to us in rid
dies AS to Gen Cass, he is for leaving the question
Of slavery to the people of the territories as it exists
or does not exist he does not say that territory has
either the right to introduce it or to abolish it.
Mr.. MANGUM reiterated his question in another
form.
MIR. JoHNsoN-I will answer the Senator presently;
and he was proceeding to some general remarks,
Mr.. MANouM proposed to put a case: Suppose gen.
teman from North Carolina should remove into Cali
forna with his slaves and by act of the territorial
government they emancipated; that act comes to
Consress for confirmation; it then goes to the Pres
dent FOR his approval II such bill passed up to
General Caes as President what would he do? These
slaves must be either recognized property or not
Nr. JOHNSON was proceeding to state the actual posi-
ZION OF New Mexico and California. with reference to
slavery
MIR MANGuM--l mean, what would General Cass do
looking to his letter as the text of his opinions,
Mr.. JoHNsoN-l will give the best answer that can.
He then proceeded to show that Notwithstanding the
constitution Of 1894 by Mexican laws Of the Next
States and according to the laws of nations slave
ry is not now prohibited in California New Mexico
but they not territories in which slaves may now
be introduced; taking the laws Of Mexico for
thority there is municipal nerdict against slavery
In New Mex co California, as | understand it.
Mir. JEFFERSON DAvIs-Therc is none.
Mr. JoHNsoN-My friend, who knows. says there is |
none. The Senator from Georgia went on, quoting Pc
L.rs the nations show that slave proper
Mexico and that would be the duty of the govern
ment to protect it there lie commended that terri
tory had not the power to abolish savery-that the
people of a territory had cognzance of the sub
ject till advanced to the full honors of State,
and that State, and State alone, could abb
ton Of the effects of placing this barrier of
the proviso around the South What shall do with
our accommodating slaves fthey had the power of or
ganzation and the courage to act they would nevta
bly, seek to destroy by fire and slaughter but they
far likely to starve and rot upon the soil
You have place for them in the North. You may
clamor loudly of the suerings of the Southern slave
you may call us dealers in human blood butyou deny
these creatures all the rights of freemen when
they come among you. Their condition is far
in the North than it is in the South Mir Johnson ap
pealed and protested against the adoption of this pro-
viso He would resist it to the very last if it were
sought to be applied to the territories in the moon
cause you have right to extend it there You have
right under the constitution to apply it to the ter
ritories of the United States would admonish gen
tlemen that this is power which thew had better not
exercise. He spoke of the formidable anti slavery
movements in the North, and of the proceedings in
Congress upon the proviso leaving to the South
other ground Of defence than the federal constitution
That il the ground upon which now intend to make
our final sta nd.
Mr.. FooTE thought the Senator from Georgia had
done injustice to many patriotic men in the North in
his sweeping accusations for there many Northern
in Congress, and out Of Congress who had stood
up and would st stand up for the rights of the South
in this question.
MIR JonNsos assened to the statement Of the Senator
ind would make ample amends for any injustice he had
done to the North still his facts drawn from the
Journals of Congress, and could not be refuted
MIR. FooTE maintained that the South were signally
indebted to the patriots of the North. who have
steadiastly stood by us in all this contest.
MIR. JOHNSON did not intend to do any Unjust &C to
the friends of the South His remarks applied to her
enemies. He closed by declaring himself in favor of
the mt which expressly declares that nothing
in this act shall be construed into tho exclusion of
slave property from the Oregon territory for you have
no right TO exclude it-you have jurisdiction
the subject.