Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-01

adopted by of them. The constitution of the United
Safes recognised its existence, admitted the right OF properly
in slaves, and adjusted TO its continuance. 1t pro-
yded thai 10 the apporonment of representatives and
slaves should be enumerated made provision for the recap
ure OF fugitive slaves and forbidden prohibit the slave
trade before the year 1905 No provision made empow
eng the Government abolish il in the States and
by the tenth article of the constitution, find that the
powers not delegated TO the United States by the constu
ton, nor prohibited by TO the States reserved to the
States respectively the people" Hence il follows that
this Government has power to restrict abolish other
wise Interfere with slavery in tho States which parties to
the formation OF the constitution Il solely within their
power, and they aone each for ITSELF preserve, mod
f, or abolish it, and this Government has power pre-
vent it.
am well aware Mr. Chairman, that at this time II is very
generally admitted this Government has constitutional
power 10 disturb slavery the States but have deemed
useful Illustrative of what may say upon the other points
to which wish direct the attention Of the committee, and
not Inappropriate to the occasion, thus briefly present this
view of the subject.
The second point which wish direct the attention Of
the COMMITTEES is this-that States, when admitted into
the Union, succeed to all the duties and disabilities and all
the rights and privileges Of the old States One Of the great
objects of the constitution form am perfect Union
In the formation OF that instrument sovereign powers
dealing with each other 10 arrive al the object desired there
mode, which comported with their interests dgnies
aud PRIDE but place them perfect equality hence
each surrendered equal portion of sovereignty and each
tanned an equal portion In branch the Legislature each
was to be represented by equal number OF Senator's and
the other by equal number Of Representatives. according
its population No discrimination made between them
they conceived their safety consist in this equality And
In the instrument provided that States may
be admitted by the Congessno this Union" No difference
authorized and the obvious construction admits Of dis
elimination. what is Stale" in the constitutional
The constitution treats of States " grants certain powers
to Congress- and inhbs the States from exercising
other powers and expressly the States and the
people all other powers. The used technical and
restricted sense than il has in parance. 1t
means political community forming part Of this Union
oil tho bc
rendered 10 the United States by the constitution and
States must be members of that Union, like the DID, in
all respects but age The grant Congress admit
States definite II itwere So the power of Congress
would be unlimited, and II might admit States with more
less power and thus destroy the balance which the
aim OF those who framed the constitution 10 preserve.
Can Congress admit State with power than the
old possess BY the tenth section of the frs, article Of the
constitution it is provided that
sNo State shall any treaty. alliance confede-
ration; grant letters of marque and repsal coin money
emit bills OF credit make thing but gold and silver coin
tender payment Of debts pass any bill of atander post
aco law or law parins theobgaton Of contracts grant
any title of nobility.
No State shall without the consent of the Congress lay
imposts duties imports EXPORTS except what
be absoue necessary for executing its inspection laws ard
the nett produce OF al dps and posts lad sy any State on
United States and all such laws shall be subject to the rev
sion and control the Congress
No State shall without the consent Of Congress- lay any
duty TONNAGE keep troops ships Of war in time OF peace
enter into any agreement compact with another State
with foreign Power Or engage in unless actually nvad-
ed In such imminent danger will not admit OF delay
Do these inhboRs apply as well the new States
when they into the Union the DID, who par
ties to the compact Can Congress- under the power ad
init new states, dispense with any OF them Can we
say State you shall have the privilege of coming
ney, making alliances &C. Certainly The old States
would have consented be thus oveshacowed and it
will not in any quarter be insisted All will admit that
Congress cannot admit State with power than the old
possess and If it endow them with greater power,
how it admit them with less do not the privileges and
powers reserved the States well the benefit OF
the of the old States Can State be brought
into the Union with less representation than old
mary situated would be entitled to- Can Congress admit
State and prescribe that she shall have but Senator
alter the mode by which her Senators shall be chosen pre-
scribe qualification for electors Of members of this
House from that State 50, all equality among the States
destroyed and the object Of the trainers Of the constitution
defeated But may be told that the rule Of representation
in the Houses and the qualifications of voters express
grants in favor of the States well old, and that the
prohibitions referred TO also expressly made, and there
FORE be exceeded violated By Congress- but that the
power am conendng for is not fthis he So it is quite time
the old States understood it. the rights Of the States
surrendered TO the United States but include in the general
reservation less sacred and less valuable because they
enumerated II is admitted thai every State has a right, in
legal and orderly To alter and abolish its constitution
and set up and, they preserve the republican
FORM this Government has right to nterere yet this is
Of the non-enuerated reservations So the right
lie the relation which the different ndivduas classes
posing is society shall bear each other Of the emu
merated reservations yet is not the less possessed by the
States and not the less sacred that il the right
Of the majority in State frame its organic law according
to its discretion, the first principle in American sys
Of governments and viii any contend that it does
belong the States and that this Government has any
right whatever restrain Sir is quite clearly and
certainly secured them are those rights which
pressly mentioned in the constitution.
Mr.. Chairman from what has been advanced think may
safely assume that States, when admitted, must come
into the Union equal and only equal the old States. The
constitution determines htir rights Congress only admits
and il neither enlarge restrict their powers. IL il
could whole system would become dersnged, and
constitution failure.
come consider the third proposition stated at the
Outset Of my remarks which is that all the territories Of the
United States however acquired, designed to be erected
into States Of this Union
The territorial condition is a temporary and to show
that need only remind the committee OF the uniform
action OF this Government without stopping TO coiae other
proofs TO sustain the position. All tho laws establishing ter
rora governments from the celebrated ordinance Of 1887,
which preceded the constitution the Oregon bill now pend
in this House, expressly show that the governments es
tabshed and proposed be established, temporary
The condition is not designed TO be permanent Then they
either become States sink into colonies There
other position for them 10 occupy and the question presents
itself has this Government the constitutional power to hold
colonies This as far ms know, is question. If II
has been decided by any brancof this Government or
discussed, am not informed OF il but in this day Of
aggression and acquisition, its practical Importance cannot
well be estimated and pcrhsps at distant day, the
people Of this country viii be called TO decde Ia approach
ing Its consideration very much disirust my powers
but perhaps may say enough to public attention. and