Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-30

and yield no right guaranteed 10 them by The css
silution.
He stood here unconnecled with party 9,
siderations, and should examine the oueso,
solely with a view 10 what he considered The ,rra
Interests of The country.
He commended that the constitution never in.
tended that there shonld be any discrimination in
regard 10 the rights OIL properly, between on. sec.
non oil The United States and another. And 70,
they were told, without particle OF proof 10 Is.
iaolisn II that Congress has the absolute control
over the territories.
Where was the power TO be found, he asked
by which This absolute control is conierred2 TIM
clause OF The constitution 10 which The ssna'a.
from New York (Mr. Dix) had referred eIyo.
10 Congress the power 10 make all needtuI rules
and regulations respecting the territory and olhs.
properly Of The United States" referred solely !,
the Public Lands, and in il is moi 10 be ,onnJ =.
sembIance o! Governmental powers in refersncs
10 The people Of the territories.
Was II 10 be supposed that ii the trainers !,
the constitution intended 10 give sovernner,,
powers 10 Congress, they would have made Az
other provision BY which legislation was si?s,
10 the people Of the ,erritories2
In reference TO the District of COLUMBIA l.
said though Maryland had ccded certain pow...
to the Government Of the Unitei States. WIN
the District, the sovereignty still CONTINUES i
Maryland, and it was under this view thai Al.x
0ndria had been retroceded 10 Virginia.
lnregard 10 the ordinance OF 1857, he nro
cee.ed TO show that it was enacted under difs,
ent circumstances, and without any ip,en,;o,
TO establish il rs precedent for future govern.
ments on this subject. II was compromise II
terminate long continued controversy between
two States, in reference to the delivering IN ii
fugitive slayes-a compromise which the South
has ever since faithfully obsersed; but sc, nj.
very faithiulness On this point is now quoted
against them. And lie referred TO organize
associations in different States, for en.icu,
slaves TO run away from their owncrs a. one q
the results of that compromise.
He next alluded 10 the struggle, from tho ad
hitting Missouri into the Union, and the adon
ton of what is termed the Missouri Comnro.
Misc anSs.,~"t ..h.-:., IL e,;d boJ -.
received The sanction of the South, though sney
had strictly observed all it, requirements
He quoted letter OF Mr.. Jefferson TO ,te
late Hon John Holmes of Maize, in which he
disapproves Of TIL Missouri Compromise, as IN
fortunate for the peace and happiness Of The
country, and calculated 10 lead u most uuhap.
Ply local divisions and discussions. And ye, 10
had been here qulted IS the originator Of L.
ordinance of l1s7.
From whal ne had shown, he commended theo.
| dinance OF 1857 ant the Missouri Comp!onx
| boz tel 10 the ground, an! ware Of no eiiec
| In regard 10 The acquisition Of territory, he
| admitted that the Unied States mad the reh! 10
acquire; but whatever The origin OF the power, he
inss ed that i. did not exist AS an absolute power,
| bit subject 20 limitations, which he pointed out
Congress are the mere representatives 10 dispose
| Of those territories Tor Inc objects contemplated
| Thev are mere trustees for the bench. Of tie
| United States, without The authority or tight Il
maze discrimination, in reference 10 thai irur
between the citizens Of the saveho!ting and Nor.
slaveholdins States.
Neither have the territories thai power. A.
| the arguments which he had used in reference ID
The powers of Congress, he commended, apple.
with equal force 10 The territories. Neither Cor.
oress nor the territories have The power 10 eYclut
slavery
Nor is there any power in the laws existing
the territories, when so acquired, to exclude
No power, in any form or shape, exists, y
which il can be excluded.
| The Slayeholding States, he said, are comnN
partners with the rest, having contributed the,
share in money and in lives to this acquisition,
and could not 10 excluded from an equal part.
cipation in the benefits.
They have been full contributors, under
every aspect of the case, and who could stand
up, aud in transaction, under similar crcan.
stances, in private life, say that they were no.
entitled 10 be full participants Nothing bu,
deep, abiding prejudice, could insist on the con.
| trary.
If the non slaveholding States were disposed
to do right, let them vote for the amendment Of
his friend, (Mr. Jefferson Davis) And TO the
Slaveholdng States he would say, if they were
prepared to concede this right, they had greatly
degenerated.
This is a time, he said, when the country
feels that great movements are in agitation,
which may burst asunder the ties of the uniol
and that this is the time for a settlement. In
the language of MIR. Jefferson, he was n favor
of leaving the question TO the Constitution.
And if left 10 the Constitution it would be
settled very nearly by the line Of So 30-,ie
existence of slavery would vary very little from
that line. II was nearly impossible tha,
should be otherwise. And he trusted the TIN.
would never come when there should be white
man at the South TO perform manual labor.
He then proceeded, in an ingenious argument,
to prove that all men arc not born "free and
equaln-that there is not one word of truth in
that declaration "All men are born il is de.
clared; but men are not 6orn-infants are born.
Nor are infants born "free and equal" They
are not free until they arrive at certain age.
Nor are oil men created 'equal"-for only two
were ereated-one man and one woman. Al.
men, in state of nature, may be said TO be
| equal, but even here he showed that the term
| is misnomer.
The only state in which man can exist as .
race, and develop his great moral AMI physical
energies, is the political state. The first cannot
be considered a natural state, because rcpusnast
to our feelings, and yet the only state in which
we can exist The second is the only one tina!
is termed artificial That which is necessary 10
the preservation of the human race, is much
higher state than tha. which is only necessary! 70
preserve the individual.
Instead Of one uniform rule that all nel
shall enjoy an equal amount Of liberty, the d..
tribution of liberty among individuals is ID.
most unequal thing in the world. And this doc
trinc, that "all men are born free and equal,
as understood, is powerful TO the pulling dow
Of liberty, and if not restrained will prodrc'
anarchy, not only throughout Europe, BIT
throughout the civilized world.
Mr.. Berrien followed. lie said that hayns
moved TO strike out the twelfth section, il might
be expected that he should state the reasons
| which mad influenced him. But the speech Of
the Senator from South Carolina afforded suit
Gent food for one days reflection, and be
would, therefore, postpone his remarks until To-
morrow.
The further consideration Of the bill vas then
postponed until l2o'clock Tomorrow.
The Annual Pos, Office APPROPRIATED BIZ!
from The House, was taken up, and Mr.. A!Ieior,
Chairman OF the Commit &c on Finance, mO7ei
49, .,,nlg
from Charleston 10 Havana, SO as 10 require TIE
steamers 50 carrying i. 10 touch al Key Wcst-
The amendment was adopted; and also anore'
by Mr.. Berrien, requiring them 10 touch at "a
vannah.
Mr.. Butler proposed further TO amend, by ~
serting in the bill the resolution which passed zoe
Senate several days since, authorizing ard feqi'
ring the Postmaster General TO renew he conlfat'
for carrying the Southern Mail, with the Potomac
Fredericksburg, and Richmond Sieat,uDt az.
Railroad Companies. The yeas and nays se'
ordered on ne 2p,pnd meat and resulted ayes 10