The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-01

| Mr. then proceeded to read an extract from Black
stones Commentaries vol l. p l24 e se9t1fyr where
the learned commentator mas cassned the absolute Khs
| of men follows:
The right of personal security.
| @ The right Of personal liberty.
8 The right 81 private property.
Mr. F. conGnued to read at length from Judge Black
stones dissertation upon the nature of these absolute
rights. and the history of their requirement;
The absolute right to private property being classed
with the right to lfe and rights inaenabe, all laws
and constitutions framed with the view to protect
those rights. Was not strange, them that the doctrine
should be avowed that has the power to destroy
one of these absolute rights
He contended that these rights equally and alike
the rights of all who live under the constitution OF the
United States whether residing In the States or Terri
tories Where, then, the coor OF authority by which
gentlemen would prove that Congress has power to abol-
ish absolute private rght' He showed that Congress
could only exercise delegated power. The same power
by which Congress might destroy the right to property in
slaves might also abolish the right OF man to his horse
his might create religious test as aquallfcaon
for office or create title to nobility or suspend the
right of habeas corpus forbid the right OF trial BY
Jury The exercise of such authority would be sub
version of all free government.
He contended that this right sacredly protected in
the constitution All the powers OF Congress were dele
gated and defined in the constitution and ne challenged
the production of the clause by which the power to IN
fringe any of these rights has been delegated to the Con-
gress of the United States
He examined the power OF Congress to egislae for
Territories in the light OF the objects for which Territory
is acquired Congress organizes government to protect
private ri hts, and not to destroy them The power
that abolish property in slaves, might destroy any
other private right protected by the constitution Of the
United States The fourth clause Of the third article
gave no such right. The territory the common
property of all the States, and citizens of all the States
have the right to the territory and be protect
ed there in all their private rights.
Whenever the people of Territory acquire position
which enables them under law to come into the Union,
then they acquire sovereignty In the Interim Congress
has the right to govern them guardian. by way of
protecting them The doctrine that the people of Ter
ri,ory have right to govern themselves, independently
of Congress, doctrine that savored of revolution
but this doctrine could not affect any question of
right to private property
He would not stop to with such as denied the
existence of property in slaves The history Of the
slaveholdng States themselves answered all the argu-
ments that such men could set up.
He invoked the opposers of slavery to pursue such
course would show their pretensions to be sincere
Slavery evil of which they now clear; and
if they would assist to be rid of it, let them take
course which only aggravate the evil. There were
many shareholders who would be glad to be rid of such
property for fourth part of its value Then let these
northern phanthropiss show their faith by their works
forward and make the sacrifice with u.s. and liber-
ate the slaves according to law.
When he had concluded, Mr.. j. R. INGERSOLL took
the floor, the committee rose,
And the House adjourned.