The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-02

was entrusted; or to express II IN more usu.
al language, for which it was delegated. 10
do either would be to pervert the power to
purposes never intended, and would be
violation of the Constitution, and that in the
most dangerous way it could be made, be-
cause more easily done and less easily de-
tected. But there is another and important
class of restrictions which more directly re-
late to the subject under discussion; refer
to those imposed on the trustees by the ma
,ure and character Of the party, who consti.
tued the trustees and mvestedthem with the
trust powers to be exercised for its benefit.
In this case it is the United States, that is,
the several States of the Union. 1t was
they who constituted the Government as
their representative or trustee, and entrusted
it with powers to be exercised for their com
mon and joint benefit. To them IN their
united character the territories belong, as is
expressly declared by The Consthutlon.-
They are their Joint and common owners.
regarded as property or land; and in them
scverally, reside The dominion and sovereign
~ over them. They are as much the terri.
tories of one State as anothcr-of Virginia
as of New York; of The Southern as the
Nnrlhern States. They are the territories
Of ALL because they are the territories OF
each; and not of each, because they arc The
territories of the whole. Add TO this the
perfect equality Of dignity, as well as rights,
whicl, apperlain to them as members OF
common federal Union, which al! writers on
the subject admit to be fundamental and
essential relation between STATES so united.
and it must be manifest that Congress in 60.
verning the territories, ran give no prefer
ence or advantage to one State over annttl.
or, or to one portion or section oi the Union
over another, without depriving the State or
section over which the preference IS gwen,
or from which the advantage is withheld, Of
,heircIear and unqucstionable right, and sub
verting the very foundation on which The
Union and Government est. il has no more
power to do so than to subvert the ConstItu.
ton itself Indeed the act itself would be
subversion. Ii would destroy the relation
of equality on the part ofthe Southern States
and sink them 10 mere dependants oil The
Northern, t. the total destruction of the TED.
eral Union.
Now, pu, the question solcmnly 10 the
Senators from the North: Can you rightly
and Justly exclude The South from territories
of The United States, and monnpozc them
for yourselves, even, if in your o,.inlon, you
should have the power? 1t is this question
| wish To press OH your attention, with all
due soIcmnity and decorum. The North
and the South stand in the relation of Plrt-
ncrs IN common Union, with equal dlgnl.
IS and equal rights. We of the South have
contributed our full share of funds, and shed
our full share of blood for the acquisition oi
our territories. Can you. then, on any prIn
ciplc of equity and Justice deprive us "t our
full share in their benefit and advantage!-
Are you ready to affirm that majority OF
tho partners in jplnt concern have the right
to mon0poIize its b nch's 10 The exclusion OF
the minority, even in cases where they have
contributed their full share to the conccrnl
But to present the case more strongly anu
vvidIy, | snail descend from generals TO par
,iculars, and shall begin with the Oregon
Territory. Our title to it is founded first,
all in my opinion mainly, on our purchase
of Lrnsiana; that was strengthened by The
Florida treaty, which transferred 10 us the
title also of Spain; aud both by the dIscov.
ery of the m ,ulh of the Columbia river by
Capt. Gray, and The exploration OF the en-.
tire stream, from its source down TO It's mouth
by Lewis and Clark. The purchase OF Lou
isiana cost fifteen millions of dollars; and we
pad Spain five millions for the Florida
treaty; making twenty in all. Tins large
sum was advanced out of the common funds
of the Union, the South, to say the least,
contributing her full share. The discovery
was ma lie. it is true. by citizen OF Massa-
chuse,ts; b I he S lied under the flag and
projection Of the Union, and of course what
ever title was derived from his discovery,
accrued To- the benefit of the Union. The
exploration of Lewis and Clark was at the
expense of the Union. We are now about
to tnrm it into territory; tho expense ol gov
ernlng which, while II remains so, must be
met out of the common fund, and towards
which the South must contribute her full
share. The expense will not be small. Al
ready there is an Indian war 10 be put down,
and a regiment for that purpose, and to pro.
tect the territory, has been ordered there.
To what extent The expense may extent we
know not, but will not, improbabIy, involve
millions before the territory become State.
now ask. is it right, is it just; alter having
contributed our full share for the acquisition
of The territory, with the liability ofconlrb-
uting, in addition our full share OF the ex-
pcnse for its government, that we should
be shut out of the territory, and to be exclu-
ded from participating in lis benehls' What
would be thought of such conduct in the
case of indivuas! And can that be right
and inst in Government, which every right