The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-06

SATURDAY, JUNE ,. 1s4s.
HOUSE OF REPREs INITIATIVES.
c journal having been read


FALLEN IN MEXICO
Mr.. MOREHEAD, by unanimous consent, presented
memorial of officers on service IN Mexico praying tina
may be adopted for the proper nterment of to-
remains OF those who have fallen IN Mexico referred
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. CUMMINS moved that the House proceed to tn,
consideration OF his motion 10 reconsider the vote b.
which the bill in relation 10 the rights oil naturalzed ct
zens introduced by him on Thursday last, referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The SPEAKER ruled that the motion to take from tn,
table motion to reconsider, which had been laid upou
the table, not privileged question: overriding al
other business, and could not be received except b,
unanimous consent
Objection being made, the motion was not received
NAVAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES POWER To
LEGIsLArE FOR TERRITORIES.
The House resumed the consideration of the bill for
the relief Of Peter Shaer reported yesterday from the
Committee OF the Whole. The question being upon the
Mr DANIELS opposed the bill but had not concluded
when, IN compliance with appeal from MIR VNroN,
he gave way Tor motion that the House resolve itself
into COMMITTEES Of the Whole the state OF the Union
for the purpose OF considering the appropriation bills
Mr. J. A. ROCKWELL expressed the hope that the
House would proceed the order OF the dayhe consid
The question was then taken upon the motion BY Mr.
vINroN; which decided in the affirmative by yeas o.
nays so.
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS
The House accordingly resolved itself Committee
of the Whole the state of the Union, (Mr A. Rock
in the chair and resumed the consideration of the
naval MA 1 BRRoBHE%b bel being entitled to the or said
bill before the committee is one making appropriations
for The naval service the subject being discussed is sa
very and Inc power and duty OF Congress in relation
The speech OF the honorable gentleman from South
Carolina Mr. RHErrl satisfied me that there few
gentlemen OF extreme opinions in the south well as the
north. Until within the last few months, the doctrine of
interference upon the part of the general government
upon the subject OF slavery vehenenty enforced by
southern statesmen and southern representatives upon
this floor The right of the people petition Congress
IN relation thereto denied During the discussions
OF the last session. the whole south seemed to be satisfied
with the position of neutrality the Missouri compro-
mise Now, for the first time this House, the honor
able gentleman contends that the legislative power of the
general government should be exered TO protect slavery
Those who advocate what is very improperly called
the Wimot proviso in the northern States assert that
Congress has the right under that clause OF the const
tuition which says Congress shall have power dispose
OF and make all needful rules and regulations respecting
the TERRITORY and other PROPERTY belonging 10 the
Emitted StatesD exclude slavery in the Territories
and few gentlemen in the south admit the power,
and contend for the poprey of its exercise but for very
different purpose-viz: 10 protect slavery Now these
southern gentlemen assume Just the position the abol
honsts OF the north, and their allies, desire them take
They want pretex to agtate the slavery question in
Congress And beg leave to say. Furthermore, that
they take from the northern democrats who are doing all
they can to protect the constitutional rights of their
southern brethren, the only ground upon which they
stand with safety, either to themselves or the south
rejoice, however that the vote in the Baltimore conven-
ton repudiated these both Sides and
satisfied the whole country that nearly the entire SOUTH
well as north, are prepared to adopt proper platform
Here Is the resolution which the convention very wisely
adopted on the subject 1t is in accordance with the sen
hmens heretofore entertained by the entire democratic
party:
to interfere with orcontro the domestic institutions Of the
several Saes and that such States the sole proper
BY hs G a'
tionss Others made induce Congress interfere
ieto are calculated to lead to the most alarming and dan
consequences and that all such efforts have in
evitable tendency diminish the happiness of the people,
and endanger the stability and pernanency of the Union
and ought not TO DO counenanced by any friend of
All efforts TO induce Congress to interfere with ques
tons OF slavery" are expressly condemned in this resou
ton;
The honorable gentleman from Virginia, (Mr BAYLY,
few days ago. in very able and elaborate speech,
commended that the clause the constitution before
quoted, only conferred jurisdiction Congress in re-
spect to territory" Qand) and "prope1y,' and not
power to regulate the domestic Institutions of the people
Political power, he said, not within the grant and
confess that it seems strange to me- that if the trainers OF
the constitution intended to confer important power
they did not make an express grant OF it, in the Dis
frict Of Columbia.
But it was not my purpose in taking the floor to dis.
cuss the question Of power. or the extent Of the power
conferred BY the clause of the constitution question:
but to sustain the position laid down in the resolution
before mentioned, the ground of expedency Admit
ting the power, affirm that it would be unwise to
else it.
The proposition which it my main purpose to state
and enforce, is this that the question of slavery no be-
ing original one) and the hits OF the negroes whether
slave free, the States the Territories ought to
be left TO the good sense the conscience the patriotism
and philanthropy of those in whose midst it exists or
they reside. In other words, that, inasmuch
not admit the blacks to terms of political social equal
y, and all the Sdtes have jurisdiction regard to them
the compromises OF the constitution, well as sound
policy, enjoin neutrality upon the part of Congress The
question Of slavery and the rights Of the Shareholders
settled in three articles OF the constitution We add
to take from those rights Heretofore the great complain,
upon the part of the south was that the northern repre-
sentatives attempting to invade their constitutional
rights by congressional action The whole subject, in
my opinion should be left to the State and Territorial
conventions and legislatures Soil and climate have more
to do with the extension of slavery than legislative en-
actments The people OF the Territories have repre-
sentatives in Congress who vote; and the great
eed by laws in the making of which they did not part
sentative not responsible to the people for the laws he
may make for their government The theory OF our gov
eminent is, tina! the people capable of govern
ment.
will also attempt TO show that the northern as well as
the southern Statesparcuarly the northern-should at
any rate be with the Missouri compromise (what-
ever may be thought of the power to adopt originality
which, if adhered to in good faith peace measure as
II and would tend to and produce the result
as the doctrine Of neutrality The Missouri compromise
act prohibits slavery north of 36 degrees ~ minutes and
leaves the people free to adopt or reject as they may
think proper south of that line
In sustaining the positions have assumed, do not in
tend to speak as sectional man, but American citi
zen, for am of those who believe that what is good
Tor the United States, good for and those have the
honor to represent The rights and interests of the differ
ent sections OF the Union mutual profess to belong
10 inc democratic party great national party of prnci