Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-20


Of the right TO acquire territory"
The principle was laid down By all our elementary writers
Story Rawle and others-that the power govern did
rest either the people who nhabt the territories in the
several States in their separate Capacities, in the people Of
the States for, If this the case, would no, be execed
all but that il necessary incident 10 the right TO
acquire.
lie now came his third proposon-,ha, until Congress
passes laws acquired territory, the old municipal
laws Of the former Governments remain in force subject only
conditions annexed 10 the ccson and the limitations Of
the constitution and every person settling there 10 subject 10
the old laws He made this point in reference TO New Mcx
and California They settled countries, subject 10
civil laws asserted that the Government Of Mexico
having right those territories, had prohibited slavery
in Ntw Mexico and California Bot whether this
not, Be discussing the principe whether free Territory
could be made Territory except by the positive author
" Of Congress. He supposed however, that slavery bad
been abolished by the Government Of Mexico in these terrific
es Now there laws made by Congress be asked
The people Of these acquired territories 70 be govern
ed until Congress did make laws for them Wee they not,
from the necessity Of the TO be governed by the laws which
existed there before they acquired by us What
the presidents What the laws IN Florida and Louisiana
until Congress prescribed laws for them Why the odlaws
which prevailed before their cesson
And this principle recognised by all writers public
law i would be found laid down in Blackstone He begged
refer the committee boaever the opinion Of Lord Mans
field, tie case Campbell ". Hall CoOpers Report vol.
p. 20 from which he would read the following extract
Agreat deal as been said and many authorities cited
I
agreed and which indeed clear 20 be controyed
w,ll site the propositions II large, and the hrs IS this:
"a Ounty conquered by the British arms becomes do
minion Of the King the right Of his crown and therefore,
necessity subject the egsturethe Parliament q Great
Britain
ell. second Is that the conquered inhabitants,
ceyed der the Kings protection, become subjects and
10 be Universally considered In that light not as enemies or
aliens
"Ih third that the articles Of capitulaon upon which the
country surrendered and the articles Of peace by which
Is ceded sacred aud hvolable according TO er true in
/ tent and meanings
"1he fourth that Che Law and Legislative government OF
every dmnon equally affects all persons and All property
within lie limits thereof and is the rule OF decision for AL
question which there. Whoever purchases lives,
dies thee puts himself under Law Of the place An Eng.
shmsn Ireland Minorc, the Isle Of Man, the Plans
tons ha privilege distinc' from the natives.
"lbehhh, that The laws Of conquered country continue
| 10 force 'nti they altered BY the ccnqueror."
ACCORDING these propositions the Territories Of California
and NewMexco will be free territories i slavery does not now
exist and slavery could not be introduced there except
by the &C Of the sovereign power exercised over the territories
which eass in the Congress Of the United STATES Slavery