Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-07-05
MR.. CALHOUN'S SPEECH IN THE
SENATE


Alter few remarks from Mr.. Berrien,
explanatory Of his view in renewing the
motion to strike out the 18th section,
Mr.. Calhoun addressed The Senate.
The South desired The enactment Of no
laws TO give them any peculiar advan,a
ries. They simply desire that the terrific
ges shall be left open to all, while they
remain territories, and When they come
into The Union that they shall bc left to
make their own laws, with no farther res
,rictions imposed upon them than arc pro-
vided by The Constitution.
On The great question whether the non
slaveholdins States have The power 10
prohibit slavery in the territories, he should
claim for The South nothing TO which they
were not clearly entitled. and yield M
right guaranteed 10 them by The constilu.
ton.
lie Stood here unconnected with party
considerations, and should examine the
question solely with view TO what he
considered the true interests Of the coun-
try.
He contended that The constitution never
inlended that there should be any discriii.
nation, in regard to the rights Of property,
between one section of the UniIed Saies
and another. And yet they were told,
without particle Of proof to establish it.
that Congress has The absolute control over
the territories.
Where was the power TO be found, he
asked, by which this absolute control is
conferred The clause oflhe constitution
10 which the Senator from New York
(Mr. DIX had referred, giving TO Congress
The power to make all the needlul rules
and regulations respecting the territory
and other property Of the United S,aes,'
referred solely to the public lands. and in
it is uot to be found the semblance Of
governmental! powers in reference 10 the
people Of The territories.
Was it to be supposed that if the fra
mers Of tho Constitution intended to give
governmental powers 10 Congress, they
would have made another provision
by which legislation was given 10 the
people oflhe territories
In reference to the District Of Columbia,
he said that though Maryland had ccdcd
certain powers 10 the government of the
United States, within the District, The
sovereignty still continues TO Maryland,
and il was underlhs view that Alexandria
had been retrcceded TO Virginia.
In regard 10 The Ordinance of 1857. he
proceeded to show thai it was enacted
under different circumstances, and with.
out any intention TO establish it as pre-
cedent Tor future government on this subs
jeci.a, i, was compromise, 10 terminate
lOug continued controversy between
Two States, il reference 10 the delivering
up Of fugitive slaves-a compromise which
the Soulbt have ever since faithfully OBJ
scrved.;, bul .ye! Ibis very failhfuluess on
> this point is now quoted against them.
And he,referred to organized associations
indifferent States, for enticing slaves 20
RUNAWAY from stieir owners, ass one ;of
sthelTesultaef atneotn promise. sssss:s
He aex alluded 10:
tic adntrtng MIssouri.in into the Union, and
The adoption of what is termed the Missou-
ri compronise-ai arrangement which he
said had never received the sanction of
the South, though they had strictly OBJ
served all jts' requirements.
He quoted letter Of Mr.. Jefferson to
the late Hon. John Holmes of Maine, in
which he disapproves of the. Missouri
compromise, as unfortunate for the peace
and happiness Of the country, and cacu-
lated 10 lead to most unhappy local dis
cussions. And yet he had been here
quoted as lhe originator Of the Ordinance
ofl767.
From what he had shown, he contended
the Ordidance Of 1857 and the Missouri
Compromise. both fell 10 the ground. and
were Of no effect.
In res sard 10 tho acquisition Of Ierritory,
lie admitted that the United Slaies had
the righ, 10 acquire; but whatever The
origin Of the power, he insisted that it did
not exist as an absolute power. bu: subject
10 limitations. which he pointed out.
Congress are the mere representatives to
dispose of those territories for the objects
contemplated. They are mere trustees
for the benefit Of the United States, with.
out the authority or right to mako dis
elimination, in reference 10 that trust,
hetwcen the citizens of The slave holding
States. 2'.''
Neither have the. territories that power.
All the arguments which he had uscG in
reference to the powers Of Congress, he
coulcnded, applied with equal force TO the
territories. Neither Congress nor The
territories have the power to exclude
slavery.
Nor is here any power in The laws ex.
isling in the territories, when SO acquired,
exclude it, No power, in any form or
shape, exists, by which it can be excluded.
The slayehpIding States, he said, are
common partners with the rest, having
contributed their.share in money and lives
TO It's acquisition, and could rot DO exclu-
del frum an equal participation in the
benefits. They have been full con,ribu-
tors, under. every aspect Of The case, and
who could stand up, and in a transaction,
under similar circumstances, in private
life, say that they were not entitled 10 be
full parlicidants Nothing bu, deep abb
ding prejudice could insist on the contrary.
Ii The Notwithstanding States were dis,
noseJ 10 do ripht, let them vote for the