The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-02
IN CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES
FRIDAY, JUNE 30, ls4s.


motions 10 PRINT and 20 Iee! 10 tns Nomm1tee y. -. -.
Mr. ROCKWELL of Connecticut made an Intellectual
motion to 60 into Committee of the Whole on the private
calendar
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS.
On motion Of Mr. VINTON, the House then resolved
itself into Committee OF the Whole on the state OF the
Union (r Roor in the chair) and resumed the consd,
san q the bill X for yss
uls I istS resumed he noor and spoke
al hsa on as :ss s ss%
for raising the grade OF our representatives at foreign
Mr.. THOMPSON Of Kentucky addressed the COM
mittee upon general political topics-paying special
1ention 10 the causes Of the Mexican war.
Mr. BOCOCK had been trying for some days to get the
Hs gsntlemsn On the other side being unwilling ad
journ the presidential discussions 70 the stump, had
brought them up here in place Of the business OF the
cussions were begun. The gentleman from Pennsylva-
mia mr. HrxwAaTl had charged the democratic candidate
with having already bartersd away more Offices than
had charged tie same candidaas with hOlng two opin
ions on the subject of the tariff These things were
news to democrats. and true, ought to be demonstrated
He demanded either their subsanaion or their aban-
Much had been said with reference TO the immuta-
bilty Of wing principles. Mr. B. inquired, were they
avowal principles have been abandoned by their cand
dates! Mr. Clay did not withhold his hand from writing
letters his tongue from the ayowal OF principles
But immense whig conventions could now meet and ad
journ without making any declaration of principles
Nevertheless there diverse representations OF the
principles Of the wing candidates and it that party
Of principles in part of the country, and
other set Of principles in another part, he would beg
leave TO remind them Of the sad consequences OF success
Gentlemen have told us that Gen. Taylor, if elected,
would not veto bank, a tariff, &c. II this be true,
and we suppose the existence OF wing Congress in the
gress in the latter part we might have the legislative
anomaly of the approval by the President of the
United States OF ar st adapted to the tastes q one
OF his party to meet their opponents on this question be-
fore the people.
construct argument was the power of Congress to
legslate for the Territories. But before proceeding to
this matter, he adverted to the fact that it had been
plainly indicated already during the SESSION. and
principle to be put down by northern and southern
democrats.
not hold slaves, yet this question likely to become
an offence and stumbling block in the history OF this
that slavery is recognised by the book whose preceps
are eternal He did this without feeling called upon to
defend the morality Of slavery Slavery amongst US;
shs Bs With regard to e
The people of the south determined 10 claim and
srjoy the right in common with their ellow-citizens
XoneE6ly, remove
and enjoy it there securely as here.
organized lie rght Of property was inherent natural
Property in slaves had existed commensu
rate with the right property Of any descriptions and
was recognised by the Creator and Governor of ALL Mr.
B. took the case Of New Mexico, and said that
sT sss @ as s the
limitations Of the constitution There could Pc no i'm
piled law Of any Territory OF the united States which
Therefore the laws OF New Mexico contrary to the
consitution-such the law establishing the Catholic
religion and that for the emancipation OF saves-woud
have to fall.
Looking, then, at the fact that property is natural
right, and that government may not destroy any natural
right, when we shall get into this territory with , our
them under natural right unless some competent au
thority shall deny this right which authority can ex
is nowhere except in the Congress OF the United States
When territory is acquired by this government. the
sovereignty resides in the States. Governments them
selves have not scyerelgny IN our republican accepm
and Congress s the agent OF the people, with
limited powers. They exercise only such power as is
delegated TO them IN the terms OF the constitution Inc
Constitution. Hence ali territory acquired BY the people
belongs to the people under the reguiatons ana res.c
neshp bind the parties to them, and regulate their con-
duct and control over the interests which they &C
cure BY virtue of such articles OF agreement The
territories of the United States being then the hands OF
Congress- under the constitution Congress cannot abolish
slavery in the territories unless can be shown that this
authority be delegated in the constitution:
He considered that the literal meaning OF the I'd clause Sd
section of the 4th article of the constitution contemplated
only the right to dispose Of the territory But then there
were incidental powers conferred in this clauses and was
manifest that land could not be sold where there
for the protection of settlers. We have the
incidental right make such needful rules and reguia
tons shall be necessary to the purpose OF dlsposng
should be abolished for this purpose!
Mr.. PETIT asked whether Congress might not ere.
ate slavery in the terTitoriesi
MIR. BOCOCK. Clearly not: and he recapitulated his
argument to make the answer clear. II Congress had
the power to say what shall be property and what shall
despoiism contrary to the spirit of the constitution, the
rights of the citizens. and the justice of the case
Speaking Of the ordinance of 1887, he said, 1t esab
fishes than compact between the settlers OF
that territory and the people of the United Statesbe
tween the slaveholdng and the -savehoding States
which gave rise to the law Tor delivering up fugitive
slaves to their owners.
With respect to the Missouri compromise, he affirmed
that it was adopted after the south had leag baed against
the proposition that Missouri should not Be slave State
and when the compromise act was passed. southern men
were divided upon but they all had acquiesced Pac
consistency upon this subject There seemed to be
little especial venom against this old State He repelled
the charge OF inconsistency and asserted that Virginia
had planted herself on the constitution from the first,
where she still remained
Mr. B was arrested at this point of his argument by
the expiration of the hour.
Mr. MANN of Massachusetts, next obtained the floor,
area of slavery in the United States, and its incompatible
ity with the interests either Of property, or OF education
and morality; and hence the injustice of extending the
over any part Of the newly Acquired territory