Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-06
. CONGRESSIONAL.
IN SENATE-ApRIL ii, 1913.

lutons, submitted BY Mr. BAcpr on the a5th and 9Th .
January last, viz
l. Resolved That Congress has no constitutional mower e
abolish on to prohibit slavery in any Stats Territory th
3 ResOved That conquest is Legitimate mode of acqur
ing territory and recognised By the laws and the universe
s. Reso,ed That if territory is hereafter acquired by III,
United States either by treaty conquest shall
slavery from such territory, eer by treaty stipulation or BY
act OF Congress; but such territory shall be equally free and
open 10 the citizens fall The United States without any im-
taon prohibitions restriction in regard to slaves or any
! other description Of property whatsoever.
Resolted, That neither the People the Legislature
Territory have any constitutional power exclude slavery
from such Territory and that the people legislature OF
Territory possess other political power than such as
delegated TO them By Congress in the act authorizing em 10
form Territorial Government; and, nasnuch Congress
has exclude prohibit slavery any Territory
othe United States they cannot delegate such power the
Legislature OF a Territory or the People thereof
Mr. BAGBY addressed the Senate as follows Mr. Presi-
dent These resolutions introduced ON the 25h and h
OF January, which time there before the Senate
tons of pressing practical Importance connected with the
vigorous and efficient prosecution Of the with Mexico,
claiming the paramount, il the exclusive consdea.
lion Of the Senate They called up repeatedly in the
progress of the business Of the Senate and each time they
called stated distinctly, what now repeat that
satisfied was upon the fullest, matures and debe-
rate consideration, Of the justice OF that on our part
would not far depended my action, permit any other
measure, matter what considerations ii might involve
interfere with the adoption promptly and of the
necessary for the efficient and vigorous prosecution
the did believe then, nor do believe now in
windy fsan speeches. Action, and words and noisy
decamaton is the appropriate business of engaged
matters OF great not only to this country but other
countries not only the present generation, but to aerne
These resolutions embrace four distinct propositions upon
the correct solution of ome all Of which, in my iudg
ment the perpeuiy of institutions depends The first
contains distinct, substantive, and unqualified limitation
upon the constitutional power of Congress abolish pro-
hibt slavery any State Territory Of this Union This
and aft
the most mature reflection all the consequences prox
mate either present prospective
far the action Of Congress concerned II the
ness OF this position Is well sustained and deep laid in the
constitution, (of which have the shadow Of Doubt
then the ruth and the correctness OF ought be adopted
and proclaimed The people OF the country ought be in
formed whether, in the opinion Of Congress, their rights de-
pend and stand upon the adaanne principles and guarantees
Of the constitution, whether they float in the visionary ina
gnalons OF mconstruck philosophers pretended phan-
hropists cannot be led now, cannot be tempted into dis
cnson upon the abstract question Of slavery Whatever tits,
those who hold under the provisions OF the constitution,
found it either for good for evil either blessing or
curse in the pathway Of their destiny and there it will stand
until the constitution is changed until it Undetermined
by that nsidious torrent which is and lahing
against 1t. have but little fear of either The second
luton shoud not have introduced but for the daily nsnua
tons here, that the acquisition Of territory in lawful
was, in the expressive and refined language OF the day. land
stealing Whenever the truth and Of the propo-
sition contained in the second resolution seriously
verted, stand prepared sustain it fully and whole
extent by law, precedent practice, and principle recog
nsed by every civilized nation from the earliest periods
thentc history down to the present time will anticipate
objections which do not think will be seriously urged and
which know cannot be sustained, either by autho
ry The third resolution contains clear and express lmi-
taon upon the powers of twp branches Of the Government of
the United States wit the treaty making power and Con-
gfess and declares that neither OF these Branches territory
70 be acquired BY the United States, shall have power
cude slavery property from such territory, but that such
territory shall be equally free and to The citizens of each
and all the citizens of the United States, whou, any la
'n, prohibition, or restriction, IN regard 10 slaves
other description OF property whatever The first branch Of
this proposition resans the General Government from the
exercise Of any interference with the rights Of property the
possession under the constitution, Of portion Of the peo
pie Of the United States and the second branch contains but
reasssron an reaance OF thai great fundamental principle
that hes at the bottom Of our institutions that whatever
quired by blood by treasure hy both,
shall be the property a the people ohe L. States
and equally free to the use, occupations and enjoyment Of all
This proposition upon the constitution; it is sustained
by very consideration Of equity truth, and justice and orti
fled by the eternal principles Of and Of right And,
had occasion say former occasion, do not beeve
there is in America, with mind unswayed by local
considerations unbiased and uninuenced by sectional
considerations who believes that property acquired by COM
mon blood and common treasure should the equal
benefit of all the people Of all the States Of this great and
growing nation. What is the constitution Of the United
states There is difference Of opinion upon this point
is universally admitted by American statesmen be
pact between sovereign States In political power the parties
perfect ulierence, IN thiS re-
spect between Delaware and New York. Rhode Island and
Pennsylvania II, then the constitution be compact be-
tween parties whose rights and powers under precisely
the snme let inquire INTO the and considerations that
induced the parties Gto that compact II was in the
language Of The preamble the constitutions form more
perfect union, establish justice, domestic tranquility
provide for the Defence promote the general welfare
and the blessings Of liberty to themselves and our pos
ery. These the objects for which the States volun
ary dsrobed themselves Of portion Of their sovereignty
and offered il up wiling sacrifice upon the altar Of COM
country They objects the permanent security Of
which constituted fair and adequate equivalent for the solemn
surrender Of portion that sovereignty obtain and eab
sh which the aspirations Of the puest patriots had been ele
vated and the best blood Of the Revolution was spto OBJ
tain which the eoqunce Of Henry had hundcred and War
had died The great question for the consideration Of the
Senate Is, how these objects be best promoted secured
perpetuated To my mind, this is question Of easy sou
on II is by carrying out the provisions Of the constitution
according 10 their Obvious meaning and import keeping in
view the rule equally applicable in the proper construction Of
all nsirumentshe intention Of the parties and the objects
they ipended to and provide for the time they
tered into ~ guarding with equal vigilance and caution
against implication and unauthorized construction the
hand and oihcous Interpolation the other in word by
taking the constitution il IL and its immortal famcys in
tended II to be-
do not propose, Mr. President 10 inquire into the power
OF the Goeernment to acquire territory. hold that TO be
Point settled beyond the power Of controversy disturb it.
It's power necessarily, properly, and ineparahy incident
to the war power and the treaymakng power shall
ten myself r the present, with nquing what the rights
OF each and all the citizens Of oil the States Of the Union in
regard to the territory acquired either by treaty by con-
guest And assert and maintain, in the language OF the