The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-05


pass an act for the purpose of getting before the
Supreme Court that that may instruct the Senate OF
the United States as To constitutional duty in the matter
Dir, II we know certainly what that law will be, need
there be any hestancy how shall upon this bill
Can any suppose that the senator from Georgia,
The senator from South Carolina they believed that the
litigation which proposed by this bill 10 be brought
into the judicial tribunals OF the country would result
contrary TO their determination OF what the law should
be- that they would be in favor of such bill this
Does any one believe that II the senator frem Vermont
could anticipate that the Supreme Court of the United
States might decide that Congress, being silent upon the
subject had allowed slavery pass its pleasure
these newly acquired Territories, and to become part
the municipal institutions of those Territories and
to decide, also, that if Congress had enacted pro-
hibtory law, il could net have gone there he would
vote for this bill Certainly, he would not. Is there
necessity that there should be prohbitoy law passed
in order that the question of slavery should be presented
with the aid OF congressional legislation to the Supreme
Court OF the United States! will not undertake to say
that differ with the Senator from Vermont single
legal proposition that he has laid down regard slavery
AS local institution believe it rests on that basis
the only one that can give IT moments security. be
eve II cannot be carried, by the power of the
his servant one inch beyond ihs territorial limits OF the
RED BY his master into the Territory about which
talking IT slavery be abolished there will be free from
the moment he enters the Territory, and any attempt
exercise power over him slave will be nugatory
That is my judgment. But would guard against any
doubt this subject. would act that there should
be nothing le undone my part to prevent the admis
sion of slaves; for am free to declare that if you
to acquire the country that lies under the lne the hottest
country to be found the globe, where the white man
is supposed not to be able TO work would not allow YOU
to take slaves there, if slavery did exist there already
More than that: would abolish il il could If it did
exist These are my opinions, and they always have
been the know they the opinions OF
ashingon up to the hour of his DEATH and they
the opinions of Jefferson and of others. who in the infancy
of the institution, and depored its evils, and depre-
Gated It's continuance and would have taxed themselves
10 the utmost TO eXterminate il then. possess opinion
the subject that have not derived from these
have only to say that these opinions have always
nI tbo nj dInn
this after the most careful investigation have been able
to give the subject find the institution of slavery
listing in several States of the Union, it is local. State
institution, existing under the guarantees OF the consu-
lion. find that legislator of this national govern
meni, am forbidden by the constitution TO act upon this
or any other merely State institution. cannot, there
FORE interfere with slavery in The States | in
Territory, where yet State sovereignty exists and
as will there, and would everywhere else on the face OF
the earth where not forbidden, and where my power
might extend And here, sir, ask what has been your
practice a government this subject Ii at any time
in your progress, since 1884, you have acquired territory
where slavery existed in such form and consistency
to make it difficult overthrow it, it has been per-
mted only permitted. to remain where by law it did
ist-as in the Northwestern Territory before 7S9, but
had not taken deep root It was expelled and, III the
Missouri compromise. excluding it in all territory north
of latitude 36e 30' after 1889. i'a y
When Louisiana acquired, such the tone of
public opinion then against slavery, that am the
men OF that day would have abolished there but for the
supposed evil OF dspacing system long established
which, and by which, the social and political systems of
terms OF the treaty with some obstacle. The
same who directed public opinion in 1857, great
measure controlled 1t in 1904. Jefferson, who was the
author OF the ordinance of 1887, President in 1894
when Louisiana acquired. By his influence the
dnance of 1857 made five free States in the northwest
and doubt not Louisiana would have been also freed
from slavery too, but for the reasons have assigned
Such were the views of men who directed public opinion
then; would 10 God they or such they, had more to
! do with public opinion noW.
! When the ample parmony of Virginia was transfer.
red TO the Conederacy, Mr. Jefferson, and those OF his
school who made this noble donation, declared
that slavery should not Ponte the soil of five rich and
powerful new States Such Vrginia-such was
American opinion then. | cannot suppose The opinions
of these men were so changed between l7s7 and 1901
that slavery at the latter period would be spared by them
except for the reasons have assigned already Liberty
perfect freedom TO all men, of oil coors and nations
was the doctrine Of Mr. Jefferson then; and am told he
is the authoritative expounder OF free principles 10
the school calling itself "Vrginian well Demo
cratic"
Why, there is scarcely virginian who ventures to
have opinion contrary TO the lghtest thought that he
ever expressed And is II So that we are now 10 be
CURED for the sake of imaginary balance of power,
st That, cir, the question propounded by this bill
The senator from Vermont satisfied that slavery cannot
be extended to these Territories believe, if his conf
dence in the judicial tribunals Of the country well
founded that slavery could not possibly go into these
Territories, provided the Senate is right both to law
and the facts ask every member OF the Senate-per-
haps may be less informed than anywhsiher slavery
does not exist BY Mexican law at this hour in Cali
fornia;
Mr. HANHEGAN Gin his seat) 1t does exist peon slave
ry exists there.
Mr.. CoRwIN | would thank the senator from Indiana
if he will inform what peon slavery is; and really
ask the question for the purpose Of obtaining information
desire to know lis conditions Is II ransmlssble by
hertance Does the marvellous doctrine of which the
honorable senator from Virginia spoke being part and
parcel of the law adopted in Vryinia-pdrttts Seguur
ssntrem-preval! Is that holy ordinance, that the OFF
spring of the womb of her who is slave must
sarIy be slaves also. there recognised
Mr. HANNEGaN. As understand, slavery exists in
California and New Mexico as il does throughout the
republc OF Mexico, and termed peon saveryslavery
for debtby which the creditor has right TO hold the
debtor through all time in far absolute bondage
than that by which any sohern planter holds his slaves
here. .
Mr. CoRwIN 50 il has been described to me- | have
not seen the Mexican laws upon the subject but the state
just made agrees with that of many gentlemen who
profess to know something the subject; and there
fore inclined to think that It so, and that these
people are the subjects of that internal law. The
tor from Delaware the other day, informed that the
committee have no! given to the people of California
were incapable of exercising t--because large por
ton Of them were OF the colored races Now, sup
posing that TO be the case, and surprising the propo
son TO be submitted to the Supreme Court OF the United
Staies-was slavery an Institution OF New Mexico what
would be the answer Ii the senator from Indiana
he would say that the institution of slavery there ,
that TO be ii had its notifications and its pecuarites
but that il still slavery though there might not have
existed law strong that glorious principle of free
government spoken OF By the Senator from Virginia
pdr ~gufur pentrcm II, sir, these three Latin words
can condemn TO everlasting slavery the poslerty OF
women who is slave, may not that municipal regua.
ton OF which speaking in California and
New Mexico, with equal propriety, be denominaied
slavery! find, then. slavery, as II rs called existing