The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-19

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Iih Cs"sSs.IosAL RxsprrR will be furnished tAs
Mr. BAlLY. The gentleman has made but one issue:
ne denies that the question is its nature judicial He ad-
mus mat Congress cannot decide the question: and says
na slavery exists as fact Others maintain the oppo-
sue opnon Must we not, them trust the courts to de-
cue Ihere was no other tribunal that could decide
MI showed how the question might come before the
court slave Is taken to California and il is said he
is free He refuses TO work The master correcs him
and the slave sues his master for trespass Thus the is
sue comes before the courts for decision The question
Mr. STEWART asked whether the courts had not de-
cded that question and over again
Mr. BAYLY The gentleman is no, 20 good at point
OF law he tariff statistics and il has been suggest
ed that he is not very good at that If the gentleman
from South Carolina is not content to submit this ques-
ton TO the judiciary he is right TO against the acqus
Mr. WOODWARD had commended that Congress
had the power to prescribe the law regulating slavery.
as prescribed by the constitution He referred to the
Mr. BAYLY. The right Of recapturing fugitive slaves
another question: The question we were arguing
respected slaves residing with their masters tW ~
Mr. MURPHY said he, too, had risen for the purpose
Of discussing the power of Congress TO lgslas over
Territories He held that Congress possesses the power
lsgsae slavery sa hss Il. s's
territory acquired before, and territory acquired
adoption OF The constitution He advocate o the
Wimot ProyisO He held that territory now free. an
nexed to this Union, il remains free till Congress SHAH
establish slavery there For this reason he no upe
fOr Inc w IfnOt FrOVlSO 3,
He held this further proposition that the constitution
of the United States assumed the power TO legsate with
reference to territory acquired before the adoption q
that ordinance and that Congress haa power to egslas
territory afterwards acquired, necessitate re
The ordinance Of l7s7 respected only the territory
northwest of the Ohio He made this statement in con-
nexion with the declaration that were not to look
to the constitution for power to lesslae for other ter
ritores. 1.t. n 7.
He showed that Mr. Madison though he had been
quoted against it, still justified the ordinance OF 1887 He
did not refer the power of Congress 10 egslate tor Ter
rtoes to that provision OF the constitution which says
that Congress shall make all needul rules and regulations
for the government OF territory and other property in the
United States He found that power in the principle OF
the ordinance of 17s7, recognised by the constitution
This ordinance compact between the people OF the
United States and the inhabitants OF the territory north
west OF the Ohio river This compact recognised in
the first clause Of the sixth article OF the constitution, in
these words:
can debts contracted and engagements entered ino be-
fore the adoption of this constitution, shall be valid against
the United States under this constitution as under the con-
federation"
1t true, the then future people of the Territory
not present at the time of the agreement but the
compact was nevertheless binding upon the people o. the
United States because it wholly voluntary on their
part. This view had been taken by MIR. Louis McLane
was in view of the territory to be acquired from Mex
co that the application of this power became invested
with peculiar interest s'
Mr.. McLANE nterposed here to say, that the speech
M hs e odssnce
gress exclude slavery from the Northwestern Terrific
y That gentleman held in reply that the ordinances OF
1887 of validity at ALL except far as it might
be considered contract and only contract
SO far Virginia stood as party by giving her consent
Mr.. MURPHY proceeded. The right or the power by
which acquire territory was an incidental power II
belonged to nationaty-to character
eTeign Territory thus acquired. was not soyereiEny
WooDwARD] that i was dependency and the right to
acquire, carries with it the right to govern.
He made also the point that in the absence OF any law
OF Congress affecting acquired
and emgrans thher must be governed by the laws pre-
viousy in force II slavery does not exist in New Mex-
established there by act of Congress. He told the
south that if they would have slavery these ter
rores, they must come here and make their application
to Congress to procure its establishment. He regarded
slavery evil, and he regretted its existence but ii
had been recognised in all time II had ever been recog-
missed incident to the power of the conqueror over
He deprecated the course of the abolitionists who
sought to take away slaves from their masters. He had
the consequences of this 1t full of evil
to the black acedestrucve both of their morals and OF
their lives. fsa sil3ae
He lived in free State but he was perfectly confident
socially politically with the Whites and his opinion
was, that the condition of the slaves could only be inn
proved by emancipation When he heard Of the esope
day. he regretted that they had left their happy homes for
the purpose of exposing themselves to the misery and
which attended the free blacks the north
the men were made thieves and the women degraded
where, by vice and want, they cut off in such num-
bers that their aggregate Of population had been
diminished notwithstanding the constant emigration Of
ugitives from the south IA more extended report of
this speech will appear hereafterl
Mr. COOKE then took the floor. and on his motion the
committee rose, and reported the navy pension appopria
ton bill without amendment; which was ordered to be
engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr.. HOUSTON of Delaware offered resolution,
which was read ordering that when the House adjourned
on Monday next, it shall be till the following Thursday
for the purpose of putting down the summer carpets
Mr. HOUSTON of Alabama suggested that, in order to
give the longest time for the operations OF the uphoser
ers the resolution should be modified to require the
House to meet and adjourn at early hour on Mon
day: 49,,
before the House shall adjourn on Saturday
The resolution then adopted.
Mr.. VINTON submitted the usual resolution closing
debate upon the post office appropriation bill within
hour after the House shall again 60 into committee there
on; which was agreed to. ~ z4at
The House proceeded to the consideration Of the navy
pension appropriation bill, Just reported from the Commit
tee OF the Whole on the state of the Union when #
ordered to be engrossed read third time, ami
passed
The House then adjourned.
THURSDAY, MAY IS, 1s4s.