Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-08-18

gentlemen have said that they would have done
away with Il ii possible, aud they have apOlogi-
zed 10 the world and 10 themselves Tor the exis-
ieuce Of il in their States. These honest old
men Of another day never could have failed to
strike OF the chains from every negro in the
Colonies, it II had been possible from hem TO do
50 without upurniug The foundation Of society.
do not revive these things 20 wound the feel
irgS Of gentlemen. know some Of them con-
slider this institution as valuable; but many Of
them. also know, regard il as an evil. But
Slavery is not in Oregon, il is not IN California;
aud when find that you have tram2ed down
the people in order to extend your dominion
over Them, feel it to be my duty, when you
appeal to me to make laws for them, and the
Supreme Couu has said that | have the power
to do so, to avert from them this evil Of Slave
~, aud To establish free institutions, under
which no man can say that another is his prop
erty. ! do not doubt this power. know that
il has been considered Of old, from 1887 Till
the present hour, TO be vested in Congress-
The judicial tribunals in the West have consid-
cred II so, aud the Supreme Couu of the Uni
ted States have said in that decision, so often
referred 10, thai it was so. Have they found
any restrictions upon usl No. And dwhat would
you do if you were in Oregon to-day, and ii
were State! What would you do, and you,
and you! Would any man here, If he were
acting in a legislative capacity, say, 81 feel
myself bound 10 admit this evil into this coun-
try, for the benefit Of some of the States who
are oyerburdened with slaves" If this were
true, it would be- the duty Of the free States, in
that lralernaI spirit which ought to prevail be-
tween the various States Of lhe Union, to admit
slaves whenever the slave States became over.
budcncd with them. Do we so act in legisla-
ting for our States! No; we say, enjoy your
slaves, or free them, as you will, but il IS our
wish that there shall be no Slavery here. -
You may implore a State, if you will, TO take
slaves into its bosom for your convenience, but
| they do not feel themselves bound by any Gov
ornment obligation to do il. Am not then,
bound to lay the foundations of that State for
whose future progress am 10 be responsible. in
the way which think the most likely to pro-
duce beneficial results to the people therel And
when find myself possessed Of this power, and
clothed with commensurate responsibility, no
threats Of dissolution of the Union, no heart
burnings here or there, and, least of all-that
which we have heard much of out Of doors
the coming Presidential election, shall deter me
from pursuing this course. | am for making q
law, in the language Of the Ordinance of 1887;
! would have it enacted that Slavery shall new
or exist in that country. Then, when my black
man comes to the Supreme Couu of the United
States, as provided in this bill, he comes with a
positive law in his favor, that Court must over
rule the decision Of tie case in Peters, or else
such appeal must be sustained. Then we will
have acted upon the subjective will have for
hidden Slavery. | observed that some gentle
men who handled this subject, were very care
lul to repeat, with emphasis, that Slavery may
90 where it is not prohibited. That is the rea-
son prefer the Ordinance of 1887 to the So
called Compromise Bill. have no doubt that
every Senator who assenled to that bill convin-
ced himself that it was the best we could pass.
| have no doubt that our friends from the North
thought it would be effective in preventing Sla.
very in these Territories. But | see that the
Senator from South Carolina does not think so
He supports the bill for the very reason that i
will admit Slavery; The Senator from Vermont
for the reason thai Slavery is forbidden by it,
Now, in this confusion Of ideas, ! desire tha
Congress, if ii have any opinion, express it.
If we have any power TO legislate over thes
Territories, how long would it take to writ
down the sixth article of the Ordinance O
1857! Those of US who think that ought Il
be u fundamental law in the organization o
Territories will vote lorlt; and those of us wht
! believe Otherwise, will vote against it, an,
whichever party riumphs, will give law to Orc
} gon aud California, bearing the responsibility
) But must say, that do not like what appear
to me- say in no offensive sense-a shulIlin
off the responsibility which is upon us now, an
which we cannot avoid. The Supreme Coul
may overrulo our decisions; but if we think W
have power to ordain that Slavery shall nc
exist in that Territory, let US say so; if not, IC
) us so decide. Let US not eyade the questio
p altogether,
That honorable Senators who reported thi
+ bill had its passage very much at heart, hav
no doubt nor do feel disposed to deny tho
every man Of them believed that it was jus
5 such measure as was calculated TO give tran
: guilty to the agialed minds Of the People q
this country. Well do not care for that agtu
ton farther than that | will look to il as mo
tive to inquire carefully what my powers an
my duties are. have heard much of this
) have been myself prophet of dissolution Q
! this Union; but have seen the Union of thes
States survive so many shocks, that | am nc
+ afraid of dissolution. Perhaps, indeed, whe
this cry of wolf has been long disregarded, h
may come al last when not expected; but d
not believe that the people Of the South ar
willing to sever themselves from this Republic
/ because we will not establish Slavery here o
there. If we have no power TO pass the Ord
nance of 1887, let the people of the South G
I to the Supreme Court, and have the question
{ decided. 1t will only be few months ill III
7 Court resumes its session here, and the qucs
ton can then be tried, If the decision be a
gains us, the gentlemen Of the South can 9
l once commence their emigration TO these Ter
I ritorics. Lei us then make the law as we thin
it ought to be made now.
am the more confirmed in the course whic
. am determined to pursue, by some historic;
$ facts elected in this very discussion. lremem
hor al, IN, WAS said hv the Senator from Viruini