The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-10-06


'ierritory;" for the same terms which
grant the one. grant the other. "Terri;o-
ry' j, here clas,ed with property. aud trea-
ted As such, aud the object was evidently to
enable the general government, as prop
eriy holdcr-which, from necessity, it must
be--tO manage, preserve aud ''di>poSc'' Of
such property a>itmiGht possess, aud which
authority Is essential almost to itS being
But the lives aud persons of our citizens,
with the variety of objects connected with
them, cannot be controlled 10y any authori.
I ~ which is merely called into existence for
the purpose of making rules aud regulations
Tor the disposition and management Of prop
crty.
Such, il appears 20 me, would be the CON
sirnc'Ion put upon this provision of the Com
S;ilu'ion were the question now first pre-
scented for consideration, and not controlled
by inpcrnuN circumstances. The original
ordinance Of the Congress Of the Coufcdcra.
ton, passed in l7o7, 0id which adoption Of
the Constitution, provided n complete frame
81 government Of the country north Of the
Ohio, while in n territorial condition, and
inrl's eventual admission in separate States
INTO the Union. AMI the persuasion that this
ordinance contained within itself MI the ne
ccSsaTy means of execution. probably pre-.
vented any direct reference to the subject
in the Constitution, further than vcStins in
Congress the r'ghtto admit the States form.
ed under 1t into the Union. However, cir
cuin,iauceS arose which required lcgi>la-
ton. as well over the territory north of the
ONO, a over territory, both within and
without the original Union, ceded to the
General Government, and, at various times.
"A more enlarged power has been exercised
over tn" IDrii0ricS-mc auing thereby the
different territorial govcrnmcu,S-than is
conveyed By the limited gran: referred 10.
How Tar an existing ncces>ity NAV have
operated in producing tbs legislation, and
thus extending, by rather violent imphca-
ton, powers not directly given. ! know not.
Bat certain it j.. that Tie principle of INFER
ference should not be carried beyond the
necessary implication which pruduccS il.
1t should be limited to the creation Of nro-
per governments for new Countries, acquir.
cd or settled, andtothe necessary provision
fer their eventual admission intothc Union.
DINING This temporary condition, it is hard
~ rNpcdicnt TO call into exercise a doubtful
aud mvidlous authority, which questions
the Intelligence OF a respectable portion Of
our citizens, aud whose Limitation, whatev-
crit may BE-, VIII be rapidly approachiu: its
lcrmiuation-au authority which Could give
to Congress dc>rotIc pow CT, uucuutruiltd 10y
the constitution, over important sections Of
our common country. For, If the relation
o! master aud servant may be regulated or
annihlated by its legislation. so may the re-
lution Of husband and wife. of parent ana
chIld, and o! any other condition which our
institutions aud the habits Of our society re-
cognizr. What would be thought it Con
ere>S should undertake TO prescribe the
terms Of marriage III New \ Cri;. 81 10 rccu-
Hale the authority OF parents over their chill
drcn ~ Pennsylvania? And yctit would be
aN vain to seek one justify inc the iutCrfcr-
enc2 Il the national legislature IN the cases
rciyUCd 10 IN the original States of the Tn
ION. / speak here Of the inherent power of
Congress, and 90 not touch The question OF
such contract, ~ may he formed with new
States when admitted into the CoiIrdcIacv.
Oh al, the questions that can agita,c ~.
those which are merely sectional in then
character are the most dangerous. and the
most 10 be deprecated. The warning voice
of him. who from his character and service.
ana virtue, had the best right TO warn Us.
proclaimed TO his cOuutrymcu. in his Fare.
wen Address that monument # wisdom
for him, As hope it will be of safety for
thom--nuw much we had to avprChcnd from
measures peculiarly ali,ciin. the gccpraph-
zeal portions q! our country.
The grave circumstances in which we
aIe now placed make these words. words
Of safety; for am satisfied. from an | have
seen and heard here, that q successful at
tempt to cngraIt the principles OF TIE VII
mot ProviNoupu the legislation Of this gov
'rumon', aud to apply them TO new terrific
", should rcN territory JC acquired would
seriously Affect our tranquility. DO not
suffer myself tO iorcscc or 10 lorrtcll the
consequences that would cuSuc; for trust
aud believe that there is GOOD sense and
good feeling enough in the country 10 avoid
them, by avoiding all occasions which
might lead 10 them.
Briefly, then. | am opposed to the cxcr-
else of any jurisdiction by Congress over
this matter; and lam in favor of leaving To
the people UI any territory. which may be-
hereafter acquired. the right to regulate it
for themselves, under the general l,luG-
pies Of the constitution; because
|. | do Got see % tl' constitution ol.
gran, Of the requisite power If Congress d.
aud ! am not disposed TO cNicud doubtful
precedent beyond it, necessity -,hc r>lab-
hsamcut oI territorial governments when
uccdcd-lcayiug To the Inhabitants all the
right compatible with the relations they bear
TO the confederation.
>. Because | believe this measure. If
adopted, would weaken, it not impair. the
union Of the states; aud would SOW the
seeds Of future diSCord, which would grow
up aud riprn Into an abundant harvest of
calamity.
), Because believed general conviction
that such proposition would succeed,
would lead 10 an immediate Withholding of
supplies, aud thus 10 di>houorablc tcrmi.
nation Of the war; ! think no di>po>siouatc
observer Mt the seat Of government can
doubt this result.
/. Ii however. in this ain under n mis-
apprehension, am under none in the prac.
teal operation Of this restriction ii adopted
10y Congress, upon atrca'y of peace maxim.
any acquisition ui Mexican territory. such
treaty would be rejected jlSt n certainly
MS presented to the Senate. More than
ouc.thhd Of that body would vote against it
viewing such principle aSlhr exclusion Of
the citizens uf the >llvoholdiug States from
participation it, the benefits acquired hy
the trials and cNruiunS Of all, aud which
should he common TO all.
nm ,pt,nttttr. ,tith,, al ,..,,