The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-13
CITY OF WASHINGTON, SUNDAY MORNING. AUGUST 49, lS4s

ect ms name 10 like reproach and therefore, infer
nat he fel INTO TINS very great error under the influence
OF some sort OF hallucinaon incident very great minds
and prec3cious genuses 1t Isl quality OF such dise-
gard tribes. Now, sir, | find, on examination, that
though General Cass never either charged or received
pay Tor any such item exira salary" and that
though point OF fact his salary was neither more nor
less than certain fixed and reasonable sum yet is
true that, as superintendent OF Indian AFFAIRS to promote
peace with the Indian tribes, he made many presents
Indian chiefs and head and expended in their
entertainment at Detroit when there on a visit 10 him. as
the representative of their great father the President sc
NC; winch presents and Kindness the neces
sfy, because OF the immediate contiguity of the Indian
tribes to Canada, and their consequent intercourse with
BRITISH traders and agents find that, for these things,
and others OF like kind, he made certain charges which
were found reasonable by the proper accounting officers
and allowed ! also find that he General Cass) fire.
quenily acted as commissioners to hold negotiations and
make treaties with Indian tribes and in so doing made
many long journeys, and encountered much expense.
These items he charged for; and his accounts being
sonable they were allowed by the proper officer These
accounts fill pages of manuscript and might easily
be copied fairly but the honorable member under the
influence OF the halucinaon aforesaid, run his eye
over the pages, and, as he had gone TO the books 10
ma extra salary, there it before his eyes the said
haucInauon causing him to condense entire sentences
and pages into these two words-"exlra salary" In
subsequent speech the honorable member has perhaps
to some snall but not to any considerable extent the
matter right To be sure hundreds OF honest men may
read his first Speech and believe that Gen Cass received
extra salary but then the second speech will prove to
future wing President, that the honorable member
has recovered from his halucnaon, and that he is so
to be fairly qualified for clekshp in the Treasury De-
| partment. ..
propose to direct my attention to the propositions
which have been are, pending before Congress
tor the organization of the Territories of Oregon, Cali
lorna, and New Mexico; and, in connection with the
subject OF them, to say few things ''apolosec,' "ex,
panatory and, mayhap, little ''denuncatory," and
| thus consume my stnted hour f.,....
1t is, or ought to be, we'll known. that my favorile
principle in reference to the organization of Territories
is, TO leave Their local legislatures settle all OF
aeum and tuwa, of personal rights. and generally all
laws o. municipal nature My reasons for this prefer
ence have been given heretofore Among the prom
inen regard to the constitution Of the United States
which, in my humble opinion has vested Congress
with the right to egsate for the Territories, further
than to extend the constitution and laws of the United
States over them Were the people of the Terrific
RES to insist upon IT, am persuaded they have right
to adopt their own organic law, as well as all other
laws-not inconsistent, however, with the constitution
and laws of the United Staesand to elect their
officers. The organic law which Congress adopts or
prescribes for them, consider not obligatory upon
them until they may signify their assent TO by acting
IN accordance with it, or otherwise. Their officers
they willing should be appointed by this govern
the people OF the Territories being without exception
very destitute OF currency and means Consequently
there has been any hesitation the part of the
people of the territories about accepting of such organic
laws we propose to them Their necessities and de-
fencelessness lead them to accede to such terms
may propose, but would make any stringency on
part the more shameless and inexcusabe To this my
favorte plan 1t is objected, that guardians Of the
Territories, ought to provide, in the organic laws which
we present prescribe to them against the practice OF
certain things contrary to public private morals. |
have never heard it proposed to prohibit gambling or
Drunkenness, to egslate for them the subject OF
matters having relation to private right Or personal rea
ton, except the subject of slaveholdng This being
sin, social evil, which of the free States free
from, (happly. as we Think we are in no dan
ger OF hitting ourselves, any influential constituent
rap over the sconce by legsating against it. On the
contrary constituents being opposed to in their
feelings, find II extremely convenient to recommend
ourselves their favor by taking the matter in hand, TO
provide against its possible existence in territory.
have found myself, under the influence of these consd
eatons. almost ready at tmes to act aside the consl
ton upon point of moral consideration upon which
point there is but opinion among those represent
can justify such vote under the influence OF strong
necessity. | voted for the compromise bill, though
contained clause srngently restricting the legislative
power of two of the territories. did SO, because saw
almost if not quite, insurmountabe barriers to the
ganzaon of those territories owing to the existence OF
strange and me ncomprehensibe, diverses of opinion
here and in the Senate For the reason voted Tor
the bill to organize the Territory OF Oregon, with the
tire U beleve) ordinance of 1877 incorporated in its pro-
visions; and, for the reason, should the Senate
amend il by inserting the words, nasmuch the
is north of latitude $50 3o or almost any other words
of meaning, no meanings it will still receive my sup
port The position of those territories, and the condition
OF their people, pitiable. So far my vote goes,
they must be organized and protected,
have desire extend the of slavery yet will
not withhold my vote from territorial bill, because it
does or does prohibit the existence of slavery the
territory to be organized Indeed, not only because of
the constitutional question: but also because believe no
bill pass both houses organizing Territory and posi-
lively restricting the existence of slavery therein for the
reason of a determination of many members of both
houses not tolerate legislation which they think
quail and nvidous, and may prejudice it not finally cut
OF, right which they claim under the constitution of
emgrating Territories without FORGETTING slaves
have santly voted against all restrictions OF that
any other similar kind Yet always ready to vote
for bill organizing any Territory with such restriction.
hold this to be hardship to any one but myself; for
if the constitution the right alluded to, legis
aton cannot cut it Off but will be decided void by the
judiciary. The constitution executes itself.
hat ,f
legislatures, the subject of slavery. so, be-
cause deem such restriction invasion of the right of
self-governmen OF the people OF the Territories, inherent
Them and having the right to itself the moment
they become social body by organization. But
sst that ought TO restrict the Territories against this
great evil They insist making exception OF it The
greatness of the evil does not, my humJe opinion
change the rule of constitutional construction add
the powers or duties of this government diminish the
powers rights of the people OF the Territories Those
who insist that they will be morally guilty they give
their votes to organize Territory, without the restric
ton forget that they affecting attribute in refer
ence to the prevention of evil which God himself has
never assumed In his very nature, lie opposed TO all
evil Yet he has made u.s. placed in position where
thousand allurements to evil beset u.s. and so shaped
our natures that do uniformly, less yield TO
the alurenenls by the actual commission of numerous
acts OF wickedness. In addition to this he endowed us
with free agency So you will give organization to
Terory--yve it eyistence-but poor miserable sinners
though you be- you must for conscience sake not leave 1t
free agent You affect to be strlngeny righteous
than God Is He the author of your because he
endowed you with free agency Would you be the
thor of evils Territories, because you fail to provide
against them in the laws by which you give them exist
ence, and SO leave them 10 their free agency F
cannot better illustrate this subject than to remind you