The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-08-18
Free T'errilorY.


Mexico, is engaging the public attention
Igenerally. 1t is undoubtedly true, that
slacery is The creature ofpoative law. 1t
does not now exist in either Of the Ter
ritories named. Congress has power to
prohibit its introduction into eitheror all
of them. This has been settled by the
action of the Legislative, Executive and
Judicial departments Of the Government
of the United Stated, and it seems to US
too late to question its exercise now.
The slave laws of Virginia were in
force over large portion Of the North
western Territory before its cession to
the United States. These laws were alb
rogated in this territory by the condition
of the Virginia grant of it. by the Ordin.
ance of 1887 and by the several acts of
Congress organizing Territorial govern
ments therein. Mr.JefIerson, and Judge
Chase, of Maryland. were of the commit
tees which digested the plan Of cession,
and the prohibition of the Ordinance of
1887. These eminent men were from
slave States. The Ordinance Of 1857,
abolished slavery in the most valuable le-
gion Of North America. That &C. of alb
0lition extended to the new States of Ohio.
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
and that part of Minnesota which lies east
of the Mississippi river Remember this
was an act ofabolition so far as it extern
ded TO the Territory granted to the Uni
ted States by Virginia, because, until ce-
ded, that territory was subjectto the stare
idwS Of Virginia. The early Presidents
approved ofthe acts under the Constitu-
tion which re.aflirmed the Ordinance Of
1857.
The Territory acquired by the treaty
of Louisiana, was slave territory. Sla-
very existed there when it was ceded to
the United States. The act of Congress
of 1920, abolished slavery in all that part
of this vast Territory, lying north of the
SO 80 parallel of latitude, except in the
State of Missouri. 1t abolished slavery
in the present State of Iowa, in the region
North lying West of the Mississippi, and
in Oregon. Congressional acts have
since extended the prohibitiOn Of slarery
in the Ordinance Of 1887 to Iowa. Thus
has slavery been abolished and torecer
proh'bited By Congress, in territory ca
pable Of sustaining greater popula-
ton than is found at this moment in En-
rope. Yet it is now said that Congress
has no power to abolish or prohibit sla.
very in the Territories of the U. States.
The Mexican Government by decree
of the 18th Sept, 1929, abolished slavery
throughout the Republic. There were
then few settlers in Texas holding
slaves, which had been introduced from
the United States. These settlers re.
monstrated against the act of abolition,
and disregarded it. This produced an
act of the Mexican Congress of the 9th
April, 1880, which among other things
provided
| Art. 8. On the Northern frontier, the
entrance of foreigners shall be prohibit
ed, under all pretexts whatever, unless
they be furnished with passports, signed
by the agents ofthe Republic, at the pla-
ces whence they proceed.
| Art 10. There shall be no variation
with regard to the colonies already es.
tabished, nor with regard to the slaves
that may be in them; but the general GO
vernment, shall take care, under the strict
est responsibility. that the colonization
laws be obeyed, and that no more slave:
be introduced.
Texas and Coahuia, two departments
were then organized uader one State gov.
ernment in Mexico, whose Legislature
passed an act, providing among other
things, that
Art. 35. The new settlers, in regard tc
the introduction of slavery, shall be sub
ject to the laws which now exist, ant
which shall hereafter be made on the
subject.
Art. Sc. The servants and laborers
which, in future, foreign colonists shal
introduce, shall not, by force of any con
tract whatever, remain bound to their ser
vice larger space oftime than ten years
Given in the city of Leona Vicario
2Sth April, 1882.
JOSE JESUS GRANDE, Pres't
This act never received the sanction
ofthe Mexican government. Controver
sy followed, and this Stare question final
ly produced the separation of Texa'
from CoahuiIa. and the declaration o
Texan independence in 1886. The con
stitution of Texas provided:
Sec. 9. All persons Of color, who were
slaves for life previous to their emigra'
ton to Texas, and who are now held in
bondage, shall remain in the like state
of servitude, provided tho said slave shall
he the bona fide property of the person
so holding said slave as aforesaid. Cou-
gress shall pass no laws to prohibit emf
grants from the United States of Ameri.
ca from bringing their slaves into the Re
t public with them, and holding them by
the same tenure by which such slaves
5 were held in the United States, nor shal
t Congress have the power to emancipate
slaves; nor shall any stakeholder be al
: lowed to emancipate his or her slave OIL
, slaves without the consent of Congress
unless he or she shall send his or hel
f slave or slaves without the limits of the
, republic. No free person of African de
. scent, either in whole or in part. shall be
t permitted to reside permanently in the
). republic, without the consent of Congress