Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-17
,cat5, Editors ofMe ENQUIRER

I0the EdHors ~ the enquirer
The course pursued by the Congress OF the L
States with regard 10 The territory acquired byua
United States from Mexico BY the late war, his
produced a novel case and led 10 The propagaioa
OF some opinions, novel an erroneous. by MEN
who ought 10 be learned in the law Of nations.
The territory ce1cd by Mexico 10 The late ltea
" 10 tie Uni'ed S.a.es became the property OF he
United Stats and subject Ia the same rules an,
regulations As all ether ierI oly now he'll BY lie
Feder!l Government, and lie OATS ui pIogidinp
iof lis govci nmen devnlpe! on the Coasns, II
lhs Ualt'd States, who alone can exercise sovs
rel1.iy ever Il. The refusal Ui the House Of Re-.
pftscaiaIives 10 pass The biz whi:n passed Tie
Senate, Providing Tor In establishment nj govern.
menis iof New Mexico and California, has place.
these territories in position heretofore wilhon,
precedent in our government The Congress 1,
tn United STATES, from discofdan, (may no, s.r
iactous views have failed TO discharge the du,ie
imposed UPON them by the Constitution, viz: lhs
OF passing all neediul rules and regulations h,
governing The territories OF the Unued Stales
These territories being part and parcel Of h,
r,puniic Ol Mexico, States composing d, pan oiu.
con.ederacy, have no organized goyefi..-xnr elt
are lei,, with The population in them, wihon
any system OF regularly organized eovriam,m
/, the United Saies had conquered The wac. !,
Mexico, and determined 10 hold il as a corcna,
ed country, then The law OF nations, which i,I,,4
down. that The laws Of conquered Country s,,,
operate until al,crrd, repealed or aboli.b,I J.,
the conquerors would apply. Blu, this taTri. =,
has 10, been acquired by coEqnrst, tu, by me-.
~, and formed portion OF The Mexican cor,e.s
racy. As il has become portion d the l,rf;Ir.
~ Of the United States, The same powers IA, j.
eovernmrnt result 10 the Congress OF The I'm,
States as in all other territory hereto, r. b-nro
ing to the United States.
1t is clear, | think, that The sovereign povs,
as limited BY the Constitution of the Uo,.,
States, over all The territory OF The Uaiel SAGE
resides in The Congress oil The United Sae.; AMI
that the ordinance OF 1887 and he Law caI,ectta
Missouri Compromise, clearly show that al ,he
time OF their passage, the Congress Of The uniei
States believed that slaves were proper rccoo.
nized Gy me Constitution OF the Cnusd S..,.>
and that they intended TO settle The Question >, ~
extension by supreme law o. TIE .an!. Her.
toore, the territory bordering on The SAFES whets
slavery exists has been settled BY pe.s.as VII,
carried their slaves with them he'd him !,
those territories, while territories, as pron,uy--
and they were recognised a. propany b. III
laws Of The United States. have moi the =
cords 10 show, bur have no ioub. /, W; 4.
found 10 be true that, in the Courts OF tie Uni.
States, in The territories o. Alabama, Missss,r
pi &c, executions issuing lhereirGm suil.c,er
slaves, as other property, 10 levy and sal; and
that, in the Southern territories, il lakes NJ,
laid and collected during the war CT 1872, slsyes
were taxed as we'll as other properly.
Then hold, thai in all The territory OF he Uni.
ted STATES, not included within the OrdinaEc. i,
1887 and the bill termed the Missouri Coap,c.
mise, slavery is recognized by the Constitution
OF the United States, and al persons having them
in possession have right 10 hold them, and ali
persons going with them TO reside 10 the territory
where slavery is not prohibited, can hold them
as property.
Il is clear then, think, lha, Inc country &C.
CURED by treaty with Mexico has Become The
territory Of the United States, and free 10 emisrs.
lion by all strangers OF the United States; AM
that those who emigrae thilher with slaves hay.
Ugh, 10 hold them by the Constitution and
laws OF The United States against The claim 0,
claims OF all persons, bodies polite or corporate.
Shall The people of The South, who have an il.
stiIulion imposed on them by government WHICH
exercised control over them at time when lhry
could not resist, now be deprived by political a..
piranis, leading, misguided fanatics ard di>orea.
won principally by The keroism and bravery d
their sons} | cannct believe that the justice AMI
patriotism OF our enlightened brethren OF the
North Will ever present 10 us the alternative o.
resistance or submission TO measure irauetl
with such dire evils as must result from further
concessions from The Souh on the subject q.
slavery. SOUTH-SiDE.
Prince George, Va.