The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-03


came in question.
Mr. VlNTON suggested the necessity of some provis-
e Sunreme CONT a ri be iron n, e saeS IN ali cases
where the constitution of the United States, an act OF
Congress, or treaty OF the United States, should De
brought IN question; and after conversation, hade
| a motion to that effect, which was agreed to:
| Mr.. VENABLE moved further provision IN refer
ence TO appeals which was agreed TO-
Certain verbal amendments 10 the section were pro
posed by Mr. MULLIN; some OF which were agreed TO-
and others rejected. , go,
Verbal amendments also made TO the 10Th, I'm
and 18th sections at the suggestion OF various gehue
MIR. GRINNELL moved a new section, to come IN be-
tween the nth and 18th sections, browning '' VIC .r
es and streams in the Territory IN when salmon are
found shall not be obstructed by dams or Otherwise uh
less so made TO allow said hsh TO pass freely: oo.
He said there valuable hshery IN VIeSSon'
and unless some care taken of II, II would be iost
For the want of care, by the erection OF dam Gc ~
the Connecticut river the salmon when m T 'I
been very valuable there, had been driven Out Inns
might be avoided in this Territory with care w'hou eA
pense.
| The amendment agreed to. ,
| Mr.. SMITH of Indiana moved new secuon OF
$4,000 for expenses OF the PROVISIONAL government Oh
| Oregon agreed to.
| Mr. VINTON moved an amendment declaring null and
void all the laws heretofore passed in the said Territory
making grants of land, or otherwise affecting or ncum-
bering the titles of lands therein.
The clause it stood he said, gave validity to all
the laws which had been passed in that Territory; They
might have madehe believed the fact was that they had
undertaken to make large grants Of ando what extent
matter of course, would take up the subject and make
donations liberal donations of land to settlers in Oregon.
They therefore, ought TO make exception OF these grants
of land that hereafter they might under the revi
sion of Congress.
The amendment agreed to.
Mr.. SAWYER moved to strike out all that part of the
section which extends the rights privileges and advan-
tages and the conditions restrictions, and prohibitions of
the ordinance of 1857 to the Territory of Oregon.
He did this for the purpose Of testing the sense Of the
the power to legisate the question OF slavery in the
Territories There was sovereignty existing IN the
people he did not where or in what capacity you
found them-wheher in town, county, territory
Our laws and our constitution were predcaed on the fact
that the people had right to selfgovernment Il was
within the province of Congress to establish general laws
for the government of that Territory, but not to descend
TO particular legislation upon domestic questions Was
there gentleman in This House who would now get up
and say he believed the Congress of the United States had
the right pass the ordinance 1887 that the present
Congress had the right pass similar ordnance II was
gratuous act of legislation upon the part of that
Congress which established that act, and gra
tnou act IN this Congress to impose that ordinance upon
the people of Oregon The Missouri compromise act had
been aquesced in by general consent but was not felt
be binding on any of the States. The gentleman from In
diana [Mr SMITH had yesterday argued that the States
formed out of the territory northwest of the Ohio had not
the same power as the other States OF the Union He
(r 81 held the contrary that those States had the
same power that they had been admitted on an DUAL
footing, with equal rights, privileges, and immunlies
with the other States and that the State OF OhlO
other State formed tot the northwestern territory had
the right establish slavery within their limits II Con-
gess had the power to say that slavery should not be
extended to Oregon then surely they had the same right
say should be established there Congress had
such power That power was confined to the establish
ment of general code OF laws and 1t was the privilege
OF the people of the Territory to enact such local and do
, nestle laws they wished to be governed by lie UNI
dersood that the people OF that Territory had aready
. passed law aboIishng slavery, Were not gentlemen
willing that those people should be governed by their
own laws? He wanted the committee to strike out all
this exaneous matter, and legsate only upon the sub
jects which they should legislation subjects OF gen
eral legislation.
Another point: There great deal of feeling be-
ween the north and the south on this subject He was
willing compromise, where he lost nothing in order to
satisfy gentlemen; and when they 10 pass Terrific
rial bills for the other Territories The should be honor
ed with seat this floor he should vote in the same
way, and leave the people, who capable of deciding
it, to say by what laws they would be governed in their
+ local and domestic matters.
The amendment of Mr.. SAWYER was agreed to-ayes
49, noes &C. So the first part of the section stricken
, Mr. GAYLE moved to insert at the end of the section
proviso, that slavery shall not be excluded from said
territory notwithstanding the existing laws of the terri
: And, after debate by Mr.. DICKINSON and Mr.
I GIDDINGS and the rejection of an amendment by Mr.
PALFREY relative to the law for the recapture of fug
: tves from service" Mr.. GAYLEs amendment was re-
= iected
Mr. billiard submitted proviso to be added to the
section, providing that nothing therein contained shall be
construed as TO prevent citizen OF any of the States
a going there and taking with him his property of every
- description On this amendment he spoke during his five
minutes and expressed the opinion that the persons
Oregon ought to have power the property of the
citizens OF the States would be mOnStrOus If
II who do not single of land there should have
~ the right decide the property of those who nigh
4 desire 60 there: twas only necessary to raise ques
y ton of that kind to make its absudity apparent Hi
e hoped his amendment would prevail 1t inofensvt
:, in its terms, but it intended to reach its object
. Mr.. CHASE moved to amend the amendment of tht
y gentleman from Alabama by adding the following:
"Propided That nothing herein contained shall be
dered assumption Of the power upon the part OF The
Is shmen of slavery in said Territory authorizing tn
inhabitants thereof having the right oteby the pro
of this h to establish prohibit slavery prevou
lie application for the admission of said Territory int
the Union as a sovereign State
m The amendment not agreed to.
d Mr. WOODWARD submitted pro forma motion, tina
s. he might make some observations in opposition to tn
right to egisate on the subject of slavery in the Terrific
|. RES.
After further pro Jorma debate by Mr. TUCK and Mr.
h Mr. VAN DYKE moved to insert the words &c will
the exception of slaves" In support of his amendment
he spoke through his allotted time and insisted tina
e Oregon should remain Tree territory He asked southern
to gentlemen why they would persist in putting hemselve
I'd in awrong position this subject He said the Oregon
territory belonged to this Union when the Missouri com
ID claimed right, and also under the Missouri compro
Of mise
ID The amendment agreed to--65 to So.
nj Mr. JOHNSON of Arkansas replied with some warmth
I. to the remarks of Mr.. VAN DYKE, amendment Il
v insert the words "slaves made by conviction TO
: crime" Having made the remarks which he desired Il
" offer, he withdrew his amendment.
!, Mr. LAHM renewed the amendment for the purpose 0
addressing some observations TO the committee; but h
was ruled out OF order, after saying that he favo
of extending the ordinance OF 81 10 the Oregon Territory
- Mr. SCHENCk moved to amend the amendment o