The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MR. JEFFERsON DAVIS,
OF MISSISSIPPI,
ON THE OREGON BILL
In SENATE, July ~, lsis.

from Mississippi, (Mr DAvIs,) he said:
MIR. pREsIDENr: Shall jealousy, dscord, and dssen-
;onsha political strife, for sectional supremacy-be
nstted to undermine the foundation OF republican
fabric! Shall interference with the domestic affairs
Of the people in one portion Of our unIon wounding to
their or ride and sensbiity, and unwarraned by the
nact of confederation be pressed 10 the destruction OF
Thai fnternal feeling and mutual confidence, on which
alone can our Institutions securely repose Shall dis
rinaton against section of the Conederacy, the
napabe object OF which is totally to destroy political
equality, be sanctioned BY the common agent OF the
States and here impulse TO hasten Its progress
10 the inevitable goal of such principle the dsunion
These and such as these, are the grave, the melan
choly questions which arise from the consideration OF
This bill and the character of the discussion we have
heard upon it, Happy thrice happy, will it be, II the
answers these questions shall be given by lofty pa
trlotsn and enlightened craftsmanship, which, disre,
gaing the passions of the hour, look to the general
welfare and the permanent good But If personal con-
sideratons govern Actions if each senator reflects
the prejudice and extreme OPINION which may exist IN
the section he represents; then may be our lot to wit
ness the fuhImen of the foeboding fear OF Mr. Jefer
son, when such agitation as that which surrounds us
caused him express the apprehension that the sacr
fees of the generation OF l776 had been made IN valn
Deeply impressed with the gravity and importance OF
the subject, shall offer my opinions dspassonately and
candidy, briefly and decidedly as the occasion requires
and nv deep rooted love of the Union demands
consider the 18th section OF this bill TO establish
territorial government in Oregon to be practically the
abolition OF slavery in said Territory by the government
OF Inc United States and seeing no adequate disposition
to strike that section out of the BILL introduced the
amendment under consideration; To this | was
prompted by of duty to myself, OF duty to those
whom have the honor to represent OF obligation to the
principles avowed the basis OF my political creed, and
which the cardinal points by which my political
must be directed This amendment has received
Interpretation which Its language In no degree Jus
tes To this misconslructon viii first call attention.
upon it POSITION assumed in several quarters,
which it is important to combat Senators have treated
this amendment proposition to force slavery into the
Territory of Oregon. Sir, had no such purpose, no
such desire; and surely the most ingenious must fail to
extract any such intent from ITS letter 1t IS but dis
tnct avowa of the ground uniformly maintained by all
statesmen of the strict construction school, and adhered
to by southern generally throughout the entire pc
Rod Of our confederate existence. lis direct ann to
restrain the federal government from the exercise OF a
power delegaed-ts ultimate effect to protect those
rights which have been guaranteed by the federal consil-
tuition The amendment is in these words: That Moth
ing contained this act shall be construed as to au
thorze the prohibition of domestic slavery in said Terri.
tory whilst II remains in the condition OF Territory OF
the United States"
enactment 1t is restrictive, and directed against prohi-
bton which is coverty contained in the bill Though It
not expressly declared that slavery shall be prohibited
mOregon, this would be virtually enacted by the l2lh
section of the bill which gives validity and operation to
the laws enacted by the provisional government estao,
lshed by the people who inhabit that Territory Il is
known that of the laws passed by the people OF Ore
gon prohibits slavery TO give validity to those laws is
therefore equivalent to the passage Of law by Congress
to prohibit slavery in that Territory. Does Congress pos
sess such power'
Ii the right to migrate with their property to territory
belonging to the United States attaches equally to all their
citizens, and it, have been credbly informed, citizens
have migrated with their slaves into Oregon, to pass the
bill before us without amendment would be abolition OF
slavery by the federal government Entertaining this
opinion, submitted an amendment to meet the case dis
tncly and slngy Now for the first time in our history
has Congress, without the color of compact compro-
misc claimed to discriminate in the settlement OF Terrific.
res against the citizens of one portion OF the Union and
IN favor oil another Ils, taken In cOnnexon with all
which passing around must excite the attention OF
senator's to the TACT and forces on my mind the
Here upon the threshold must resist, or for
ever abandon the claim to equality of right and consent
to be marked CASTE doomed, in the progress OF national
growth to be dwarfed into hepessness and political de-
pendence. As equals, the States came INTO the Union;
and by the ARTICLES OF confederation, equal rights prvi
eges, and mmunes secured to the citizens OF each
shall not authorize the destruction OF such equality, we
have been accused OF wishing claim for the citizens OF
the southern States unusual rights under the constitution
n accusation from h1
TO demand that nothing shall be done to affect the CON
tutiona relations OF citizens, or the constitutional rights
Of property We DO not ask Of the federal govenmen,
to grant privileges, but to forbear from interfering
with existing rghtsghts which existed anterior to the
formation OF the constitution, which were recognised IN
that Instrument and which it is made the duty OF the led
ea government as the agent OF our Unon to protect ana
defend.
Suck obligations belong to other species of proper
~ nor more nor less claim as due to our property III
slaves Nor can this claim be denied, without denying
the property right 10 which it attaches ms, IT mas bee
contended the creation of local law, and does not
tend beyond the limits for which such laws were made
and with an air of concession, are told that 1t Is not
proposed to interfere with slavery it exists IN the
Staies because the constitution secures 1t there SIR
slavery sustained but not created, by the local law
OF the States in which exists; did those States ask
OF the federal government to secure or MAINTAIN 1t within
Their borders; beyond their jurisdiction, and there
only could the protection of federal laws be required
Before the formation of conederacy slavery existed
IN The Colonies the States Of the Union; and but lot
e union OF the States, would have no legal recognition
beyond The limits of the territory OF each But when
the fathers of the republic had achieved It's Independence
ey sought to draw closer the bonds OF union, and TO re-
move all cause for dscOd and contention. For this molly
purpose, they met council and formed the constitution
under which we live. This compact OF UNION changed
ue relation OF the States to each other IN many import
ant PARTICULARS and gave to property and intercourse
hahona character Property in persons held to service
was recognised in various and distinct forms became
property under the constitution OF the United Staes,
was made coexensve with the supremacy OF the feder
Jaws us existence subject only to the Legislation OF SOW
eegh States possessing powers not drawn from, Dn'
aoo'e, The constitution Thus provision was made IoT
Tue recovery OF fugitive slaves and the question OF rgh'
SUCH property absolutely precluded, as the guilt OF
innocence OF charged with treason felony or other
crime In both it is made the duty OF the State
Suhores 10 deliver up the fugitive, demand OF the
Sa'e IRON which the feon fled in the case and OF
"e person to whom the service is due in the other.
ny the I'd section Of the fourth article of the consttu
"on' II is provided that
person charged in any State with treason, felony, o,
NV, crime, who shall flee IRON JUSTICE AID be found IA
Suot otae, sual, demand OF the executive authority
We state from which he fed, be delivered To be
"o'sd to the State having rsdicton of the crime.
d. no person held to labor in State undci
uo laws thereof ping INFO another shalt, IN conse
quence any law regulation therein, be discharged from
uh service labor, but san be delivered claim