Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-24
SPEECH OF Mr.. PETIT,
OF INDIANA,
On the relafios of the States and the General
Government to,cards the Territories.

House OF REPRESENTATIVES,, JUNE II, l84s
The House being in Committee of the Whole on the Dill
making appropriations for the naval service Mr. PETIT adj
dressed the committee during his allotted hour in speech
Of which have the following sketch from Reporters
Mr.. PETIT remarked that he did not know whether from
his continued amenes he would be able long enough
express his views upon the subject he proposed discuss
yet he felt duty which he owed himself least to
endeavor remove from and around the subject the
Of the Government the Territories thereof of the
mist and mystery which had been ngeniousy attempted
TO be thrown about it. He had promised himself and some
others last summer after reading the speech of distinguish
ed Southern Senator, Mr. CALHOUN, festival given in
Charleston South Carolina, this subject, that be would
attempt here elsewhere and counerac the views
taken by that SENATOR arrogant the attempt might
IN him but his argument had been eecualy and fully
answered by the honorable gentleman from North Carolina
r CLISsMAs at early period Of the session. that he
had deemed no further answer necessary He did he
tate to say that the gentleman from North Carolina utterly
put to flight the visionary false and unfounded views Of the
Senator from South Carolina the occasion to which he had
REFERRED and he (Mr P should have felt himself called
upon make this effort had that doctrine recently found
advocates this foo He referred the cause ohe
remarks the recentspeech of the gentleman from South
Carolina (r RHErr his Virginia, South Carolina, and
Alabama resolutions He had been requested by friends
not TO advance the views be entertained upon this subject
and to the opinion and desire Of those gentlemen he had had
great inclination TO yield his conviction Of duty but
Of proper cause he unwilling yield his own
of propriety. He should confne himself the
committee had already seen, very closely the bill before
them had he augh 10 reference the amendment
adopted when the bill last under consideration but he
might be allowed here express his wonder that the organ
OF the Administration any who denied in toto the
power OF this Government to do any thing for the benefit Of
commerce and navigation upon the EARTH the waters thereof
should easily find authority under this constitution,
great expense gaze the stars survey the moon and like
of to abs
he could not comprehend It was however, the peculiar
fancy and taste of some TO prefer airy imaginary advan
tages to substantial improvements directly benefng the
great Of the people upon terra frma
His object he had before stated was TO show the powers
and duties OF this Government and the Territories
thereof and their rights and duties In return. One maxim
for the government of was, that 90 wise aims
Nothing out of his reach" II he should in this instance be
able satisfy the committee that he had not aimed at some
thing beyond his reach but within his grasp he should at
least be content with himself 1t always better his
opinion that they should have the exposition Of the pow
granted to Congress under the constitution and the pow
ers reserved to the States and the people it always bet
ter that the truth should prevail than that temporary
should be secured by embracing and gspng after The
remarks he about make prompted principally by
those the gentleman from South Carona had recently made
the subject though the remarks OF other gentlemen
had something do in less degree in influencing his course
There doctrines advanced by various portions OF this
House, all OF which be proposed to put in opposition his
opinions and various authorities In his opinion the doctrine
which alleged that Congress had power the Terrific
RES and that which held that the Territories were sovereign
and had power TO egsate for themselves regardless Of the
United States the doctrine which alleged that there was
decided sovereignty the Territories between the Terri
tories and the United States other than such as existed by
express grant Of the United States and that doctrine which
asserted that the inhabitants Of Territory are entitled to ali
the rights and privileges and the administration OF the same
laws that the constitution secures citizens within the States
and that each inhabiant the Territory carries with and
about him the laws Of the State # which be wentn his
opinion, all these several doctrines and views would be found
be totally and equally unsound allacous and un,enabe
The true docsne, in his opinion was that this power c
gislae for the Territories the United States and any
other doctrine could not stand the Of reason, Of the judi
cal decisions, elementary reading or the uniform practice Of
the United States ever since their existence Power Of the
earth There was no sadla Of puthor.; from either one
Of these sources that justified any Of the positions be had
ed or any other position nn that which be laid down be
the correct onenamey, that the power existed in this Cot
eminent From all these Of authority he should In
few general remarks endeavor sustain HE position He
held that the great and gross into which gentlemen had
fallen on this subject was holding that the citizens nhab
tants domced persons Of the Territories were citizens Of
the United States that they were under and within the pro-
ecton and therefore had the rights secured them that were
secured TO the citizens Of the States under the constitution
This was an ab'urdity and would be shown he when
applied TO the test OF reason the decisions Of courts the
authority OF elemental writer's the uniform practice Of the
Government was the States ofhis Union that framed Tor
themselves and Their descendants within the States this
sti'uon and 80 long remained within the states,
90 long was the protecting shield Of The constitution or sind
around nun 20 long was he restrained In his individual
ton by It's provisions long could he claim each and al
ample o'ds or ms protection but soon be sh the sr
rtors limits over which the constitution threw s protection,
soon be went beyond m restraint and Lost All the rights and
privileges which he enjoyed under il guaranty He held that
man who went without the States entitled, Con-
gress saw ut 70 withhold from him. 70 the right Of hGbe1s