Southern patriot. (Houston, Chickasaw County, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-08-08


Joint authority and power TO protect L
the safety and rights and promote the (
int crest Of each by their united
power.
Such is clearly the character and
object Of the General Government, /
and ofthc power and authority con-
lleucd on it. Its power and author
lily, having for its object the more per
feet protection and promotion of the
safety and rights of each and all, il
| is bound TO protect by its united pow
or the safety, the right, the property, |
and the interest of the citizens of all |
wherever its authority extends. II
That was the object for conlcring
Whatever power and authority il has, |
land If il fails to fulfil that, il fails to |
perform the duty for which it was
created. II is enough for tito know,
that il is the right, property Of a citi-
zen Of one Of the States, TO make il
its duty to protect il wherever j. comes
within the sphere OF its au-
lthority, whether in the terrific
ries, or on the high seas, or any
J, where else. Its power and authority
were conferred on it, not 10 establish
or TO abolish property, or rights Of
Iany dicription, but 10 protect them.
To establish or abolish belonging to
the States, in their separate sovereign
, capacily-the capacity in which they
created both the General and their
{ separate State Governments. 1t
would be then, a total and gross per
, version Of its powers and authority TO
: use them to establish or abolish slave
S nv, or any other property Of the citi-
q zens Of the United States, in the ter
. ritories. All the power it has, in that
P respect, is 10 recognise as property
j there, whatever is recognised as such
S by the authority Of any one Of the
C States, its own being but the united
J. Authority Of each and all Of the States
+. and to adopt such laws for its re gula.
II ton and protection as the state Of the
IS case may require. Nor is there the
+ slightest danger, that the recognition
It of the property Of citizens of each and
l. all the States within the territories,
= would turn them into a Babel, as Col
: Benton contends. Allmay co-exist
" without conflict or confusion, by OBJ
= serving the plain and simple rule Of
T. duty and justice.
4 There is another error akin to this
IS that the Mexican law abolishing slave
nv is still in force in New Mexico
J. and California, when not a particle
s. of its authority or sovereignty re-
IS mains in either. Their conquest by
$; us, and the treaty that followed, ex
lc tinguished the whole, and with i
Il. annulcd all her laws applicable t,
r them, except those relating to sucl
x rights of property and relations be
a tween individuals, as may be neces
sarv 10 prevent anarchy; and cvel
IN these arc continued only by su0erenc
nc and on the implied authority G
at the conquering country, and not tn
sh authority Of the conquered, and onl
p from the necessity Of the case, lie
Z. laws abolIishing slavery, arc not en-
ed braced in the exception; and if
he were, it would be taken out Of it, a
" the assent Of Congress could not b
a implied to continue a law, which
re. had no right 10 establish.
CHI But still higher ground may be Il
re- ken. The moment the territory bC
"a comes ours, the Constitution passe
* over and covers the whole with a
1T, its provisions, which from their nj
Of tur9 are applicable to territories, ca
he rving with it the Joint sovereignty an
ch authority Of each and all the STATE
IN; of the Union, and sweeping awe
he every Mexican law incompatible Wi
- the right, property, and relation
or belonging 10 the citizens of Il
Ike United States, without regard to VIII
Of state they belong, or whether it !
Dv- situated in the Northern or the Sout
of em section Of the Union. The ci
of zens Of all have equal rights Of pr,
md lection in their property, relation
ity, and person, in the territories Of ca
ION and all the States. The same pow
ga that swept away all the laws Of Nc
the leo which made the Catholic religi
md the exclusive religion Of the count
his and which let in the religion Of all 1
1t nominations, which swept away
mi the laws prohibiting the INTRODUCED
ted Of property of almost every descr
I'm ton, some absolutely and others /
hey der the condition Of paying duty, a
hat Iofino thpm in dulV free mill 9th