The organizer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1849-05-26

As early as 1883. Virginia cedet
tothe confederation the territory which
has since become Ohio, Indiana, iii
nois, Michigan and Wisconsin, on con
dition that it should be laid of int
States which should be admitted in
| to the Union with ''the same rights o.
sovereignty, freedom and independ,
ence as the other States" ia the Or.
ldinance Of 1857, passed by Congress
| for the government Of the Northwes'
tern Territory. was inserted in direct
infraction of The deed Of cession, a
lprOviSo which prohibited African slave
ry in the ceded territory. The rights
of the citizens of that territory were
thereby abridged, and principle en-.
grated into the territorial government
at war with the principles Of govern.
ment which prevailed in the States,
and which prevented even the citi.
zens Of the ceding States from ennis
grating to the new territory with their
property. Although slavery then ex-
listed in all the States. the Southern
States were more vitality interested
in the question and the proviso was
more oppressive to them. But in the
hope of peace, security and prosperity,
under a more stable government Chen
being formed by which equality of
right should be better secured. they
too generously yielded to that proviso.
In the Convention which formed
the Constitution, the question which
Is now convulsing the country was a
second time raised; it was then fully
discussed and understood. The pre-
existing rights of the Southern States
in their slave property were acknowl>
edged and specifically guarded by that
Constitution, which became at once
the solemn covenant of the Union of
these States, and the potent cause,
under Divine Providence, of their sub
sequent prosperity. The second Sec
ton of the first article declares that
representation and direct taxes shall
he apportioned according to numbers,
to be determined by adding TO the
number Of white persons, three-fifths
OF all other persons including slaves.
Slaves, then, constitute a basis rep
resentation, not confined in its appli>
cation to any particular portion of the
Union, but as a general rule. Can
Congress alter or abolish that basis, or
limit its operation to tho old Statesl
We think not. Slaves were regar-
ded in a double aspect-as persons
and as properly. We. asked to be
referred to the clause ofthe Constitu-
ton which gives Congress any control
over the property held by the citi-
zens Of the States. In the States
where slavery exists. we suppose that
no one, with ordinary understanding,
who knows anything Of the structure
1f the Federal Government, whose
mind is unobscured by the polluting
;louds Of prejudice and bigotry, can
believe for a moment that Congress
las any power over any description
Il property We may surely take
his position for granted. But if any
Ihould be so rash as To- doubt il, a
glance at the previous condition ofthe
States, and the purposes and objects
" the Constitution, must satisfy every
candid mind Each State was a sep
rate sovereignty, whose government
vas organized for the protection Of
lie, liberty and property, and having,
IS every sovereignty must, the exclu-
i've protection Of these important sub.
ects. BY the Constitution, no pow I
rs were given away except such as
night be necessary 20 give us a ma
ional character. and national exis-
ence, ia our intercourse with foreign
Iations, and such as might serve 10
ind as togetheras a family OF repub-
ics. The States did not surrender their
onlrol over persons and property J
within their limits; that would have {
estroyed their identity; and allpow-
q not delegated BY the Constitution is !
eservcd 20 the States. The Consti> '
alton Of The United States does not
reaie q Government with sovereign !
over, and property IS subject alone
; the contfol OF a Government having {
ich power. Such control Il an i'm. J
ortant attribute Of sovereignty. In :
eed The protection 70 properly is the !
.rongest ligpme1t Of Government 2
he Government created by the Com ;
itufion a limited. Il must look 20 2
= Consfitnfi0n alone a. the charter i
- power, aud an ita actions must y
, confined wiihin fhs limitn there 4
resefibed. Then Nc power az inier- ,