The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-18

was deviAng for the exclusion OF slavery from
providing for the suppression of the African slave trade
mus, the representatives OF the newborn republic eg
atng for the old government and framing new system
Tor the better administration of their common concerns
sitting IN different places and acting ~ separate caae
tes-were Jointly engaged in eradlcalng what ihey con
sldered great public evil and reproach Whlle me
former declared that slavery should henceorh be forever
prohibited in the Northwestern Territory, the latter virtu-
ally declared (though in the form of restriction on the
exercise OF power the American slave trade should
cease after the year 1907 1t would have been abolished
al once but for the opposition OF South Carolina and
Georgia. the only States which at that time desrous
OF continuing il.
In the federal convention, Virginia was among the
foremost IN her opposition to the slave trade. Madison
and Mason and Randolph were distinguished for the
ability and zeal with which they advocated ITS lmme
date suppression. They were unwilling TO wait twenty
years for It's abolition But their efforts unavailing
and for fear South Carolina and Georgia would not come
INTO the Union, compromise was agreed on, and the
lrac was tolerated until 1908 On the first day OF January
OF that year. the very first day Congress had power to
make It's prohibition effective, the slave trade was abo
lshed forever by an act passed ten months before.
have stated these historical details, Mr. President for
The purpose of showing two facts l. That the policy OF
the founders OF the republic to get rid OF slavery by
preventing its extension, and by suppressing the African
slave trade and g. That OF the southern States
were among the foremost in advocating both measures,
with view 10 the accomplishment of the ultimate OBJ
ject One OF the avowed objects OF the abolition OF the
slave trade to prevent the extension OF slavery INTO
the territories The same policy prevailed Tor many
years. The inhabitants of the Northwestern Territory,
or pOrtOn OF IL, (tnat pOfi0n DeIese, WHICH now
constitutes the States of Indiana and Ilinos) petition
ed Congress for the privilege of importing slaves from
the States and they had sufficient Influence to obtain
two reports in favor of temporary suspension OF the
sixth article OF the ordinance of 1851 But their prayer
was not granted The inhabitants OF Louisiana, before
the abolition of the slave trade, pettoned for the prvi-
Wherever Congress had the power, it was exercised to
prevent the extension of slavery beyond the States and
Territories in which ii existed. :
have always been opposed to interference with slave
ry where it exists The federal government has
troll it, directly indirectly, within the limits OF the
States. is civil relation over which they have ex-
temine whether il shall be continued abolished with
in their limits But it is not so with the territories.
Congress has always exercised the power of regulating
their civil as well their political relations The terri
toral governments the creatures OF federal legisla
ton they have powers except such conferred
them by Congress Congress stands 10 the nhabit-
ants of the territories in the relation in which the State
legislatures stand to the people OF the States The power
of regulating the internal concerns OF the inhabitants OF
the territories has been exercised under every admnstra
ton since the formation oil the constitution.
Sir, hold the exercise OF this power Tor the exclusion
OF slavery from California and New Mexico to be even
of higher obligation than was in respect to the North
western Territory. Slavery existed in that territory at the
time the ordinance OF 1857 was framed and passed The
tenure of slaves owned by the inhabitants OF the territory
and held within it was sanctioned by the courts The
prohibition construed to extend only to persons born
brought into the territory subsequently TO The adoption
of the ordinance.
different Mexico long since abolished slavery through
out her limits The abolition was hrst publicly pro-
claimed by President Guerrero in 1929, in pursuance, as
the decree declares OF extraordinary powers vested IN
him. |, again declared 10 be abolished by act of
the sovereign Congress in 1887 and again ny the const
tuition of 1874. Though, as nation but iinperfecty
civilized, struggling against the embarrassments of bad
government, and distracted by internal dssensons, ars-
ing in great degree, out OF the heterogeneous character
of her population Mexico has, nevertheless, placed her
institutions the broad foundation of human Liberty, by
declaring all within her limits to be free.
To permit slavery TO be carried into California and New
Mexico would be to annul this declaration, and to re-
establish slavery where it has been abolished cannot
to any settlement of this question which can by
possibility have such a result
Mr. BERRlEN. | desire to inquire of the senator
from New York if he intends to assert that the prOcama-
ton of President Guerrero issued under any power
specially delegated to him in reference to this subject
Mr. DIX. | vii! answer the senator with pleasure;
take the decree as find it. said that the first public
declaration made by President Guerrero IN. 1929, IN
pursuance, his decree stated. of extraordinary powers
conceded TO him. under obligation to inquire
further in relation to the matter, to look behind the act
for the authority on which it was founded.
Mr. BERRlEN. ask the question with view of
tend that slavery abolished in New Mexico by virtue
OF any other power than this proclamation
Mr. DIX suppose it was abolished BY virtue OF the
authority which the decree made. | have the
decree and will read it, if the senator from Georgia de-
sres it.
Mr. BERRIEN. The senator is not aware, perhaps
of the fact that the power granted to the President was
given him for the purpose of repeng invasion, and had
no other object | would PROFOUND another question
Ii slavery aOO!sneu force OF the
President Guereroin 1929, what slavery remained in Mex
leo to be abolished by the act of the sovereign Congress-
and whence did the sovereign Congress derive the power
to do that which belonged to the municipal authorities of
the several States exclusively
Mr. DIX. | prefer not to answer the inquiry OF the
Senator; it will require diversion from the of
my remarks, which do not care to make [Appen-
dix No. 81 repeat-the first public declaration that
slavery abolished was made in 1929; the next by
the Congress OF 1897 and they were virtually reafirm
ed by the constitution of 1914. l do not design now
go beyond the limits of these executive. Legislative,
and constitutional acts to inquire into the authorities
upon which they res,el. | stated, when was inter-
would be to slbver the prohibition contained in these
acts This is the first great objection. The second is
that il would be unjust to the community at large, by
promoting the multiplication OF race which adds neither
to the intellectual physical power OF the body polite
and which excludes free labor far extends the
jectons to it. 1t should be object to promote in
every constitutional mode, the extension OF free labor
and the efecua is to devote the unoccuped spaces
of the west to the white The third objection u.s.
that it would be unjust to California and New Mexico
They have slaves. believe am authorized to say
they desire
Mr.. FOOTE. would inquire OF the senator from
New York if he considers that any injustice will result to
California and New Mexico by allowing the people OF
those territories TO do with this matter they please
Mr.. DIX. | am in favor OF doing what the fathers of
the republic did in relation to the Northwestern Territory
of preventing the extension to California of what they
considered, and what | consider, great evil If we
carry slavery into New Mexico and California we shall
do against the wishes of the people there They have
slaves now and should plant slavery where it does
not exist We should stand before the world in the same
relation in which Great Britain stood to her American
colonies. She allowed slavery to be carried into those
colonies against their wishes, and, in some instances
aua al hpi rannp