The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-23


cures an equality OF rights to the citizens Oh me sevsIa
States OF this Union. and was proceeding 70 snow 'na'
the Wilmot Proyso was IN direct eonlct WIN 'uls p'V -
vision or thar instrument stated, sir tha my righ 70
INV slave was recognised by the constitution, moi only 10
exist in my own State where slavery was allowed by
the local ST % certain a, va'I % oho
and enoy our right OF property in them here Tor the rea
SON thar the local laws OF the State forbid II; bat the
Union and the citizen OF Kentucky much entitled
TO participate in their enjoyment as the citizen oi any
other State What law, preence OF law, ~ there for
the doctrine which permits the citizen OF Ohio 10 emgaie
lhither with his property and enjoy il when there but
denies that right TO the citizen OF kentuckys The c
oil Kentucky entitled to the same privileges and
under the constitution, which are enjoyed
by the citizens any all the Sates yet we are told
when take our property, which Is recognised and
guaranteed by the constitution TO the new Territories
where there exists no law TO forbid it, we shall not en-
Joy these privileges and immunites to the same extent
and in the same manner they are to be enjoyed by c
zens OF other States. ~.
MAsk, in combating the doctrine that we have right
10 take slave property. which exss only in portion OF
the Sates to the new Territories, and hold when there
into The Territory and asked, with air Of Triumph il
he would have a right to do sol answer, unhesiia
iingy yes and there exists power in this government
peventt The moral sentiment OF the people would re-
volt so sinful and unchrisan practice; but where is
the aw to forbid III Suppose, for instance poygamy
prevailed in any one Of the States Of this Union and was
authorized by law who could forbid the poygamist from
emigrang with his family of wives to the new Terrific
res. and maintaining his relations with them 80 long as
the Territories remained in their present unorganized and
dependant condition 1t seems to me the gentleman
would look in vain 10 the constitution for power to pre-
vent it, Among some OF the Indian tribes within the
States polygamy exists and s recognised by the courts
in adudcating upon their rights, and the practice OF po
lygay doubtless now exists with some OF the tribes
which inhabit the Territory,
In States says the honorable gentleman lotteries
are authorized by law; and he desires 10 know II the Cit
zen from Of these States would have right to carry
with him the local law authorizing lotteries. The PRIV.
ege OF drawing lotteries bears analogy to the right OF
the master to his slave. The one depends exclusively
upon the local law and has no special recognition or
guaranty by the federal constituton the other right
which is recognised and sanctioned BY that instrument
The one is bare, naked privilege to do particular
thing, particular place the other is right to hold
tangible, existing thing, property-no only at par
cular place. but wherever in this broad Union, that
thing may chance 10 be- Ii lotteries had the same sane
lion and protection given them by the federal constitu-
lion which is given to slave property, then undoubtedly
while the Territories remained without local govern
citizen living in State where lotteries were
authorized by law would have right TO carry them
with him; and il would be equally great infraction
Of that instrument to exclude lotteries by an act OF Con-
Our government is OF equality among the several
States OF the Union, as well as between the citizens OF
The several States The Wimot Proviso, if you fasteu
upon destroys that equality and degrades the State
from which come, and her citizens, by institutng an
unjust and humiating discrimination between them and
The citizens OF other States II was in my humble udg-
nent to prohibit and guard against this discrimination
that the clause of the constitution TO which have re-
ered inserted in that instrument Deny to us the
same rights in the enjoyment OF the Territories, which
you concede 10 others, and you not only do us great
wrong but do violence that plain provision Of the con-
slitution.
The honorable gentleman from Indiana Mr. FIrcHl
assumed the position, in his speech, that the right OF
Congress nerdict slavery in the Territories was set
tied by the ordinance OF lS7 and that BY that ordinance
slavery abolished in territory where i had previously
existed Sir, with due respect for the opinion OF my hon.
oabe friend, am constrained to say that the ordinance
did neither II neither settled the constitutional power OF
Congress 10 interfere with slavery nor abolished in the
territory. The ordinance adopted before the adoption
Of the constitution, and principle established by 1t
in regard to slavery which not the result OF mere
consent Upon the adoption OF the federal con-
stluton any citizen OF any of the slave States, who
chose TO subject himself the risk OF removing his slaves
TO the territory, might have done so, and the courts o
justice would have settled the question as 10 his right TO
hold them Whether the question so tested,
do not know; but this thing certain beyond contro.
versy that slavery did exist in the territory and does,
believe to some extent exist there now notwithstanding
the prohibition OF the ordnance. The census tables Tor
ls40 show that there were. at thai time, sti slaves in
Illinois, IL in Wisconsin, in Ohio and in Indiana As
late 1918, the State o Illinois, in forming her cons
ton, recognised the right TO hold slaves at particular
point in the Territory and provided for the extinction OF
the remnant of slavery witch then existed. II slavery
abolished by the ordinance, and the ordinance
binding and obligatory IL strange beyond measure
that it should have been agrany violated for period
OF many years
II the ordinance and iis provisions were Imperative
they applied well the States when formed under the
the individuals who inhabited the Ter
ritory But who preiends that the States formed out OF
the Northwestern Territory, and admitted into The Union
under the constitution, could not il they had chosen 10
do so, recognise exclude slavery al their pleasure
Illinois, IL seems did, TO extent recognise and tole
rate IL and she had perfect right, one OF the sover
egn States OF this Union, to do So Notwithstanding the
ordinance.
The ordinance established no precedent by which TO
give construction 10 the constitution on the subject OF
slavery, any more than the Missouri compromlse did.
The latter has been acquesced IN by common consent
and so soon as that consent withdrawn the line estab
lished by twill have no efficacy than one drawn
upon the water in the air shall not pursue this sub
lect further The want of power in Congress 10 lnterdct
slavery in the Territories clear 10 my mind that II
seems Incredible any man should doubt.
There is misaking the design and purpose OF those
who are engaged in this cIusade against the rights and
interests OF the people OF the South The tone and tenn
per OF portion of the people OF the Nohhe resoute
and uncompromising spirit OF their representatives on hs
door-the admissions which they makeall lndcatsthat
The exclusion OF slavery from the Territories IN some way
determined upon, LET the consequences be as they may
The gentleman from Ohio Mr. RooTl declares, with an
reverent appeal to God, that be will not compromise TINS
question-bat he will never consent that slavery snail
have foohold in singh inch OF the Territory ms Is
not all Il may be gathered from what has been SAID up
on this hoor that the exclusion OF slavery IRON the Ter
rItories is only part Of the grand design Inc Tree
States be brought in such close proximity to the
slave States that the spirit Of freedom operating upon
the slave will reduce his number TO so small nucleus
that what is left OF the institution will not be worth pre-
serving in other. WORDS the exclusion oil slavery IRON
the Territories is only the whereby the slaves OF
the South may be seduced, run off, or stolen IRON tnei
masters and the institution OF slavery in the States,
which they cannot now reach, and dare not attempt 10
reach by legislation, be thus broken up THIS s the real
ultimate end 10 be accomplished.
ls il to be Supposed sir that the representatives upon
this hoor in whose keeping are the interests OF those