The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-14

were dissolved, then ne feehng became one oil sec
! tional character. IfN was. but sudden outbreak
of the popular feeling he would not think much
! of it, but il now evident that the whole system
of warfare ON the South was the result Of a cold,
calculating purpose to obtain sectional dominion
over ne affairs of the nation, and which could not
result in any thing but absolute and uncontrolled
power on the one hand, and mean and seryile sub
lection on the other. This was the crevasse which
the Senator should have lent his aid to stop.
What does the Senator propose? Docs he extend
| his hand to check the encroachments of the one
party and 10 protect the other! He comes in here
with his resolutions proposing 10 surrender the
whole of the rights of the South. This course WAS
not unexpected. The press Of the last summer had
given them a letter written by that Senator to the
Abotionsts Of Ohio, in which the ordinance of 'S7
was treated great blessing, and slavery an
evil OF great magnitude. Slavery was pronounced
to be crime and national stain, and the whole
North have waged war upon the institutions OF the
South, and upon that interest in which they have
deeper feeling than any other. Does any one sup
pose that the South will continue to remain in this
Union, bear equal share in its support and Of its
| burdens, when every power Of the Government is
10 be directed TO the destruction of their peculiar
and social interests? Slavery was in existence here
| before the adoption Of the Constitution. In that
Constitution it twas recognised as subject for taxa
ton and for representation. II was recognised in
half of the States by law.
| 1t should be well inquired into what is the mo-
tive for the exercise of this power. The diffusion
of slavery, it was well known, diminished its evils.
|
the lust Of sectional dominion and superiority. The
subject should not be postponed for posterity. We
| should take the responsibility.
! The powers Of Congress were delegated powers.
This power claimed was one which tended to the
| oppression of the minority Congress should not
| have such power.
| He thought that the best preservative of the
Union would be that the South should at all times
have majority in one other of the branches of
Congress. There would then be confidence in the
| Government
| Slavery property, and such was recog-
Missed by the Constitutions; and Congress had mo
authority to deny its removal to any place where
the fundamental law did not prohibit it.
The Senator from Kentucky said the power 10 do
was derived from the clause of the Constitution
| comforting power on Congress to make all needful
rules and regulations for the territory of the United
States. The term "territory" applied to the un-
sold lands belonging to the Union. That territory
was scattered through the several States of the
Union, several of these being slave States. Has
Congress the power to regulate slavery in the terri
tory of the Union situated in the slave Statess If
Congress has no power to prohibit slavery in any
one township in any State, then it has not the
power to exclude it from the vast domain recently
acquired. The powers of Congress, derived from
this clause of the Constitution, were only applica
BILE to the government of its property-is land. In
this view of the subject he agreed with the Senator
from Michigan, (Mr. CAss,) ard considered that
that Senator had placed the matter beyond contro-
versy.
Mr.. d. then examined whether slavery was abol
ished by law actually existing in California and
New Mexico, and read from the several DEGREES
and enactments in Mexico for the abolition of
slavery in that country.
The decree of Guerrero, of 1929, was ikened to
the case of martial law being declared throughout
the United States; and it, under the force of martial
law, the President of the United States were to
abolish slavery, would any believe that slavery
would thereby be abolished in this country? Or
would any one suppose, that if Congress should
subsequently appropriate sum of money to repay
shareholders for their property lost by this Decree
slavery would be thereby abolished2 This was the
sum and substance of the Mexican Legislation on
the subject.
The point that the treaty recognised the laws of
Mexico was commented upon, and extracts from
the correspondence between Mr.. Trist and the
Mexican commissioners were read to show that
proposition made by the Mexican commissioner,
that a provision should be inserted in the treaty
guarantying that slavery should not exist in the
Territories, had been refused by the American
commission.
The declaration of the Senator from Kentucky,
that these resolutions proposed plan where the
concessions of the North greater than the
South, was examined, and pronounced unfounded.
Where was the concession to the South? Was il
in the robbery of Texas of of her territory?
Was ii in the abolition of the slave trade here, out of
regard for the feelings of northern ofice-seekcrs
who flock TO this cityY Was il in the offer TO bride
Texas into the acceptance of money to pay her
debts in consideration of her giving up her terri
tory? These were all the concessions he could dis
cover in the propositions Slavery to be abol-
ished here when Maryland consented and the
owners were compensated for their slaves, said the
Senator from Kentucky. Had the other slavcbold-
ing States interest in the subject Did the slave
holding States fill the treasury TO aid in the pur-
poses Of abolition Were slaveholding Representa-
lives to be denied the privilege of bringing their
property and keeping 1t here in the capital of the
Union? Were they TO be prevented from bringing
their servants so necessary to the comfort of every
southern family, to the seat of the General Govern
menS
Slavery does not exist by any law By refer
discovered that, from all time, that race in
state Of bondage. They were imported here ps
slaves without any law. There could be no law to
establish slavery. There could be no law passed 10
reduce freeman 10 involuntary servitude except
for the commission Of crime.
The abolition Of the slave trade is not 10 the ben
eft of the slave. The slave trade has been the only
permanent blessing which has been bestowed upon
the African race. Slavery was established by the
decree OF the Almighty and the records Of IL exist
from Genesis 10 Revelations. Ii was enough for
him 10 know that il existed in all but one of the
States ofthis Union at the time Of the formation Of
the Union and that IL exists in one-balf Of the
States lts blessings far greater than it's evils,
and far less than the evils which would follow its
extinction by force.
Mr.. ID. then proceeded 10 the exSninaton Of the
Missouri compromise; and read at large from the
speeches and letters Of Mr.. Buchanan that sub
ject, and contended that no man could think that,
in adopting that line, there was not absolute
recognition 10 hold slaves south Of IL, there
a prohibition north Of IT,
Without concluding, he gave way for a motion
70 go into Executive business and, after short
time therein,
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Reports were made from the standing commit
tees; and