The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-08
SLAVERY IN THE TERRIToRrRs9

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SLAVERY IN THE TERRIToRTESs n
SPEECH OF q "a &.
Mr.. A, w. yENABLE, of North Carolina,
In THE HoUsE OF RErREsENTArIyEs, ~.
WIZ Jaae I, 1913. 90 W. 4. 4.
Ia Committee Of he Whole, upon The poscsr or Con-
gress TO iegsIae upon the subject Of slavery y, ts
Territories. "a Y fsih 1s ssfssgt9efFT "a
HIr, sYENABLE said. s
Mr. CHAIRMAN: The extent to which Con-
gress may exercise Legislative authority over
the Territories Of the United States, has be-
come a subject Of most absorbing interest II
is felt TO be so in every portion of our country
has been the source of deep feeling and agi-
tating debate, and will continue to excite and
disturb the repose of the country until definite
action shall fix a conclusion for the popular
mind. am not one of those who belive that
evil must grow out Of full and fair discussion
amongst statesmen, on great constitutional qucs-
tons involving our rights; nor shall be de-
TERED fromsa thorough investigation, by elm
NOR about distractions, often raised to prevent
the analysis Of the principles which areeontained
in an important line Of policy. Every funda-
mental truth is an abstraction, and he only is q
great statesman who can first analyze question,
and then, by his mental balance, weigh the re-
suit of the operation. and ascertain the proper
force and value Of the elements which colnpose
it. Facts often mislead us, because. we assign
wrong causes for their existence !; and when this
is done, the most plausible array Of facts, the
most ingenious deductions therefrom, are lelu-
siye, for the same reason Truth reduced to its
elementary principles, affords the only safe guide
to Investigation. and the only satisfactory con-
illusions are those which are formed from snch 4
DEVELOPMENT. Nm 4 -..s y.
This subject. Mr.. Chairman has became ono
Of great practical imnortance. and avail mvseIf
of This occasion II present nv v;eu,s ~ tha com
mittee and the country--to assert the RIGHTS Of
nv constituents and the State which i In mart
represent. to the common property of ali the
people of all the States. A convention recently
held ut Raleigh. speaking the sentiments Of the
Democracy Of North Carolina. most distinctly
asserted their opposition to the doctrines recently
made prominent, by their tendency to restrict
the occupation Of the territorial possessions Of
the United States to those citizens who reside
in States where slavery does not exist Tbe
clear and temperate but decided manner in
which their deterppation ~, resist s,,cl onin;ons
is EXPRESSED. admon;sh me of the pronretv az
urGino their wishes upon this House: whilst i
assure YOU that their conclusions are not-refera-
ble Ia ;mnetnosifv IN action. nor have tbev baen
rash IN their adoption. Their history IS that, Of
a quiet. rejecting people never involved IN the
vortex of high partv impulse--patient of WRONGS.
when the remedy was to be seen in the fnnda-
mental laws OF the country-deyoted to the
Union and the Constitutioi,--ready to make
sacrifices where prudence Or patriotism required
them hui. never WILLING TO abandon either their
4.
them "a patriots should. but always EXPECTING
fiat senlichtened statesmanship. and the hioR
sense of Justice which should characterize their
fellow-citizens who were lied to lepislate for
our common country. would accord to them
what was due. and remedy or remove any cause
of compl4 int
In asking the indulgence Of the committee
whilst Iendeayor to aroue this onest;on. i sim
eerely hone that NAV be believed when de-
clare that nv purpose Is not to aoitate hut to
comnose-to nopr oil an the waters which have
been troubled-to present M, useless and dis
tracing issues. nor to place our friends in the
North snd West in a false position before their
constituents. We desire no sacrifices Of the
kind; we only ask for the guarantees of the
Constitution; and we feel assured that we shall
not ask in vain / trust sir, that | shall be able
to present such a view of this question, that all
of us may at least acquiesce in taking posi-
ton which secures the honor Of all, and does
equal justice to all that a good understanding
may be established, and peace and good win be
restored to our deliberations. The heirs Of a
common inheritance, won by the sacrifices and
the valor Of our ancestors, or accumulated by
the progress of our own greatness, should never
descend from their high station to wrangle
about the position, or permit folly to estrange
those who ought to be bound together by the
most sacred bonds. @ @@
With this view, sir, declare that we are con-
tent to abide the Missouri Compromise; mot that
we believe that Congress had any right to am
mex any such condition or to enact any such
law; but the compromise having been made and
acauiesced in for near thirty years, there is no
purpose entertained by any Southern statesman
to disturb it now. If this compromise would
adjust this difference. If it would compose this
trouble. we are content to abide it, and the re-
newal of its operation recognized by the laws
admitting Texas into the Union, and adjusting
its territorial limits. In donng this, and enter
inc our protest as to the power of Congress to