The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-05

by such principle as is here declared by the senator
from Illinois, debarred from exercising that authority,
would ask, SIR OF whstyalue was the trust What Is ts
worth, II II is to stand at the mercy OF troop OF
whom may find aggomerated in any Territory OF the
United States unable to discharge the trust conferred
upon them, or unwilling the may be. TO rem
der justice to one part OF the owners OF the public do
main.
Mr. DOUGLAS. The senator from Mississippi mfr.
DAvIs puts the question, what number OF people there
must be in Territory before the right oil governing them
selves accrues Without going into the point TO what
number will assume that the right should accrue to the
people the moment that they have enough 10 constitute
government; and, sir, your bill that there are
people enough there TO require government, and
enough to authorize the people TO govern themselves II
there are enough 10 authorize government and to
quire one, and to authorize you 10 let them govern them
selves, there are enough to govern themselves upon the
subject OF negroes well other kinds OF property any
other description OF institutions. Your bill comedies that
government is necessary. Your bill comedies that a
representative government necessarya government
bounded upon the principle OF popular sovereignty and
the right OF the people TO enact their laws and for
that you give them Legislature constituted Of two
branches according 10 the forms find in the different
States and Territories OF the Union. You confer upon
them the right to legsate upon the rghtfu subjects OF
legislation excepting negroes We except The negro
we except African slavery IL they are competent TO
govern themselves upon all other subjects, upon all other
descriptions OF properyf they competent to regulate
the laws in reference to master and servant parent and
child, laws OF descent commercial laws, and all other
laws affecting the rights and property OF the citzens are
they not competent also to enact laws TO govern them
selves in regard TO slavery and negroes Why, sir,
when you concede the fact that they entitled any
government al all you concede the point that Is contend
ed for here.
But the says that he is conendng for prin-
cpe that requires Congress to protect property and am
con,endng against il Not at all, sir. My object has
been to give them such government as will enable them
to protect property Of every kind and description wish
to make no exception; he desires to make an exception
Mr. M bAHs bA'l Gin his seat No, 2. all l, $500. g.
authorizes them 10 protect property in houses, in lands,
in merchandise. property of every kind and description
real and personal But he says you mast limit that, and
MIR. DAVIS No, sir; I do not say that
Mr.. DOUGLAS: I discover my mistake was hold
ing him responsible for The Committee OF Thirteen was
making war upon him, when should pay my respects 10
the Committee Of Thirteen upon that subject They make
the distinction 10 protect all the rights OF property except
African slavery want to know why this exception
Upon what principle is il based What necessity exists
for III Is it not important right 10 the people there,
that relating TO any other institution, any other right
Wny Ie uanm ns DC sxeess 2,
To Congress No, sir. You deny il 10 the people, and
you deny the here and here is to be
Mr.. DoWSs sinerposngS ter Viii the senator allow
me 10 ask him questions
Mr. DOUGLAS Certainly
Mr.. DOWNS made an inquiry in relation to the vote OF
the senator from Mississippi upon the Clayton comPro-
mise bilt
Mr.. DOUGLAS That will do very little TO prove that
this is right that this is wrong, suppose but will
answer the question struggled then, as do now, for
the principle coniendIng for. In my absence
that bill hatched up-hatched up, in my absence,
from necessity that all will ackno wledge. got back
here just in time to vote for the question, after all other
things had ailed-aer the principle had conended for
had failed. did vote for that, rather than 10 have no
government al ALL would have preferred them to have
had that bill pass rather than to havele this people, as
they have been lett, without government But, sir,
while this is the did not then approve OF that pn
cipe, and do not approve OF now. And can put the
question 70 him. whether ne cannot give me better an
that | had, from necessity, when forced upon me by
others, voted for bill containing such cause, rather
than TO leave the people without government and have
the country kept the strife and agitation that has
existed have all Witnessed, from that day TO this
Mr.. DOWNS II the senator will allow me. will
his question and stale The reason The remainder
of the reply totally uaudble at the Reporters desk
Mr.. DOUGLAS. | have a word 10 say. Mr.. Presi-
dent, reply to the senator from mississippi, when be
insists IN favor OF protecting property; and that his
amendment offered Tor the purpose OF protecting proper
ty under the constitution ask you, what authority
be has for assuming that do desire TO protect prop
erty, when wish TO call these people pass such
laws as they deem proper IN respect to property without
any exception. He might as well say was opposed TO
egslaNg favor OF protecting property in merchandise
steamboats, in cattle, or IN real estate, that
opposed to protecting property OF any other descrip.
ton Tor desire 10 put Them all upon equality, and
allow the people TO make their laws in respect to
the whole OF them. The difference is this He desires
amendment which be thinks will recognise the insttu
uon oil slavery now existing IN that country. do
not believe it exists there nov Dy law. believe il is
prohibited there by law at this time. The effect il not
the object OF his amendment, would be to Introduce sla
very BY law into the Territory from which hink large
majority OF this Senate o opinion il is excluded
He calls upon to Introduce II there The senator from
Kentucky, who has brought forward this compromise,
tells that he give vote by which he will
introduce slavery where il does not exist Other sena-
tors have declared the thing TO such extent that
authorizes 10 that the majority OF this Sem
ate will never extend slavery by law into any country
free What then, be the effect OF the adoption
OF this prncples 1t is the insertion OF principle that
will inevitably defeat the bill, which provides Tor the
people government, and leaves them in state OF an
archy. and keeps up excitement and agitation IN this
is the object OF the senator know he has given df
ferent obect-an object which he That object is
to extend the institution OF slavery into the Territory,
or rather believing he does that II Is authorized by
law TO continue that legal existence by law into the
country But do not hold the doctrine that TO exclude
any species OF properly by law from any Territory, IS
violation OF any OF the rights of property Do you not
exclude banks from most of the Tertones DO you not
exclude whiskey from being introduced into large por
ton OF the territory OF the United States by law Do
you not exclude other descriptions OF property-ihat
which is deemed immoral, gambling tables, which are
recognised property In the States where they are toe
rated And has any ever contended thai TIE ex-
clnsion OF gambling table, the exclusion OF ardent
spirits, a violation Of any constitutional privilege OF
right And yet that the in large portion OF the
territory belonging TO the United States There has been
no oucry against that, because II was prohibition
against specific kind OF property. and not against any
section OF the Union How them the senator to make
exception and distinction between kind OF prop
ery that is excluded and another kind that 10 not excu
ded unless it Is that the distinction be drawnthat one
kind OF property comes exclusively from particular
section of the Union Our laws now prevent the
keeper from going into some OF the Territories OF the