The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-02

with the people OF remote community. without rsnrs
senauon, with separate interests, and OF whose local
concerns we are wholly ignorant Why, this is the very
pfeseAson winch led to our revoluton--the very pre-
tension which Lord North advanced, and which our
fathers resisted The claim was, and it was mbodied in
=, msmofaole act OF Parliament that his Majesty IN
had the night to bind the colonies in all cases
Aud here IN the American Senate, the whole
doctrine OF our revolutionary struggle is cast aside. and
ne very power assumed for a republican Legislature
which was denied 10 monarchlcal one-the power 10
o"d Ms Territories ~ all lchasosper will not
argue such doctrine as that J appeal TO our whole
history for lis refulation The territorial legislatures
our agents And who made them 50 What law OF God
OF man has dealt with human rights to authorize
such pretences w hat SAID our fathers upon this
general subject Why, they acknowledged The right
OF the British Parliament institute governments Tor
the coonys TO establish the general outlines nut not 10
regulate Their internal domestic Such clarn
where there 10 no representations change the as
we may, IN the very oi tyranny. Ii for this
right OF seigovenment thai the patriots of the rcyolu
lon entered into fearful contest with the mghest
on on me lace oil the earth, and out oil which, by the
blessing OF God, and by their un,aunied rmness they
came tsinnphahly securing their berlies and ours
too, so long as we have wisdom and patriotism
enough to maintain them Aud must confess that
nothing has astonished me more, IN all the Discus
sons that have grown out OF this controversy, than
the GOODNESS with which gentlemen rise here and main
tam The right oil Congress 10 legsate for these distant
Territories IN all cases whatsoever, annhalng human
freedom. and establishing arbitrary power by the same
preension II tins is not tyranny, tell what is. lis
your CLAIM founded on The constitution Put your finger
upon The place. and show IT, There the rst word
which expressly or by implication ives it to you. Even
the right TO organize governments not there But you
assume that as matter OF necessity what necessity is
there Tor you, not 10 govern these distant people, but to
iegisale Tor them and to take IRON them the very first
tribute OF freedom Do you found this claim upon your
superior wisdom-upon your capacity TO Judge what
suited 10 the people better than they Judge for them
selves! | ask you where there arbitrary
government which Mad not The same sell sufficient opn
ion Of its own wisdom, and OF the ignorance OF the peo
pie. Lord North thought 80 and said The Sultan
thinks so and at Vienna and Petersburg to doubt such
clear proposition rs to insure residence Liberia, or
exhaust life in Austrian dungeons
The senator from Georgia says, have already
marked, that the territorial legislatures your agents.
and that You may do Anything which you authorize them
10 do deny the proposition altogether. But, while
thus denying IT, do not intend to enter into any poltco
metaphysical dsquislon upon the subject The doc
tIlne Of non-intervenion sound and true one but
there higher and holier doctrine involved in this gen
eral question, practically called IN questionable
right Of man to self government This is not principle
merely, but sentiment, rooted through this broad land
like the our forests The OF this assump.
ton that the rights of these people belong to us, and
that may control them and dole them out at pleas
ure And who gave them To us! In what character
is such terrible power written! No, sir; the people
OF the Territories do not derive their rights from
They were given to them by that same benehcent and
almighty Being who gave our rights, and gave to
our fathers the power and the will 10 assert and maintain
them Our laws for the government of these communi.
ties do not confer these natural rights they only furnish
T. the people the opportunity OF enjoying them. God
gives them to man, and existing circumstances enable
70 create political organizations which their
which society cannot exist II is just with respect
conventions Tor the formation of constitutions We pass
laws Tor the election and convocaon OF such
TONS and because do that, and because assumed
We may do whatever authorize 10 be done, will it be
maintained that taese conventions agents, that
we could perform Their work. and, in superior wis
DOM form constitutions for the people! repeat, cir
cumstances enable you TO call these rights and powers
into action aud II you do not do this the everlasting
right oil sell protection authorizes the people provide
Ior Their own saetyfor their own exls,ence, indeed
IN saw. lr. n sail
cency there people In the Territories who know quite
well do what is good for them, and that, after
man mlgraes to these distant possessions, he lis just
fit TO govern himself as he was before do not believe
he loses particle OF his experience or intelligence by
changing his position and have some claim 10 speak
upon that subject because have lived under territorial
do believe that, by the act OF migration all his natural
rights destroy ed and that he becomes sef OF
the general government
This claim OF entire legislation applies well TO Min
nesota aud to Oregon to New Mexico, and applied
equally the thirteen States forming part OF this
contederacy which first passed through the organization
oil territorial governments | am well aware that the
condition OF the people OF New Mexico q do not speak Of
the American emgrans) has not been such 10 quay
them as fully for The exercise OF some OF the higher pow
ers OF government people. | concede this ;
but still you allow them to regulate all the other great
and vital que sions OF domestic life, which certainly
qure much knowledge and experience for their cor
administration does the relation OF master and
want and there Argument founded on incapacity
which will not apply equally to the former as to the lat
AND BESIDES, Wherever we
will be found that the American population will exert
preponderalng influence IN them engagement of public
concerns.
So much for the general subject And with
spcct my peculiar position. When this amend
meni, restricting the power OF the territorial legislature,
first proposed thought prevailed that could not
vote for the BILL on the ground of its being as-ump
ton OF power by Congress But further reflection has
changed this impression and though am much op.
posed the proposition ever sti do not ia IL
any insuperabIe objection TO my concurrence in the
.I<.n hn
retained in The bill And The view now take is this: |
do deny the duty OF Congress- as matter OF neces
sy, 10 provide for the organization OF territorial gov
Lernments; do deny that in the exercise OF this
power there il reasonable latitude of discretion 10 the
general provisions md Limitations which such political
organization may require. The arrangement OF the
executive, legislative, and Judicial departments, thequa
6caiions OF voters, and certain general principles OF
similar naturepoiicai outlines, lndeed-may rghtiully
belong 10 congressional action They DO not touch nau
raj and domestic relations and while am prepared TO
that any attempt the part OF Congress to cgsate
upon these internal subjects would be resisted by and
II Migrated in the bill would compel TO vote against
II, am not prepared 10 maintain that thus restriction
upon territorial action so clearly beyond our power,
from giving my support to the bill on its final passage
cannot draw clear boundary to the general power OF
establishing governments 10 10 my own convic
ton, that this limitation which cannot be imposed by
the legislature OF the Union While. therefore, shall
vote against it, shall still vote for the bill uness s
other features should be changed to prevent
from giving II my support
Mr. FOOrE rise. MIR President, to note what con-
sder strange Argument that has emanated from the
lie says first what confess hardly believe thai,
the ferr,oyal government derives all Legislative