The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-06-13
what apUeared IN The Daper.

adopting any legislative provision re- |
cognising slavery and said that it was /
the same as the Wilmot Proviso, now
deadin effect. 1t proposed that Con-
gress should take action against it.
The latter had been opposed because
Congress had no power over the subs
iect, and he was not willing TO vote
now for any enactment extending slave
ry. He was opposed to all legisla>
tion by Congress on the subject and
such was the doctrine Of the Southern
Address.
He then examined the subject Of the
right ofthe people in the Territories to
act for themselves on all questions re-
lating to their government, and mains
tanned that congress had no authority
whatever over the subject Of slavery
in those Territories. Hebelieved that
the right to hold slaves in those Terri
tories was secured by the constitution,
and required no legislation by Con-
gress to protect it. He considered
that the right being constitutional
one, the territorial legislature would
have no power over 1t in any way and
that all attempts TO deprive the slaves
holder of that right, or to violate it
by any means, would be redressed
by the Judiciary. He believed that
without any such enactment, the ter
rilorial legislature would be obliged
by constitutional obligation upon
them, TO afford to all kiuds Of property
such protection and security as was
|, needed. He denied that congress had
the power to limit or deny that the
territorial legislature should give this
protection
+, Thepeople of the South will go there
} with their property; they have the
. constitutional right to do so and the
d legislature Of the Territory will have
g no power to interfere with them; if it
o does then the courts will set aside their
!. proceedings aud nullify them as uncon'
H stitutionaI. As evidence Of what was
i. considered republican doctrine in times
al gone by, he read from letter written
e BY the late John Quincy Adams, dur
q ING the Presidential election of 1894
al John Taylor, of Caroline, showing Lha
as he, Mr.. Adams, was sound on the
is slavery question, IN 1928, Gen. Smythe
$. Of Wythe county, had attacked Mr.
-. ., o,oo,,,t nf his vntnS nDOl
&c the question of territorial government
~ in Louisiana. Mr.. Adams detendee
~ himself, and showed by his votes ii
re- the Senate that he believed Congres
il had no right. to legislate for the Terri
ed tory of louisiana, even to establIal
m governments and that he had reFuse'
IS, to vote for all acts establishing gov
ne ernments there. The letter was pub
nj lished in the Richmond Enquirer, ant
n. was welcomed by the venerable ehto
n. of that paper at the time. lie rea
ad also an extract from that letter of MI
,te Adams denying the exercise by Con
,at gress Of powers analogous to what wa
an contemplated to be exercised at tn
present time.
he This was considered at that time a
lof sound republican doctrine by Statei
- right men. Then it was denied thi
,ch Congress had any power over thes
ich Territories in the way of government
ro- nowit is proposed that Congress shou'
ent not only exercise those powers, but
,ss should be the fountain from which II
lad territorial legislatures were to derry
uld their powers. Congress was now ca
Of edupon to exercise powers byits agen
which then and now were denied
the itself The constitution was conslde
his ed as the paramount laws now il Is pr
Vas posed that it shall be strengthened al
- proped up by Legislative enacment.' !
con He was opposed to it all. He h
lich an adding faith in tee constitution
hat rights Of the south and desired
tor. leeisatior by congress to sustain the
tiers He was sorry that he differed tro
pa many of his friends. But he had
fear as to the consequences to hlmse
the He felt sure that his efforts to elect
happysettlement would be apprtecrlat, !,
at home. He had been assured Of u
ieen Yesterday qy distinguished citizens
cad his State, who assured himthat the Sc
re- timeuts uttered by him were those 9
the large majority of the people Of MISS ,
the sippi. A large meeting had been NJ
the in Jefferson county, in that State a
resolutions were adopted unanlmou '
ex- in favor of settling the whole sup!
re- by one general measure.
they He expected 10 be attacked BY uilI
SEN but he disregatded them, whether y
TODD came from the North or South.
de- expected to be replied to by the Sel
lblic tor from Alabama, but he knew
! fin the controversy would be courte'
70 to and decorous. He held in his p
suss the resolutions Of Mr., Calhoun :
lust mitted 10 tile Senator February :