The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-13

whether the petition should be recevedi
The VICE PRESlDEN stated the question on the re-
| Mr. DOUGLAS. What wish 10 say is simply this
The other day the proceedings of meeting in North
subject of slavery in The Territories II was inssted that
they should be received, although they related TO the
slavery agitation, because there clear distiDtion
between petition asking for action and that re-
quired action Ibid not perceive the distinction clearly
as others. and opposed to the reception OF peii
tons upon this subject voted against their reception
but was in minority OF two to fifty. Here is peti-
ton asking for n-action againasking that slavery
may be extended II is petition against the action
OF this government for the purpose OF introducing slavery
INTO the Territories II asks non-acton and nothing hn
non-action Inow VOTE in order get In line with the
decision Of the Senate, to receive these peons because
the Senate, with unanm0ug vote with the exception oil
for action were 10 Be received My object i to nd oa
whether or not we can get rule that will be adhered TO-
whether the petition comes from the North OF the South
and hope gentlemen will alike upon the reception
Of pettons without regard to the latitude whence they
come.
Mr. DAVIS OF Mississippi, asked that the rule Of the
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair understands tina,
the Senate has no rule upon the subject; but the para
Mr. DAVIS, OF Mississippi ask ed that it might be read
The Secretary accordingly read as follows from Jefer-
sons Manual, p. At:
| petition prays something, remonstrance has no
Petitions must be subscribed by the petitioners unless
they are attending ot unable to ssn and aveI,ed by
member prese ming affirmed to be all in the handwriting
nc the BY
Senate The averment Of member, somebody without
necessary II Il be questioned i. must be presented BY
member not by the petitioners. and must be opened by
him, holding il In his hand.
shall be received and read the table, whether the
shall be introduced by the President OF member
brief statement OF the contents oil the petition memorial
shall verbally be made BY the inrod ucer'-Rale "a
Petitions memorials and other papers, the
shall bv by lber
in his place brief statement of the thereof shall
be made verbally by the ntoducer; they shall not be de-
bated the day OF their being presented day
assigned by the House Tor the rece Of petitions aer the
@ thirty days Of the session. unless where the House shall
in the order in which they presented - Rule II 80
Regularly motion for receiving il must be made and
Bat cry from the House Of Received, or even lis silence,
dspenses with the orma Of this question it is then 10 be
read at the table, and disposed Of
Mr. KING. do not think that il is a matter OF great
importance whether this petition be received not The
majority, however, have decided to receive it, The OBJ
ec have in view that at this particular period, when
there is SO much excitement not only here but through
the country upon this subject should not by any
act oil ours, increase that excitement and contribute TO
ton should take the that other petitions have
taken But the non-action that senators speak Of is
absurdy. These petitioners ask that Congress shall pro.
M Mr sIssty pouGLaSs Las soTSS The sem senator Is mistaken
Mr.. KING. / think not
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Let the petition be read.
u
Mr.. KING. Does the honorable senator pretend that
this petition does not ask for action the part OF Con-
gress to prevent the extension OF slavery into the Terri
ores Does he not know that without such action every
portion OF this country has equal rights to that Territory,
and every citizen has right TO 90 there and carry his
property Of every description with himi And yet he says
But 60 further. Gentlemen may receive such memo.
rials they please they may discuss them as they
please; but il will tend-and tell them so now-to in
the agitation IN the ani and cannot fail to pro.
duce that effect IL is inevitable.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. | will say to the senator from Ala.
bama, Mr.. KsG.l that | do know that every ciii-
zen and each Stale in the Union have equal right
in the Territories have no doubt about that But,
sir, have as little doubt that slavery does not and
cannot exist in the Territories unless il is extended
there | have little doubt that, by the existing
laws, slavery is prohibited in California and New
Mexico. as have that |, is prohibited In Massachu-
ses or New York have Is tle doubt that i Is
but by the decisions OF the Supreme Court OF the United
States, that the existing laws OF Mexcohe laws rather
they existed al the time of the acquisition OF the coun
yremaned in force. except SO far they in viola.
ton of the constitution OF the United States The law
establishing the Catholic church in those countries is
ss 70 e
the territory was acquired But to be told that the
law Of Mexico which the law adopted by the people
themselves prohibiting slavery, is violation OF the con-
stiution OF the United States
Mr. KING, I'm his seat) The senator is entirely mis-
| Mr.. DOUGLAS | may be entirely mistaken, but I
think the senator from Alabama will find il very difficult
TO prove IT, prepared to show that slavery had been
abolished in Mexico by the legal constitutional auhori-
lies OF Mexico, before The acquisition And am pre-.
pared 10 say more-that the senator from mississippi
mr. 0Avis1 mistaken, when he said that depended
merely upon the military edict OF General Guerrero in
1927. lie first issued that edict, usurper he was
aboshing slavery. The Congress- OF Mexico subse.
quenty affirmed the act and not only abolished slavery
but took thai other step to which the senator from Mis-.
sissippi alluded and provided for compensation to the
owners And they went furtherthey prohibited slavery
| in future by the law OF 1884, believe.
| A SENAToR, lnterposng.) 1885.
| Mr.. WALKER. 1887.
| Mr. DOUGLAS | will not be certain about the date
but ready to enter into the discussion al any time
tiona authorizes OF Mexico, slavery was prohibited in
Mexico, at the time Of the acquison and that prohbi-
ton acquired by US with the soil When we &C.
qsired the territory, acquired il with that law attached
TO IT, and that prohibition must continue forever, unless
removed by competent authority And because there as
prohibition thus attached 10 the SOIL have always
thought that IL unwse, an unnecessary, and an
unjusabe course, the part OF the people Of the free
States TO require Congress to put another prohibition on
the top Of that one The strongest argument, have
urged against the prohibition Of slavery in the Territories
has been, that not necessary for the accomplish
men OF the object; that II unwise, that il
necessary that II irritating section OF the COM
munity without doing any good, or accomplishing any
objsct in jurisdiction have always held that doc.
trine, and have opposed the Wilmo, Provso il has
been called upon the ground Of the prohibition Of slavery
in the territory; aud that ii violation Of the great
principles OF selfgovernmen upon which constitu-
lion rests, TO egislae upon the subject II question
which ought to be LETT for the people themselves to de-
eide for themselves have always held, and hold now,
that II the people OF California want slavery they have
right 10 IT, they do not want it, Should not be forced
- -. -m..- Il a -