The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-05
THE UNION.

city councils Of Baltimore had appropriated from their
own resources, since the original enactment OF the law
BY the legislature OF Maryland sums equal in the aggre
gate to 4so,ooO. which had been applied exclusively to
the purpose This large sum, Mr.. Mel desired to
say had bsen devoted TO this purpose exclusively and
trey independent OF appropriation Tor the general i'm
provement Of the harbor
perpetuang the right TO collect this special duty was
about 10 expire by limitation he had brought in this bill
SO early in the session The bill itself was but literal
subject
In conclusion, Mr. Mel moved that the bill be laid
aside, to be reported to the House. with recommends
The question on this motion being put, il was agreed
Mr. McLANE moved that the committee do now rise
Mr. yiNTON suggested the propriety Of remaining in
committee, and taking up the California message,
remain in committee, would that the bill from the
Committee on Commerce for the Improvement OF the
Cumberland dam be taken up
Mr. PECK Gt being resolution day. moved that the
committee do now rse that the House may proceed the
regular order OF business,
The question upon this motion being put, it was not
agreed to--yeas 81, nays ~.
The CHAIR stated the next question to be on the
on to take up the bill for the improvement OF the Cum
MT. vINToN inquired whether ii was not necessary
first 70 take vote on laying the California message aside
The CHAIR replied in tone iuaudible at the desk Of
Mr., PECK. rising to a point Of order. held that the
House having resolved itself into Committee OF the
Whole on the state Of the Union for special purpose
and having disposed Of that business, necessary,
under the rules for the committee to rise and report
The CHAIR having sustained the point OF order,
n u ~ Wb ohae, me- ue a 81 no
Union, the House did not into committee for spe
eia purpose, to consider particular BILL the business to
De s neh oss ne ~ as Gy e o.
Mr.. EVANS of Maryland, with entire respect to the
Chair appealed from its decision upon the point Of order
OF the gentleman from Vermont Mr. PECK
Whereupon there arose informal conversational de
bate on the appeal, between the CHAIR, Mr.. p KING
Mr.. ASHMUN, Mr.. DISNEY, Mr. SACKETT, and Mr.
| A. EVANS when
The question the appeal being put the decision Of
the Chair was oveRuled.
Mr. McLANE then withdrew the motion to take up
the bill for the Improvement OF the Cumberland dam
The CHAIR announced that the business having pre-
cedence before the committee was the further conslde-
uments
Mr. SACKETT. who was entitled to the floor, rose
and addressed the committee for an hour, saying: :
Mr.. SPEAKER Shall slavery be extended TO the Terri
tories lately acquired from Mexico be restrained within
its present imsl This question is the real question that
has agitaed and still agates this House and the coun.
try It's transcendant importance has absorbed all other
questions.
This question is generally regarded as question be-
tween the North and the South. Though this Is IN
large sense true, it is by universal truth
There are hundreds and thousands OF the distinguished
men OF the southern States who not only opposed TO
the extension Of slavery, but opposed to the institution
itself Here Mr. SAcKErT quoted from the language OF
Mr.. CLAY, Mr. Mcdowell, and from the writings OF
Washington, Jefferson, and others, showing their oppo
siton to the institution OF savery] II has been repeat
eddy stated that this question arises out OF adesre OF one
part of the Union to gain advantages over another This
is not ue higher far higher considerations have brought
before the country and the world this days business
The rights OF man, his right to HIMSELF TO liberty, are
the causes OF this discussion. The attempt OF slavery to
convert the free portions OF the country into slave States
the immediate Of the excitement on the subject
This is not a questions the principles that divide
have divided the friends OF freedom and the advocates
OF bondage since the love Of liberty began That those
of us who are in favor OF universal liberty should op
pose the extension OF slavery not only natura but IN
eviiable and that those who hold the right OF man to
hold property in man, to- reduce his fellow 10 chael,
should advocate the OF that evil is most natu
On the result Of this question hang the Liberties Of
country as large as the original States We called
upon to establish to operate for the veal or
wo OF this country, for ages TO come.
What are our constitutional dutlesi will first exam
me the constitutional question 70 a ae o. n.y.
fore the constitution was adopted, the old Congress had
passed the ordinance OF 81 In full view oil mat ord'
nance the constitution framed. After twas framed,
Congress Immediately enacted that ordinance This
was an ordinance that covered all the territory the gov
eminent then owned in undsputed stale The Tern
tory OF Mississippi next organized, with provision
reserying the rights OF Georgia Slavery existed IN Geor-
gia; and in the final settlement oil this claim, Georgia
granted the right TO the government to pfoho sla'
very III tndt leITilDfy, eAPcoSy
rights that the government never had the power 10
abolish slavery there.
We next come to the State OF Tennessee That Terri.
tory granted 10 the Union by North Carolina; oai
The deed OF cesson that State expressly reserved all
slave rights and also reserved the laws OF North Caro.
ma in force ill the State 10 be formed out OF the grant
should repeal them by her legislature thus expressly
excluding Congress from all power TO sct so that histo
~ shows an exposition OF the constitution fully war
ranting the exercise OF the power TO prohibit slavery
The Missouri compromise is further illustration OF this
exposition OF the constitution.
next come TO an examination OF the terms OF the con.
stution itself The propagandst says the power to re-
claim slaves guarantees the existence OF slavery IL ~
does then crime also guaranteed Tor the same article
guarantees the surrender OF fugtyesfr from justice slaves
represented persons not as property and as per-
sons the restriction OF the slaves Limitation that The
VII not Proviso against The master has no IN
teest in this he is fully represented Is the slave
who is Affected by this restriction. we have the sole
power over these Territories, and are bound 70 exer
else that power for the benefit OF that country Is there
that countryl There is not man, North or Souih VINO
does not avow and reeae and over again. that he
believes slavery TO be evil tina, is the greatest evil
ever entaled on our country. Then, by what rule oil
Justice can we permit known evil 10 be migrated on
| these institutions We not only have the power over
this subject but charged with the responsibility OF
the subject and northern cannot escape from that
responsibility.
Iwish 10 say few words the position OF the adj
mnistration in relation to this question. believe the
Executive has done much TO secure the cause OF liberty
IN relation 10 these Territories II his policy adhered
TO- no slavery will ever get there for coupling the
Wilmot Provso with II, aud then shall consider the
guaranty complete. would support no administration
that would encourage slavery extensions the platform oil