The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-31

and able to avert the evils Of political disorder by
a political organization adequate to the end TO %
proposed, and no one will deny their right to d.
! so under these circumstances. But there Is
broad boundary between our rights and their du
ties, which we cannot pass, and ought not u
pass--the right TO manage their own interna
affairs in their own way, restrained only by th'
law establishing their Government aud ny tb'
! Constitution and the necessity which Is oui
only justification for action, requires us to go nc
! further Social order is secured, and there oui
action should stop. And there, with very re"
exceptions, wholly unnecessary and unjnstihable
it has hitherto always stopped The necessity
ceasing, the legislation arising from 1t should
! cease also The legislation Of Congress upon the
Territories merely enables them, and this is The
! extent beyond which II should never 90, 10 exer-
else a portion of these natural rights. IL uoeS
not confer upon them any of those rights, because
they do not belong to Congress, to be doled out
10 the PEOPLE as they may want them or M suits
the Congressional temper To hold that Con-
Oress has the sovereign right to legslate over the
! Territories in all cases whatsoever, that the
Territories have no rights in themselves, Is 10
advance and maintain the same doctrine which
has achieved a temporary triumph in Hungary,
Italy and Germany.
But. itisasked, whence did the people the Ter
ritories get the right 10 legislate for themselves
They got it from Almighty God-from the same
Being who gave us our rights, and the power and
will TO assert and maintain them lt isa night IN
berent in every community, that of having share
in making the laws which are TO govern them, ana
of which no power but that of despOtlsm can de-
priye them That power in Europe is the sword
Congressional interpostion only affords the peo-
pe of the Territories the opportunity OF exefcis-
ing and enjoying all their rights, of bringing
them into practical operation, with no other limi-
tations than those arising out Of the Constitution
and their relations TO the United States Their
powers of legislation embrace all the subjects be-
longing to the social condition. There is no act
of Congress, respecting any of the Territories,
which enumerates the various objects of legisla-
ton, and then conters jurisdiction over them
The whole power is conveyed, with very few ex-
ceptious, and these are expressly withheld The
Territorial Legislatures have full authority over
all the concerns of life including the relation OF
master and servant, against which there is nc
prohibition, either express or implied in the
Constitution. Their rights over the subject oil
slavery or servitude are just as complete as those
of the people of the States. Let him who seeks
to deprive the people of the Territories OF their
right over this subject, put his finger upon the re-
striction in our great charter
But even if this power exists, to control the
Territories by the Wilmot Proviso, ought it to
be exercised under existing circumstances One
half the States of the Union believe that no such
power has been delegated to Congress by the
Constitution, and large portion of the other
a.sT N. country S0Sassthe same 7iew % "a,
subject And even those who contend for the
power, admit thin ,nc raNl CT IS not free iron
doubt Besides. fourteen States of the Union see
in this Wilmot Proviso direct attack upon then
rights, and a disregard of their feelings and in
terests. As mere practical question, is the legis
lative adoption of the Proviso worth the hazard
at which alone it can be secured Can any maI
say that the obstacles and dangers which bese
| its adoption ought to be encountered Not tht
slightest good can or Will result from such Con
gressional interference with the rights CT thu
people of the Territories, for Slavery never Car
or will go into the new Territories. Even j
| Congress were to establish Slavery in them, i
would not could not 90 there. Considerations o
profit alone would prevent its introduction int
these Territories
The Wilmot ProvisO is urged upon the groun(
of expediency; it is opposed upon the ground o
constituionaity. Surely it should be abandon
ed, when the adoption of the measure itself would
be so dangerous to the Union and 80 prohtlcss il
its results. For myself will engage in no cru
SADIE against the South. My sentiments upon tn
Wilmot Proviso are now before the country
have been instructed by the Legislature of Mich
time comes, and | Am required to vote upon thi
measure as a practical one, | shall know how L
reconcile my duty to the Legislature with m,
duty to myself by surrendering trust can M
longer fulfil,