The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-01
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPEECH Ow mn. UNeEUWO0D
or KENTUCKY,

Un,ted States, Nay 2s, 1850.
The Senate having under consideration the Compro-
mise BILL and the pending question being upon The fol
lowing amendment, offered by Mr. PRATT, VIZ
ssrike words respect TO-" and intro
duce escluds, and after the word sasery insert fe
's~s%s rssaa s'3f Tas, nonx herein contained shall bs
sued prevent said territorial legislature passing such
pforsriy of any kind. which May have been may be
her aef cont riaaby 10 the constitution and laws Of the
United sa'or held In os Introduced INTO SAID Territory
Mr. UNDERWOOD said Mr.. President since yester-
day have laid my bands the amendments proposed BY
the gentleman from Indiana mir BRGurl and myself 10
the territorial bill providing for lhs Of Oregon,
pending in the lasl Congress will state. in the first
place, the action Of the Senate and committee OF eight in
reference 10 those amendments The amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. BRrGHT was in the following words:
ssc And b e J.,thy s~aetsd. That all tho ,eri.
tory owned BY the uo,,-d Sn,c-, including Oregon, New
Mexico and Upper Cahinn.n which lies north OF thtry,
Involuntary 1y,t,le, than
crimes, whereof the parties shall have been duly
ainass That any pe'son escaping into the same, from
whom iab,r service iawiuy clsmed IN any Sac or
Territory Of the United States such fugitive may b. law
fully recaimej aud conveyed the person claiming has
her labnr or service, as aforesaid
Mr. BRIoHT gave notice that he would, at proper
time offer the amendment which have lust read and
gave notice that. should his amendment be offered would
move 10 qualify II BY Offering the following:
Provided f,th, That Of the United States. emi
grating with their slaves INTO any OF he lertttnue, OF tie
United south OF said parallel ofa,itude shalt be po
their property their s;aves long the Ter
ri.oy which they emsrale connaes unds territorial
government.
Subsequently modified my amendment. SO to make
it conform to the language of the constitution fol-
lows
Provided further Tha, Of the United States, emi
grating Territory Of the United States souh Of sud
parallel Of aiI,uds aud taking them any person held
10 service labor by the laws OF the state Territory
they emgrate, shall be projected In the and
enjoy OF such service labor SO long he Territory
which they setIle south OF SAID parallel, continues
under territorial government
After notice bad thus been given, and these contem-
plated amendments had been submitted to the Senate and
ordered 10 be printed. motion was made TO refer he
original bill, with the amendments. to committee OF
eight, raised expressly to consider the whole subject
with settle and adjust the perpexng questions
growing out Of the acqas'tioRof new territories was
newed the proposition establish the line of SO deg 30
m,n and 10 emigran,s settling south OF that ne
the nght take with them, and TO be po'er a IN hC
ing their slaves during the existence OF te urla 60
einments As matter OF course, The peoE IN forming
State constitution, would have the right 10 regulate The
equal division Of the commteeouf IN iasor OF II, and
four against H.
Afle the proposition thus Lost, proposed TO the
committee another mode OF settlement and that was to
organize territorial governments and to leave the decision
the question OF slavery 10 the people OF the Territories
themselves Upon that poposon introduced bI myself,
found that the gentleman iom New York Mr. DicKIN-
soNl only democrat name, but one in reaty
He the only gentleman that voted with me on the com
mee in favor OF that proposition There these Iropo
sons ended What else took place IS matter of pubic
history As everybody knows, the bill commonly called
the Clayton Compromise bill presenting Judicial ques
on to the country To be dec,ded by the supreme Con
reported BY the committee o eight voted against
upon the ground that II enilre surrender OF TIE
question: so the interests OF the South were con-
cemed The same questions are now presented BY the
pending amendment To the bill which have before
and upon those questions propose 10 make lew re-
marks.
If the line 3e deg 80 min. could yet be obained |
should certainly advocate and for il. But believe
there no chance to secure II with the present Con
gress AT the tine should have firmly coniended Tor
~ .,.l - ufu and la u,
slave property the south side OF it, were led astra
by that ,gnu fatuAs, tie Clayton Compromise bi and
tn deusive notion that the constitution OF The United
States authorizes engta TO take slaves TO any erro
w and there hold them IN slavery, Irrespective OF natural
law or the ieI lo in favor OF rcedom The opporun
ty fear il gone forever tue line OF % deg 80
min The South did press during the las, Congress.
should have been done We were led OIL by southern
men upon constitutional positions utterly uDtenablc 10
my Judgment We have questions OF the same kind
now and whilst talk, talk, talk, about constitutional
constructions and interpretations, and deay acon, our
chances part OF he territories oI te use oi
Shareholders become less and less every minute wish
10 call public attention TO 81 these prominent er-
rcrs i.
Mr. President the doctrine bas been asserted on this
floor that Congress has To ieglsaie upon me
subject Of slavery within the Territories conceive that
TO be agrea, most unfortunate error TO The south
portion o the people OF The United States us len
dency relieve northern members OF responsibility
10 save their popularity, and to enable them 10 escape
voting upon measures which would necessarily subject
them under the sectional eacitemehts unfortunately pre-
differ ent sec,ions extensive country. am mol
sure that th. docne is the invention OF presidential
asprants who wish sad into port under the non com
initial flag.
ask tbose gentlemen who contend That congress mas
no power over slavery the Territories whether they
wish be understood asserting that congress cannon
within the Terutores execute the powers ronhded ny
the constitution OF the United States Tor general and
national purposes DO they mean that Congress can m
s,,iue no government at all in the Terr,tonss have
heard long this question has been penoing
10 far say Congress does not possess authority
10 execute the powers Of the constitution, granted o'
national oblseu, by suitable governments within the
Territories. To lustrat. You nave land IN the Ter
r,ories: will IT be conisnded that Congress cannot
adopt system Of regulations Tor the management OF b's
land Under the clause oi The constitution giving power
10 dpoee OF and make all needu rules aud regulations
respecting The territory and oher property ohDhe United
States, there rs an express grant of power TO thai
extent Now, let us ses with reference TO property IN
land, what reg nations must be made carry this
pressly granted power into effect.
There is clause in tine constitution, every body
knows that confes the power to make all laws which
expressly granted powers, any power vested by hs
Constitution in the government OF the United States, o
in any dspsrtment or officer thereof Now, SIR, inqur,
for how this power over land IN the Territories
be exercised, and What machinery 10 essentially ne
cessary d,spose OF and sell the land on must hav
the land surveyed. You must grant hles You mus
preserve from trespasses To do hss you may ,eas'
It, Now all these things have been heretofore done
from the foundation OF the government, without once
ton from any quarter Our laws for preserving the lan
from espass, leasing IT, surveying II, selling H. convey
ing il, known to all the world. II IL Impossible
discharge constitutional duties IN respect TO the pup
.. uhtrt