The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-04-25

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SPEECH or HON. W. Nc WILLIE,
OF MISSISSIPPI, m
1y THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
aTIvEs, MARCH A; 1850.
In Committee ofthe Whole on
the state of the UniON on the Pres
idents Message communicating
ths Constitution o. California.
Continued.
Mr.. McWILLIE said:
Tho next proposition to which ]
shall call the attention Of The committee
is, the question of slavery, as connected
with the territories. This IS fearful
question-one which will. and which
ought to dissolve this Umon, if the
claims set up by the North are to be
nsisled upon. will ask, sir, then
what are these claimsl Why, they
are simply that the free States
take for their exclusive use and bene,
I'll the whole ofthe territory now own
ed, or which hereafter may be owned
by the United States-excIuding the
slaveholding States from all partlcipa-
lion in the territory acquired by, the
common blood and treasure of all the
tates-with the resulting consequence
hat slavery is to be confined 10 its
present limits, and that no slave States
shall ever hereafter he permitted to
enter this Union. This would be a
rnost iniquitous proposition, even if it
had the sanction of the constitution
upon Its side; but when it is reflected
that itls as gross a violation of the
Constitution, it is of the common
principles of honesty and Justice, how
can it be expected that the southern
States will submit to tl They ought
not-they cannot-they will not.
Mr.. Chairman, | intend to speak
plainly, because think we ought to
understand each other, I will then
say that my mind is deliberately made
PIP to the conviction that the, South
ouoht not TO take less than the Mis-.
Rourl compromise, with such guaran.
lees as this Government can give that
tile agitation of the slavery question
shall cease in reference to this Dis,
tIict, and in Congress generally and
that the non-slaveholding States shall
be required, either by the action Of
Congress or the action Of their
Slate Legislatures, to- abide by and
execute that article Of the Conslitu
lion which makes it the duty of those
States =, TO deliver. up runaway slaves
these questions, sir, must be settled
Low five desire to save this Union
Any attempt 10 defeat the just rights
ptthe south will, in my opinion, al
certainly destroy this Union as that
low address you; and he who votes
Ior abolition ofslavery in this District
or the exclusion of the South from
Just participation in the territories
may resi- assured, that ff hia vote il
ronsumated by legislation, that he
'o1ss dissolution of ihe union.
mr. Chairman, | have stated that
my Velw Of this question, Congress
ba aa 10 power to prohibit slavery il
ne territories; and in support Of this
posltOn call on times who claim, The
o"or' 20 show any article rofthe con,
mutton which confers it. / aver il
'yss no such power, and if it is moi
lne Constitution il cannot be exer-
,.sea oy Congress-; because the Consti.
sa,... o',on uses the following very explicll
Tllsuage IN reference Ia our powers
10 tenth article of the amendments
Olns Constitution is ia the following
~ o'uT The powers not delegated L
y United States by the Constitu
W. nor prohibited BY il to the State
Y reserved 70 the State respectively
= me people" This article Of the
.;S.''qtion ra;s ln is an estoppel to the ex,
Use of this power, unless it can arise
u'Pl'catlon from some of the express
N aus Of power. This is admitted by
even those who claim the puwer
", "Is state Of the argument we arc
~ the allegation that Congress
ra.,t y me right to acquire territory BY
nu., ,n and the right Of acquisition
ron the necessity Of the case,