Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-08


opinion that slaves be introduced and held property
within the Territories acquired from Mexico, under the
stuon and existing laws Of the Unon The amendment
of the Senator therefore, liable to misconsucon, and
Of doubtful mnNrt as the original clause Now sir,
desire have distinct expression of the of the Senate
the import Of this amendment for this purpose do not
offer the Wilmot poviso An honorable Senator, Mr. SE-
wARD earlier stage OF this debate and during your
temporary absence, Mr. President from the chair did pro-
pose that provso substitute for the amendment Of the Sc
from Mississippi and his motion declared to be out
of ORDER Of do not undertake to introduce
again that proposition not the proper time, nor would
serve my purpose. But do offer amendment to the
amendment Of the Senator from Mississippi which meets and
negatives the proposition that the right to carry slaves into
the territory and hold and dispose Of them there property
covered and secured by the Senator's amendment Or the
original clause, reported by the Committee Those Sens
tors who think that under the original provision OF the DILL
or under this amendment of the Senao slaves DO intro
duced into the Territory persons held there as properly
who nothing undesirable in that result will vote
against my restrictive proposition But do not see how
any Senator refuse to for it, who holds the opnon
frequently expressed here, that neither the original clause
nor the amendment Of the Senator from Mississippi when
rightly construed, will warrant slavery In the Ierrorie or
who is unwilling to see slavery established there the effect
and result of Legislation here Such vote Will only give
pressoH and effect the prossed wish and purpose OF such
Senator II will not be vote for the prohibition OF slavery
in the Territories II will be that slavery shall not be
established there by the bill the amendment under
suucon which many Senators insist upon the true one,
and which, there some reason to fear may DC ned % DC
the true one by the Judiciary, as now constituted.
II for the purpose Of negavng this constructon or
rather said the first of excluding the conclusion OF the
leading friends Of the amendment that introduced the pend
ing amendment tot II that conclusion ought to be excluded
then the proposition have submitted ought to be adopted
II that conclusion ought be excluded the construc-
ton that the Senator from Mississippi puts on the amend
be the constructions and which Senators desire
have carried into its practical results then my PROPOSE
ton should be respected. .a.
have made these remarks n order that the amendment
have offered to the amendment of the Senator from Msss
spp may be clearly understood. have nothing further
to say.
two amendments briefly this Mine proposes give the
Territorial Legislature power to protect property Of every kind
which may introduced into the Territory under the laws
and constitution of the United States The Senator from
Ohio true to his instinct in with proposition to ex-
cude slaves if that property which be introduced un-
der constitution and laws Of the United States Then
MrPresden the difference is this stand upon the ground
which have always held, that to be permitted to en-
Joy rights under the constitution do not ask Congress
what is the legal construction Of the constitution
stand upon the doctrine of intervention it was original
" understood that doctrine which prevents Congress from
interfering take from any those rights which he holds
under the constitution but which has been perverted to
that this Government shall give the protection OF its shield
those rights which have right to take shelter under it.
There great distinction between this Government inter.
venng decide what property intervening decide what
are constitutional rights and coming forward give that pro-
lection which every citizen has right to claim from every
to which be gives bis support The distinction,
then Mr. President between the position OF the Senator from
Ohio Mr CHAsE and myself is, that he calls upon Con-
gress intervene against rights which may have may
not have under the constitution and to declare that certain
species of property held within the States is not property
cognsed by the constitution, and therefore, which there is no
right transfer into the Territories. ask that the Terrific
rial Legislature shall protect property Of every kind My
opinion that that species Of property may into the Ter
rtoes but do ask Congress decide whether my opn
ion correct not ask Congress only for the protection
Of rights wherever rights exist The distinction is very
broad one That which have proposed have met fully and
openly, and covered entirely every modification which the
amendment has undergone since it was introduced.
word now to the Senator from Illinois, (Mr DOUGLAS.
1t is to his argument that address myself The difference
between that Senator and myself consists who peo
pe The Senator that the people of Territory have
right to decide what their institutions shall be. Why By
what authority How many of them Does the Senator
tell me- he said before, from the authority of God
Then goes into Territory and establishes the fun
danenta law for all time to It is the unanimous
opinion Of what that law should be and all the citizens of
the United States joint Of that Territory, to be
excluded because man. and with greater unanmity than
be obtained with two, chooses to exclude all others who
might there That is the doctrine carried out to its
fullest extent claim that the people have sovereignty over
the Territories, and have power to decide what their nsu
tions shall be. That is the Democratic doctrine, have
always understood it, and under constitutions the people
OF the Territories acquire that right whenever the United
States surrender the sovereignty to them by consehtng that
they shall become States of the Unon and they have
such right before. The difference them between the Sena-
tor from Illinois and myself is the point at which the people
do possess and may assert this right is not the nhab
tants OF the Territory, but the people political body the
people organized who have the right and exercising
reignty over the Territory they may establish fundamental
law for all time to come.
Then again the Senator states what during the last Pres
dental canvass his position in relation to the doctrine of
nonntervenon am sorry to hear him state it he has
Ii non-nervention that the Government shall refuse
protection to property then whatever section has its pro-
Pey excluded from this Intervention by the Government has
right from that day forth, withhold all further support
What clan sir has the Government the assistance and
support of the citizens it refuses them that protection
And what all the great principles of constitution if
they transferred Government without power
them If this great Federal Government, to which the
States have transferred their whole authority the pro-
pery belonging them the Territories of the United States,
10 stopped by such principle is here declared by the Sc
nator from Illinois from exercising that authority would
ask what is the value Of trust What the power of
agent II stands at the mercy of every troop of who
may find themselves congomeraed in any Territory of the
United States unable discharge the which has been
conferred upon it, unwilling the may be, to render
that justice to part of the Of the public domain
Mr. DOUGLAS The Senator from Mississippi puts ques
ton TO me as to what number people there must be Ter
toy before this right govern themselves Without
determining the precise number will that the right
ought to the people the they have enough
70 constitute government; and the bill that there
are people enough there require and enough
to authorize the people themselves. IT. sir there
enough to require government and to authorize you al
low them themselves, there enough govern
themselves upon the subject Of negroes well concerning
other species OF property and other descriptions of nstu
tions Your bill comedies that government necessary.
Your bill comedies that representative Government
ccssay-a government founded upon principles Of popular
sovereignty, and the right OF the people enact their
laws and for this you give them legislature cons
aF ftuoI Irar, e a.