The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-27

punish WIN deathf oif am aware that these penal
ties directed against the slave trade and that is the
poation OF slaves which has been made the object o
these stringent and severe prohibitions but is not the In
sluon itself perpetuation OF the offence against hu-
manity! Il originated at the outset in what you deem
piracy and, however long It may continue, i paftakes
st q the character OF its origin isof the blood OF lis
own lineage, @
Sir the present generation may not be responsible for
ts origin lit may be evil which they cannot remedy
But sir do these considerations render the institution less
oppressive or more consistent with the dictates OF hu-
This is not all. Mr.. President In our treaty with
Great Britain, ratified in ls42, stipulated to employ
force the coast of Africa for the suppression Of this
slave ade and further the parties to that treaty engaged
to exert their influence with nations still permitting the
traffic. to put end 10 it, by closing their markets.
thought TO be the best mode OF discouagng this dis
gushing traffic to close the markets. What do my con-
markets in territories where the institution does not
exist for the future encouragement OF traffic which the
almost entire civilized world has combined to suppress
putting end to this traffic, il we justified in endeay
orng 10 close the market in other countries, how we
be justified in opening these immense territories that have
been conquered by our valor, market for the in
PRODUCTION Of this species OF property'
Mr.. President, the second resolution has, il possible
been misconceived than the first Il has been
second resolution claims right in Congress to interfere
with the institutions Of the various States Sir the
luton claims no such right II will bear no such con-
structon II is but substitution Of expression for
another, by which such construction can be fixed upon
it. What is the language oil the resolution?
That the socalled ompromise of the constitution re.
os hs m hs IL
from interference with the slave trade only for limited
time, which has long since expired"
Now, it is to be remarked, that the word restrained
used in the past tense il is used in reference to the
effect and operation OF the constitution at the time
adopted We'll, sir, is not the assertion true II the
compromises OF the constitution, which restricted Con-
gress in relation to this subject restricted them in relation
to other territories than the States whereit then existed
desire to be informed where that territory is for at this
u settled S e s sas
under the confederation. by compact which has been
from that day to the present binding upon
all We had no other territory Where, then could this
the institution existed
II has been said that this resolution asserts the power
in Congress to interfere with slavery in the States
in the States that have been adopted since the adoption of
What are those States First Kentucky and Tennes.
see Sir all know that those States were portion.
restriction operated in Virginia as she stood at the time Of
the adoption OF the constitution, and upon North Caro-
llna il covered those territories So far, then,
States have been formed out of the limits OF the old
States The restriction which applied the old States win
apply to the new thus formed out OF the limits OF the
But there is another aspect in which this matter is to
be viewed These who draughted the resolution knew
well that although the proposition in its terms is
quesonably true that the constitution only restricted
Congress respects those States where the institution
existed yet the subject was open 10 be acted upon by
Congress in relation to the Territories Our first Terri
tory was Louisiana our second Florida Now, main
tain that while these Territories remained Territories, il
was competent for Congress To regulate the subject OF
slavery within them However that may be, when those
Territories became States the power OF regulating the
subject passed from Congress They had no longer any
the adoption of the constitution have been placed by
virtue oil their sovereignty States and their exclusive
control over the subject without the pale OF legisa
ton.
Further: the resolutions proceed to state
That the powers conferred upon Congress by the con-
stuton to suppress the slave trade regulate
between the States govern the Territories and admit
Satespowers conferred with express intention TO
form more perfect union, establish justice, insure do
mesc tranquility, provide for the common defenee, pro.
mote the general weare and the blessings of lib
erty urseves and postertymay all rghtfuy be
used prevent extension Of slavery into territory
ever either exists under the jurisdiction of Congress-
Now, sir, is not this plaini Can anything be more
plain L asserts the power only in territories subject TO
the jurisdiction Of Congress regret SIR that there has
abroad have some notices OF this resolution in
the newspapers, in which the mistake occurs The
honorable senator from Arkansas has been represented
saying that the resolution contains this position that
Congress rs restricted only n.
Now by substituting the present tense for the past
the resolutions made TO receive construction which
those who drew them up and those who adopted them
never imagined would be applied to them. Upon this
error. Mr. President, upon this misapprehension have
been hung speeches filled with opprobrous epithes in
this hall, and various comments elsewhere which
only characterize the result the part OF those who
uttered them, o their own bas,y misapprehenson II
gentlemen had asceaned with accuracy the pur.
pou OF the resolutions, they might and think probably
woud, have spared the comments In which they have
INDUCED. The honorable senator from Arkansas has
been exhibiting TO us the resolution containing the
serton OF power which the resolution does not claim
and contrasting il with the professions OF gentlemen OF
the North, he exclaimed Commend TO such concili.
alton -conciliaon in professions, accompanied BY an
assertion the part OF the free States OF power TO in
terfee with this institution in the slave States of the
Union Sir, il were to commend the honorable senator
to anything, 1 would commend him TO the use oil his
spectacles when he reads the resolution again. and
he puts upon the resolution may very properly be termed
basty misapprehension OF his own. Sir, disclam II,
as have done heretofore; disclam this imputaton
upon the resolution. 60 further There Is not man
among my constituency OF ordinary intelligence who does
not and feel that this institution in the States
beyond the reach OF the action OF this body is uni
versally so consdered-universay.
Now, sir the senator from Arkansas says he wont
que with No, he will not, and for the very best OF
all reasons, will not argue with him. We concede the
point We assert no such claim. We have no argument
TO support claim which we do not think proper to
make,
Sir, what ee is there in these resoluiionsi Why,
power OF Congress prohibit slavery these Terrific
res and this, take IT, not TO be regarded as an
offensive preension II may not be ilfounded but sir,
is merely the assertion OF power that has been exer-
csed since the organization OF this governmenta
power exercised in every instance where the exgency
OF the case called for its exercise Is offensive, Mr
President, to assert power which has thus been
csed by this government from the beginning Sir, we
may be wrong in this positions the progress OF the times,
the superior light Of the present day, and might say,