Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-23
THE COMPROMISE.
Part of the Remarks Of Mr.. FoorE, in Senate
Wednesday, May Is, 1850.

Wllmot ProVlSo believing, as do, most undoubt-
ingly, that Congress has no authority TO legisate
on the subject of slavery in the Terrtores-no
more than it has to decree the abolition of slavery
in the States themselves am inexpressblv
panied to the doubt which is about to be thrown
upon this point by the action of Southern men
themselves. To claim that Congress shall legis-
late for the admission of slavery III the Terrific
ries, or that shall legisate specially for the
protection of this institution therein, appears to
me, to assert power in that body which, in its fl-
ture exercise, but be fatal to the institution
of slavery wheresoever existing To urge that
such an exercise of power by Congress is neces-
sary the Introduction of slaves into the Terri
tories, and that otherwise slave property will be
subject to confscaton, is to admit, by the plainest
implication, the entire want of any constitutional
right on the part of the Shareholders of the South
to go into these Territories attended by their
slaves, and to claim their recognition property.
1t is surely the grossest absurdity to suppose that
purely constitutional right can need the counte-
nance and sanction Of an act of ordinary legisa-
ton to give it validity. The constitution being
the paramount law no act of Congress can i'm
part to it the least additional potency; and to seek
such puny aid is to treat the organic law of the
land with species of contempt which seems to
argue at least gross confusion of ideas. When
the Senator from Florida asks protection for slave
property in the Territories, he plainly calls in ques
them such into the Territories, whilst the pre-
sent legal regulations continue; for if no laws
now exist therein prohibiting slavery, which are
not themselves invalid, then not in the
least degree in need of the amendment urged
upon us by him. The very terms used by the
honorable Senator from Florida are to me most
alarming. He demands law preSeruutiue of
slavery in the Territories; he cries out for con-
cessions in regard to slavery to be made by Con-
to tl,nS nd laip uob
y that the honorable Senator from Kentucky has
avowed his unwillingness to vote for law for the
extension of slavery. What says he is the
Senator from Kentucky not willing to aid in ex-
tending slavery to the Territories 4? Does he so
abhor the system that he is unwilling to extend it?
Does he regard it as of a nature communicating
that its extension would be TO dishonor AM de-
grade the whole territorial surface over which it
might spread itself? Well, sir, confess that
this is very strange language to me, coming as it
does from one of the signers Of our famous South
ern Address, from the pages of which beg leave
to read few lines. What | cite will be found
upon the Sth and 9th pages of the address:
eve do not deem it necessary, looking to the object
OF this address, to examine the question fully dis
cussed at the last session. whether Congress has the
right to exclude the citizens of the South from immi-
grating with their property into territories belonging
the coniederated States OF the Union. What pro-
pose in this eonnexion is, to make few remarks ON
what the North alleges enormously to be the be-
tween us and them.
$50 far from maintaining the doctrine, which the
issue implies we hold that the federal government has
no right to extend or restrict slavery than
establish abolish it, has it any right whatever
distinguish between the domestic institutions OF one
State, section and another, in order favor the
one and discourage the other. As the federal epreen
tatives OF each and all the States it bound deal
out, within the sphere of powers equal and exact
justice and favor to all 1o act otherwise to undertake
10 discriminate between the domestic institutions of
and another, would be to act in total subverson of
the end for which it was esab shed-o be the
protector and guardian of ALL Entertaining these OPT
Mons, ask as the North alleges we do for the
extension of slavery. That would make discrimna-
ton in favor unjust and unconstitutional as the
discrimination they ask against in their favor 1t is
not for them nor for the federal government deter
mine whether our domestic institution is good bad,
or whether should be repressed preserved. 1t be-
longs to us, and US only, to decide such questions
What, then we do insist is not to extend slavery
but that we shall not be prohibited from immgrating
with property into the territories othe United States
because shareholders; or, in other words that
shall that account be DISTINGUISHED of pri-
viege possessed by all others, citizens and foreigners
without discrimination as to character, profession, or
color All, whether savage barbarian civilized may
freely enter and rema in, we only being excluded''
Yes. sir, this is the precise language of our
own tar-famed Southern Address. You perceive
that its author treats the charge of our being de-
srous of extending slavery by congressional le-
gisation gross SANDER upon the South Yet
the honorable senator from Florida not only now
contends that this should be done, but complains
most vehemently that others will not Join him in
his surprising demand. The Southern Address
accuses the North of mssating the issue between
1t and the South. A southern man, this moment
in our hearing, has made the same presentation of
the sectional issue which the Southern Address
denounces as misstatement of that ISSUE The
honorable senator from Florida contends tuat Con-
gress is bound to pass laws eSerrat1re of slavery
The Address says: at is not for them (the north
ern people, nor for the federal government to de-
termine whether our domestic institution is good
or bad, or whether it should be repressed or pre-
Serued." Such are a few of the amusing incon-
sistencies into which the honorable senator from
Florida has had the fortune to invove himself upon
this occasion.
For my part, Mr.. President, feel no particular
desire that any restriction whatever should be i'm
posed by US upon the territorial governments in
regard to leglslating on the subject of Slavery
will state my reasons'tor feeling this indifference.
am not OF opinion that these governments would
have right to legisate for the extension or for
the abolition of slavery even though no prohibi-
ton should be imposed upon them. In this ori-
Mon may be regarded by some as little ultra
but | have adopted it deliberately, and certainly
consider 1t as quite capable of being maintained
by fair argument. admit as freely as any one.
not excepting my honorable friend from lIichi-
gan, Mr.. Cass,] that all just government arises
from the consent of the governed-that every
community, whether numbering five hundred or
hVe hundred thousand, has right to adopt such
social regulations for its own protection and pre-
servation as may be actually necessary to the at
ainment of these high purposes; but yet contend
that no regulation, not ndispensably necessary to
he sefpreservadon of such community, can be
egitimately adopted, the adoption of which in
wolves the destruction of important rights of other
orindividuals wherever existing
Apply these principles to the people inhabiting
'ur territories. They have right to institute
government for their own selfprotecton. Indeed,
have always thought that tits by them alone that