Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-27
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The Luachburg Republican, which has claimed
the credit (such as it s) of being the first paper
inVirginia to break ground against the Compro-
mise bill, slackens, and almost abandons, its oppo-
sion, because of the adoption of Mr. Soule's
amendment, providing that, when any portion of
the acquired Territory is admitted as a State, it
shall be received into the Union, with or without
slavery, as the State constitution adopted by its
people may prescribe. The view now taken by
that paper is thus expressed
GA most important amendment has just been made in
the Senate to the compromise which greatly i'm
proves the bill by remedyng of its most fatal and
wholly exceptonabe defects. 1t will be recolleeted
that the original BILL reported by the committee Of
thirteen, providing territorial governments for New
Mexico and Utah only inhibited the territorial legiSa
lures thus established from passing any law either pro
Jurisdictions This well enough, but while the ter
rtoria legislatures thus denied all right egs
late upon the subject Of slavery the true question at
issue between the North and the South-he all impor-
tant question-was not touched at all but left entirely
unguarded viz the right of Congress to inibt slavery
tween tie two sections OF the country, and it not
touched pretended to be touched by the original BILL
but in so far anything contained in the bill to the
contrary, was left entirely discretionary with Congress
pass the Wmot Proviso at its next any subsequent
session. and to refuse admission into the Union of
the territories of New Mexico and Utah when they
they did not come with guarantees against the introduce
ton and existence of slavery within their limits
is to this clause of the committees bill that the
amendment to which alude has reference, and it is
the fatal defect in that bill which we have Just ex
posed that it remedies
The original BILL we repeat only gave New Mexico
and Utah territorial governments, without any power
whatever the subject of slavery, and to this
tent, did precisely what it has been conended by the
South Congress should do. The amendment of Mr..
Soue Just given however, goes farther and supplies
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providing that when New Mexico and Utah. or any por
ton OF them, shall be admitted States, they shall
be received into the Union Nth DithOut SLAVERY,
as their constitutions may prescribe at the time of
their admission !n'-thus taking the question in all flu
ture time out of the power OF Congress: and leaving
to be decided by the people of the territories themselves
at proper time and under proper constitutional restric
tions"
We quote these remarks, not that we concur
entirely in their exposition of the effect of Mr..
Soule's first amendment, but because they are
suggestive of what we consider the Just and valid
answer to an objection which has been raised
against the provisions of the Compromise bill in
relation to the Territories of Utah and New Next
CO. tits certainly true that an important point has
been gained by the amendments denial of the doc
trne asserted in the old Missouri restriction, and
by its assertion of the true principle that when
the people Of Territory are prepared to form
oate government, they have the sovieerea gn Eght
of controlling their domestic institutions accord
ing to their own pleasure. But we must frankly
say that we do not see how the amendment dis
claims the right of Congress to nterpose res
friction against slavery after the institution OF the
Territorial government and before the organiza-
ton of State government; and the objection to
m WI havo i,1ctr
ferred is, that the establishment of Territorial go
vernments will not preclude the subsequent
adoption of the Wmot Provso. This argument,
however, is, in our judgment, without weight, in
dependently of Mr.. Soule's amendment Esta-
blish the Territorial governments by act of Con.
gress and they go forthwith into active operation.
If any Free Soiler then propose to amend the act
on the statute book by applying to it the Proviso,
that isolated proposition will have to pass sepa-
rately the ordeas of the House of Representa-
tives, the Senate, and the President. Large as
the Northern majority is in the House, we do not
believe that, in this shape, the Proviso would be
put to the vote much less be adopted by that body.
But if it should pass the House, the Senate would
undoubtedly reject it. In either event, the Terri
torial governments would be wholly unaffected,
and the right of the STAKEHOLDER, to enjoy his pro-
perry under their protection, unmpaired. The
organization of those governments, withouta res
friction against slavery is, quoad hoe, all that the
South has heretofore expected of Congress. 1t
is refrtning from the act to which we object it
is leaving US alone, which is precisely what we
have insisted upon. 1t is not, however, posi-
tive, Though it must be regarded as a negative)
recognition of the improperly of the act in ques-
ton. Such positive recognition seems to be what
the resolutions of the Nashville Convention exact
and, although to demand it would be step in ad-
vance of the position hitherto occupied by the
South we should be happy to see it form part of
the proposed adjustment. The Committee of Thir-
teen, in their report declare that the proper course
to be pursued with regard to the Territories is to
give them governments without touching the SUBJ
ject of slavery. We believe, with Mr. Berrien,
that the affirmance of this proposition would do
as much TO quiet the public mind as any provision
contained in the bill.
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