Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-07-11
GLASGOW, MISSOURI THURSDAY, JULY H. 1850

or Clnclnnatil No, sir: the contempla.
tion of the constitution no doubt was
that in as much as this power was tenn
porary. it is applicable to unpeoped
territory, and as that territory will be.
come peopled gradually, insensibly
until it reaches population which may
entitle it TO the benefit of self govern
ment, in the mean time it is right and
proper that Congress who ownes the
soil, should regulate the settlement OF
the soil, until these settlers acquire
number and capacity to govern them.
selves.
| will not further dwell upon this spart
of the subject; but have said there is
another source Of power equally salts.
factory in my mind-equaly conclusive
as that which relates specifically to the
Territories. This is the ,reaty-making
Power--the acquiring power. Now
| put it to gentlemen, is there not a, this
moment power omewhere existing
either TO admit or exclude slavery from
the territories acquired from Mexico!
II is not an annihilated power. Tha,
is impossible. II is substantive, actu
al, existing power. And where does il
exist! 1t existed--no one, presume
denes-in Mexico, prior TO the session
of those territories. Mexico could
have abolished slavery or have intro
duced slavery either in California or
New Mexico. Now, that power mus,
have been ceded. Who will deny that!
Mexico has parted with the territory,
ant with it the sovereignty over the
territory; and TO whom did she trans.
fer il? She transferred the territory
and the sovereignty over the territory
to the Government of the United
States. The Government of the Uni.
ted States then acquired all the terrific.
ry and all the sovereignty over tha,
territory which Mexico held in Cali.
fornia and New Mexico prior to the
cession of these territories. Sir, dis
pute that who can. The power exists.
or it does not exist. No one will con.
tend for its annihlation. 1t existed in
Mexico. No one, l think, can deny
that Mexico alienates her sovereignty
over the territory 10 the Government
Of the United States. The Govern.
ment Of the United States, therefore
possesses all the powers which Mexico
possessed over those territories; and
the Government Of the United States
can do with reference 10 them--within,
| admit, certain limits of the Constitu.
ton. whatever Mexico could have
done. There are prohibitions upon
the power Of Congress within the Con-
stitulion, which prohibitions, l admit,
must apply to Congress whenever i,
legislates, whether for tho old States
or the new Territories; but within the
scope of those prohibitions-and none
Of them restrain the exercise Of the po,O-
er Of Congress upon the subject of slQ-
pery-the powers of Congress are CO.
extensive and coequa! with the powers
of Mexico prior to the session.
Sir, with regard 10 this trcaty.mak-
ing power, all who have had any occas.
ion TO examine into its character, and
into the possible extent to which it may
be carried, know that it is unlimited in
its nature, except in so far as any limi.
tations may be found within the Con
stitution of the United States; but upon
this subject there is no limitation which
prescribes the extent 10 which the pow.
er shall be exercised.
l know, that it is argued there is nc
grant of power in express terms, in the
Constitution over the subject of slave
ry. Bu, there is no grant in the Con
s,itution, specifically, over a vast varie
ty Of subjects upon which the powers
of Congress are unquestionable. The
major includes the minor. The Gencr.
al grant of power comprehends all the
particulars of which that power con
sists. The power Of acquisition by
treaty draws with il the power TO gov
ern all the territory acquired. If there
be power to acquire. there must be q
power to govern; and l think, therefore
without at presant dwelling further up
on this part of the subject, tha, from
the two sources of authority in Con