The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-28
Washington, Friday, june 2s, 1850.

u
El as
tOAn9 EkxQo1ys ID u1mc 80
as
~ NJ
accordingly this having been done in the ordi--
nance Of 1857, at the MY first session of Com
gress under the new Csnstitution, Mr. Madison
being present in his 49,, \ charter of government
Tor the territory south OF the Ohio river was
enacted and clause inserted disabling the terri
torial legislature to paaS any law excluding citi-
zens who should inin1ierate with their slaves.
And the law believe passed sub siienfio No
controversy grew out &c the proposition. 1t was
the mode OF executing 9Ae hrst compromise be-,
tween slave and free St&es-which was upon the
line OF the Ohio river compromise acqaiesced
IN ny an authority compstent 10 DO 80. And II
this mode be now absad0ned then are the slave
States deprived Of thapoor privileges left them by
the missouri COMPROMISE, ana the principle of the
Wtimot Proviso bccorAee predominant south OF
36o 30, as i is north ~ we same line, by force
OF tnat compromise. ~. therefore, who ~ OPP
posed to Congress perstfnng the solemn duty 70
the south 81 imposing acn prohibition upon the
Y not al neart. Aad "a deceptive ana deiusive
MAXIM Of .non-lntervqNaoe wall not long DIS
sulse its soPnistry nomiSG southern people.
but y ~ 9ns2Rdeo-- wsia Par0en me, or, II
say pretended-tnat' IN passing any law III rela-
uon 70 slavery, congress would DC assuming
J>-'NA--'S t~~.'''s.-
we ass ~ Jurisa'cuoh IN disciaimns Jur1sdic-
nons Congress nave not Jurisdlcton, can II
no! say SOL Ana u there pc doubt ana pouficai
agitation on the subject, ought II not TO say So
And more especially, IN insntutlng territorial
government, which ~ 70 take charge OF the con-
stl'uaonal rlghts OF the citizen, ought not Con-
gress TO disable that government from dong what
inc Consttuuon mas disabled Congress from
domgs a WORD or TWO more on TINS subject pre-
seniy. wil proceed 70 show what u ~ Con-
grtss can 40 ana what IT cannot 90, IN inns parti
GUAR.
Nobody wanted to be informed that Congress
has no jurisdiction of the question of slavery.
But gentlemen seem to be in perfect mist as to the
true meaning Of this proposition. 1t means that
Congress cannot make the existence OF slavery a
questionable point, and assume jurisdiction to
decide that question affirmativelv or negatively.
The onlv issue involved in the question of sla-
very, u.s. ato be or not to be-" and the only deci-
sion that could be made upon that issue, would
be. yea or nay-sayery shall exist, or shall not
exist. Clearly Congress- has no such jurisdiction
But. sir. il is great mistake to suppose that there
is any difference, in this respect between slaves
and any other form of property. Neither can
Congress- assume jurisdiction Of the question OF
the general institution Of property. It cannot
make that institution a questionable point, and
assume to decide the question. It cannot abro-
gate property, and substitute communism, much
citizen, and throw it away. Nor can it assume
jurisdiction of the question Of any particular
species of property; 1t cannot ordain that cattle,
or houses, or land, shall not be property; these
matters are above the authority of all legislatures,
Federal or local. But do gentlemen understand
by this that Congress cannot, within its legiti-
mate sphere, enact conservative laws N RELATION
70 the s4oao"ce, passing py tue quss'o" y! pro-
perty! is 1t not ITS solemn duty, wherever II has
protect
the rights Of the citizen in his property OF every
kind, without any exception? If 1t can legislatt
for this District, is it not bound to take care OF
the rights of property here---negTo property, as
well as other kinds? And shah 1t be permitted to
exonerate itself Of this solemn obligation, under
over the question OF slavery? Sir, the gentleman
from OHIO lMr. GiDDlNcs) VII! go with You fol
tins sort OF "non.ntervention, both TINS Distric
ana the Ierriterles. Congress may pass Jaw
taxing negro property even IN states II nigh
enact law that slave should not De employee
70 drive stage coach conveying the untet
States mail. But this KIND OF jurisdiction confer'
| no night to say that negroes shall not be pro
perty--it assumes that they are properly: zen
flemen appear 70 forget the iundamenlal IDEAS
our political institutions. All Legislative power u
conservative under our system. Inc duty
uovernment ii 70 pfolect every righl, ana mee
every guaranty proviaea ny Inc Cohstitutioi
NionAi6 ou.ioAASy .AS .eAAo'A'y 1870 ~
| the guarantees OF the Consutuuon.
And what is the Constitution making authority
It is Convention. A name degraded of late froT
| its high political sense, and applied to ever,
species Of political rendezvous or gathering
Everything now-a-day is Convention, excep
Convention in the true sense.
Convention. with us. is a systematic and reeu
lated institution. Il IL supreme over all Others
Il is supposed to be identical with the people.
is the form Of regulat ed and instituted Sovereignty
Il has power to ordain Constitutions or chang
them. It makes or alters the government in al
its departments. 1t has in its hands every kline
Of power[egislative, Judicial, and executive. 1
can distribute them among as many department.
of government as it may please to create; put al
in one department, or take back all if it chooses
The Constitution it prescribes TO the government
the government is as absolutely bound to obey
as the individual citizen is to obey the municipal
| laws made by the government. The individual
rights Of men, and most empatically persona
rights in property, are the special objects Of ,
Constitution. These rights exist prior to, AMI
independent Of Constitutions; and even Conven
ton could not violate them without giving cause
1. -