Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-07-11

District OF Columbia or In the Terrific
ries; but must say, in a few words
| that think there are two sources of
power, either Of which is sufficient, in
my Judgment, to authorize the exercise
Of the poDer either TO introduce or keep
out slauery outside of the States and
within the Territories. Mr.. President,
| shall not take up time, of which so
much has been consumed already, 10
show that the clause which gives TO
Congress the power TO make needful
rules and regulations respecting the
territory and other property of the
United States conveys the power to
legislate for the territories. l cannot
concur with my worthy friend--and !
use the term in its best and most en-
phatic sense, my friend from Michigan,
(Mr. Cass)-for believe we have
known each other longer than l have
known, and longer than he has known,
any other Senator in this hail. say
| cannot concur with that honorable
Senator, though l entertain the most
profound respec, for the opinion which
he has advanced adverse TO my own;
but l must say, that when point is set
tied by all the elementary authorities,
and by the uniform Interpretation and
action of every department of our gov
ernment,--legislative, executive, and
judicial-und when that poin, has been
settled during period Of fifty years
and never was seriously disturbed until
recently, | think that if we are TO re-
gard anything as fixed and settled un.
der the administration of this Constitu.
tion Of ours, it is the question which has
been thus invariably and uniformly
settled. Or, are we to come to the
conclusion tina, nothing--nothing upon
earth is settled under this Constitution,
but the principle that everything is un.
settled?
Mr.. President, we have 10 recollect
it is very possible--sir, i. is quite likely
that when that constitution was framed
the application of it 10 such Territor-
les as Louisiana, Florida, California,
and New Mexico was never within the
contemplation Of its trainers. 1t will
be recolected that when the consttu-
tion was framed the whole country
northwest of the river Ohio was unpeo-
pied; ard it will be recollected also that
the exercise and assertion of the power
to make governments for Territories in
their infant state are, in the nature of
the power, temporary, and to terminate
whenever they have acquired popu-
la,ion competent for selfgovernment.
Sixty thousand is the number fixed by
the ordinance of 1887. Now, sir, recol,
Iect, that when this constitution was
adopted, and that territory was unpeo-
pied, is it possible that Congress, to
whom it had been ceded by the States
for the common benefit of the ceding
State and all other members of the
Union-is it possible that Congress has
no right whatever 10 declare what des.
cription Of settlers should occupy the
public lands! Suppose they took
up the opinion tina, the introduction of
slavery would enhance the value of the
land, and enable them 10 command for
the public treasury greater amount
from that source of revenue than by
the exclusion of slaves, would they not
have had the right to say, in fixing the
rules, regulations, or whatever you
choose to call them. if it will enhance
the value of the property. in the clear.
ing and cultivation ofthe soil, and add
to the Importance of the country? Or
take the reverse: suppose congress
might think that a greater amount of
revenue would be derived from the
waste lands beyond the Ohio river by
the interdiction of slavery, would they
not have right to in,erdict III Why,
sir, remember how these settlements
were made, and what was their prog
ress. They began with q few. be.
lieve that about Marietta the first
settlement was made. 1t was a settle
ment of some two or three hundred per-
sons from New England. Cincinnati,
| believe, was the next point where a
settlement was made. 1t was settled
perhaps by few persons from New
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