Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-05-02


When, therefore, the realty became
known to the people of that territory,
that the government had done nothing
TO relieve them from the evils and
embarrassmcnts under which they
were suffering, and seeing no probabil
ty Of any change on the subject, which
divided Congress, they adopted with
most unexampled unanmity and
promptiudc, the only course which
lay open to them-tho immediate for
nation of State government.
They were induced to take this step,
not only for the reason that it promoted
the most speedy remedy for present
difficulties, but because the great and
rapidly growing interests Of the terri.
tory demanded it; and all rejecting
men saw, at glance, that it ought not
to be any longer, and could not. under
any circumstances, be much longer
postponed.
They not only considered themselves
best qualified, but they had the
right 10 decide, as far as they were
concerned, the embarrassing question
which was shaking the Union TO its
centre, and had thus far deprived hem
Of a regularly organized civil govern.
ment. They believed that, in forming
a constitution,l they had a right TO estab.
lish or prohibit slavery, and that in
their action as a State, they would be
sustained by the North and the South.
They were not unmindful of the
fact, that while Northern statesmen
had con,onded Congress has power to
prohibit slavery in the Territories,
they always admitted that the States
of the Union had the right TO abolish
or establish it. at pleasure.
On the other and, Southern states.
men had almost unanimously contend
ded that Congress has not the constitu-
tional power TO prohibit slavery in the
Territories, because they have not the
power TO establish it; but that the peo-
pie, in forming government for them
selves, haye the. right to do either If
Congress can righlfulIy do one, they
can certainly do the other.
This is the doctrine put forth by Mr..
Calhoun, in his celebrated Resolutions
Of 1847, introduced into the Senate of
the United States, among which is the
following:
ReS0lred, That tits Fundamental prnci.
pie in our political creed that a people in
forming constitution have the unconditon.
al righ. to form and adopt the Government
which they may think bes! calculated TO Sc,
cure their liberty, prosperity and happiness,
and in conformity thereto, no other condition
is imposed by the Federal constitution on 9
State, in order TO be admitted into this Unior
except that its constitution shall be "rcpub
lican, and that the imposition Of any o.her
by Congress would not only be in violation
Of the Constitution, but in direct con lict with
the principle on which our political system
rests.
President Polk, in his annual message
dated 5lh December, lS48, uses the fol
lowing language.
The question is believed TO be rather ab
slract than practical, whether slavery eve
can or would exist in any portion Of the ac
qured territory, even if it were left 10 the op
ton Of The slaveholding States themselves,
From the nature Of the climate and proIuc
tons, in much the larger portion OF it, it !
certain it could mover exist, and in tho re
mainder, the probabilities are that i. wou.,
not.
"But however this may be. the quesloa
involving, as it does, a principle Of cqunli,
Of rights Of the seperate and several State:
as equal coparluers in the Conlederacy shOul
not be disregarded.
"ln organizing governments over these Te
ritores, no duty imposed on Congress b
the Constitution requires that they shoul
legislate on the subject OF slavery, while the
power to do so is not only seriously question
ed, but denied by many OF the soundest ey
Founders OF that instrument.
whether Congress shall legislaie or no
the people Of the acquired Territories, who
assembled in convention 10 form State COZ
stituIions, will possess theso le and exclusi,
power to determine for themselves, whe.ht
slavery shall or shall not exist within the
limits"