Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-05

the congressional Globe in which this delicate question mas
been discussed; and feel JUSTIFIED ID oeca.ing s Una.
general doctrine maintained by Southern senators mas
that Congress has no power egsate on the subject OF
slavery in this Districts least that no such
could occur without violation OF the principles OF sooI
towards ali the slave States including Maryland anu
Virginia Indeed think that this doctrine was io G
upheld, upon some occasions, by seVela' D'''0'
tors from zee States. ,-.o~.,lo Con. TOR
One incident well recollec and the honorable oenrI
will not fail remember it, when REMIND mn 81 md no.
Lcigh-Watkns Leigh of Virginia, a warm
col friend of the honorable Senator from hehlueN!
found il necessary 10 express himself believe was IN m
year ls36-directy in opposition 10 .nu After Mr.
aitu W t hh was one OF usual ablity-had been
concluded the honorable Senator rom ;,;n ~bcb he en-
said in substance that could the cor over the subject
ter,aned touching the power OF erod hv any
nj slavery in the District have been shaken o s y;onia
argument the speech of his honorable ifiu in
might have produced that effect p' ncden il Is most a
ion remained unaltered. From TINS lneiuu ,h, hsp
parent tina, even a, that early day mere was o
lutte unanimity Of sentiment among W. Fun Eantncty
OF this body which the hono!ao'e ~
supposes have existed o,,,o,.,co - ,pv time
Mr. Masonic is with much relue ~, ., h o." Somr If
that lrespass on The Tune o do no feel myself at ber
~ standing as do upon this question: 10 allow 'c
ton offered by the Senator from hehtuchy W ps no, mo
S,,, hh nren, in part is prepared, would almost
say any exeno respond 10 ''ie spun. Va d hone,
tons. Sir regret deeply thal, ~ VI. INV - have
these disturbng ouesons composed he has felt 1t his du
representing one OF the sayehoiding States 10 oer sc
proposition would 90 WIN m,', d T,u m1 ,beae unhappy
differences but do not feel at liberty to move one sep TO-
wards such compromise constitutional rights are "u'u
| in the slightest degree IT.. A., :; b,, oo
proposon TO which give hearty assent and mar Is
the resolution which proposes to organize leflol
runents al once in these Territories without declaration
one way or the other as their domestic institutions bu
there is another which deeply regret to see introduced mo
this Senate by from slavehodng states II Is ina
which assumes that slavery does not exist by law IN
those countries understand one oil nese proPosJs "
declare that by law slavery Is now abolished IN New m
and California That was The very proposition au'aeeu "
the Notwithstanding States the last session, cobateo
and disproyed, thought by gentlemen nom me siae
holding States and which the compromise bii was franco
10 test So far regarded the question OF III" as aisoseu
OF il was very clearly and satisfactorily shown 10 BIZ against
the spirit of the resolution of the Senator from
If the contrary true presume the Senator ron hehlGe.
XIV would declare that If law is now valid IN the lerilofs
aboshng slavery that il could not be introduced thce even
if law was passed creating the Institution or repeating e
statutes already existing doctrine never asSenea 10 81
far as know until now by any Senator representing one
Of the savehoIdng States Sir hold the very opposite
and with such confidence that the last was VIII
line and did vote for bill test this question IN HE o-
prene Court Ye this resolution assumes the other doc
ne TO be true and our assent Is challenged 10 II DIS P
position in law.
do not mean de,ain the Senate by discussion but
deemed il my duty decided protest on me
part Virginia against such doctrines They concede me
whole question al once that people shall not into the
new territories and take their property with ihena doc
irine which never will assent and Tor winch ST. no
can be found. There other portions oil the resolutions
To vote That respecting fugitive slaves and that respecting
the organization o goyerncn, in these territories should
be- willing for and am happy 10 declare Inc @ra'i-
cation experience finding the Senator from hehuchS
differing much this subject from lie Executive mes
SAGE recently laid before The Senate beg not TO be under
stood as having spokcn i'm any spirit of unkndness towards
the Senator from Kentucky, for whom | entertain tlc
warcs and profound respect but cannot b! express
also my regret that he has felt be his duty standing ~
he does before this people and resen'ag me Gop n he
Mr. DAVIS oi Missssippi)l do not Use To continue
the discussion bu Us has been made an historical les-
ton What the position Of The Senate was twelve years
ara and as with great regret This. tho conservative
branch the Government tending towards that ianallcls
which prevail with the majority IN the nlicd
States wish read from the journals Of that date the re-
solutions adopted and show that they went further
than the honorable Senator from Kentucky has stated
take granted from the date 10 which the honorable Sc
has alluded he means the resolutions introduced o me
honorable Senator from South Carolina, (l Cahounl not
now in his seat and which tie Senator from Kentucky
proposed certain amendments OF the resolutions intfodu-
ce ~ the Senator from South Carolina will read the fifth
in series that which tie honorable Senator from Ken
iucsy have alluded Ii is in these words:
''Rcsolvcd That the intermeddIiGg vi any State, or
States their citizens, 10 abolish slavery IN this District,
any o the territories the ground or under the 'cc%t
that il is immoral SINFUL or the passage o any act or
measure OF Congress with that view would be direct ana
dangerous attack the institutions of all the slaYehodns
States.
Such Is The general form of the proposition II
r;osy msdfod but never, in my opinion, improved On
the 9th the fifth resolution being again under consideration
Mr. Clay, Of Kentucky moved to amend the amendment by
THAT tie interference by the citizens Of any of the States
the abolition of slavery in this District is
cnangerng the rights and security OF the people OF the Dis
c and that any act measure OF Congress designed TO
abolish slavery in this District would be violation OF the
faith implied in the cessiona by the States OF virginia and
Maryland jus, of alarm the people Of the slave
holding States and have direct and inevitable tendency 10
disturb and endanger the Union.
"Ind resored That it would be highly inexpedent to
abolish slavery within any district of country set apart for
the Indian tribes where il exists or in Florida the
only territory of the United States in which it now exists
because o the serious alarm and Just appchenons which
would thereby be excited in the States sustaining that do
nestle institution; because the people OF that territory have
asked it to be DONE and, when admitted into the Unlon
VII be exclusively entitled 10 decide that question for them
selves; would be in violation Of the stpulaons OF
tho treaty between the United States and Spain Of the 22d OF
February 1919; and also because would be in violation Of
solemn compromise made at memorable and critical pc
rod in the history OF this country by which, whilst slavery
prohibited North admitted South of the line OF
thrty-six degrees and thirty minutes North latitude"
But this resolution finally adopted Upon the
motion of Mr.. Buchanan 10 amend said amendment, by
striking the second clause thereof commencing with the
word resoved it was determined in the affirmative and
finally the resolution which here follows was substituted IN
place of the second clause
THAT the interference by the citizens of any Of the
States with the view the abolition OF slavery in this Dis
is cndangerg the rights and security OF the people OF
the District and that any act Or measure OF Congress- de-
signed 10 abolish slavery in this District would be viola
ton o The faith implied in the ces.ons by the States of Viz
gnia and Nlayland OF alarm 10 the people OF
the savchodng States and have adrect and inevitable ten
GenCy % disturb and endanger the Union"
| This WAS the form in which the resolution finally
adopted passing by of thirtvsix eight Here,
then fully and broadly asserted the danger resulting
the interference in tbs question OF slavery in the Dis
tric ri Columbia, enchng upon the rights of the slave
holding STATES Twelve only have elapsed yet this brief
period swept away the remembrance OF principles
then deemed sacred and necessary 10 secure the safety o the
| Union. Now an honorable and distinguished Senator,
whom the country has been induced look for something
that would heal the existing dsssnsions instead of new
barriers against cncroacen dashcs down those heretofore
erected and augmens hecyisng danger Representative
from the savc-ong States raises his voice for the
first time in disregard Of this admitted right Nor, Mr. Pre-
silcnt did he stop here The boundary OF State, with
which have right 10 interfere than with the
boundary OF the State o Kentucky is encroachcd upon
The United States sir, the agent for Texas had right
To settle the question OF boundary between Texas and cxi
co. Texas annexed "a territory but was admitted
rs Stale and the period OF her admission her bounda
res were established BY her Congress She by the terms Of
annexation gave the United States the right define her
boundary hv treaty with McXico but the United States in
made with Mexico Subsequent 10 The with that
country received from Mexico merely ccssion ri the
territory tina; was claimed By Texas, but much which lay
beyond the asserted limits Shall we, them acting simply
the agent OF Texas in the settlement Of this question of
boundary take from the principal for whom act that
ritov which belongs her TO which asserted her title
against Mexico and appropriate TO ourselves Why, sir
would be violation OF justice and of principle OF law
which is plain that il does not require 10 have been
bred the profession of law To understand IT, The princi-
pc refer To is that agent take for his hcnc-
in controversy, after having acquired II as be-
longing the principal for whom he acts The right of Tex
boundary made by