The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-06-11


| he was not pleased with the amendment sub
mtted by his friend from Ohio, (Mr. Chase.) -
On the contrary he thought it was eminenty
necessary to meet the amendment of the Sena-
tor from Mississippi.
Mr. Douglas opposed both the amendments
pending, as well as the original proposition re-
stlicting the Territorial Legislatures from legis-
ating in respect to African slavery. The posi-
ton which he had ever taken, and still main-
tained was that this, and all other domestic
questionsand the policy of the Territories, ought
to be left 20 the decision of the people them
selves, and that Congress ought to be content
with whatever decision of the question they
might choose to make. lie trusted that the OBJ
iectonabe clause would be stricken out of the
bill, to which, he was satisfied, it gave no
strength. But even if it did, it ought not to be
there, because it was violation OF a principle
upon which many of them had rested defence
Of the course which they had taken upon this
question. He did not see how those who had
supported the doctrines set forth in the Nichol-
son letter of lS4S, could vote for Il provision Of
that kind, after having so long and earnestly
contended for the principle Of non.nterVentlon.
Mr.. Downs, in reply, said that the Nicholson
letter wis interpreted very differently In the
South from the construction given it by the Sen
ator from Illinois, or it would not have satisfied
the people of that section. lie also alluded to
Mr.. Chase's amendment, as, in effect, the Will
mot proviso.
Mr.. Chase explained and defended his amend
ment. 1t Was not the Wilmot Proviso. 1t was
intendedmcrrly as an explanation of the amend
ment submitted by the Senator from Mississip-
pi--to render its terms definite, and not liable
to different constructions in different sections.
MIR. Davis, of Mississippi, observed, that his
amendment did not imply the existence of sa-
very in the Territories, or the right to carry it
there. There was very great difference be-
tween deciding the ights of property, and pro-
viding Tor their protection when ascertained.-
He also replied to the argument presented by
Mr.. Douglas The difference between that
Senator and himself was simply us to who con-
stitute the people. The Senator claimed the
inhabitants of the Territory to be the people !;
and if that were true, one man, or ten men,
inhabiting Territory, could exclude the whole
country. He mr. Davis held the inhabita ITS
of Territory to be people, when they pos
sessed sovereignty, which they did not obtain
until it was conferred upon them by Congress.
Mr.. Dongas, in the course of his reply, said
that the bill under consideration conceded to
the people the right to govern themselves; why,
then, reserve from their control single subject
of lcgislation slavery! In conclusion, he ex
pressed his conviction that if the question of
slavery was touched ut ;ll in the bill, either to
restrict control or protect it, the bill could not
pass the Senate.
After few remarks by Mr.. Davis, of Missis-
sippi, ard Mr.. Walker,
Mr.. Butler defended the amendment submit
ted by Mr.. Davis 1t did not declare that Sin.
very exists IN the Territories, or that it should
or would 60 there The Senator from Missis-
sippl had never himself said, that slavery exists
in New Mexico, or that it should or would go
there. His amendment simply provided that it
slavery shall he found to exist, or if it should go
there, the Shareholder should be protected in
his right to try the validity Of his title to his
property; and have it decided under the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States. lfsome
such provision as this was not inserted, no po.
lice laws regulating slavery could be passed in
the Territories, and the slave.owner would he
subjected to innumernble annoyanccs from un-
principIed men. In conclusion,
Mr.. b. said that he would take another op
portunity to express his views upon the general
scheme of compromise under consideration, and
would then declare explicitly and candidly what
he thought would satisfy him as one of the Re-
prcsentatives of a Southern State.
VOTES ON THE COMPROMISE.
In the Senate, on "Wednesday, 5th inst, Mr..
Yulce moved that the message of the President
relative to Cuba be taken up. In the course Of
some remarks he expressed the opinion that the
President had violated the Constitution in the
measures he had adopted The matter was
laid over.
The Senate then took up the Compromise.
The question pending, was upon motion
by Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, to amend the fol-
lowing portion of the tenth section of the bill:
"That the Legislative power of said Territory
(Utah) shall extend to all rightful subjects of
legislation, consistent with the Constitution of
the United States and the provisions of this
act but no law shall be passed interfering with
the primary disposal of the soil, nor IN respect
TO African slapery," 3'c.
Strike out the words Gin respect to," in the
9th line, and insert /" to introduce or exclude"
and after the word " slavery" in the same line,
insert:
Provided, That nothing herein contained
shall be construed to prevent said Territorial