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

even tn0ugn inc CouvOuoatoQ IotD o1 gov
eminent had been adopted, these personal
guarantees, would have remained compiste,
and would have stood beyond the reach Of
all authority less than the one competent to
alter and amend the Constitution, to vita
National Cospeafion He argues that the
rights Of the slave owner in Territorial Dis
trict, are what they would have been in all
the districts, had the Federal Union been
Transformed into nation, and all tie States
reduced to districts.
We believe that history will bear him out
in the position, that those in the Convention
who favored the plan Of consolidated gov
eminent, did not aim at the abolition Of any
Of the guarantees in favor Of personal rights
and private property; and if this be the fact,
there is no possibility Of meeting the argu-
ment of Mr.. WOODWARD. But though it be
not the fact, this general argument stands
good.
The distinction taken by Mr.. WOODWARD
between jurisdiction over the "guarantee Of
slavery" and jurisdictionin relation to rights
in slave property, may at first blush seem
little obscure but It is mere verbal simlli-
tude that perplexes somewhat the UNDER
standing. Let us illustrate his idea. Ha-
beas corpus and jury trial are solemnly guar
anteed by the Constitution. These guaran-
tees are not in favor Of States, but persons,
and pass directly from the Constitution to
the people as individuals These guarantees
are placed high upon the authority Of Con-
gress. But the greater the pains the Con-
stitution has taken to do this, the greater
the weight Of obligation on Congress to pass
all laws necessary and proper to enforce them.
Who will deny the correctness Of this rea-
son;ng' And yet it has no other founda-
ton than the principle ofthe distinction taken
10y Mr.. WOODWARD.
Having pointed out the deceptive charac-
ter Of "non-intervention, when coupled
with a denial Of this fundamental distinction,
Mr.. WOODWARD proceeds to expose its entire
futiGty, when coupled with an affirmation Of
the validity of Mexican laws in the new.
territory. In this last connection, it amounts
to nothing more than this Let the Mexican
laws alone-do not intervene against them,
but leave themto intervene against the South
ern STAKEHOLDER. Were people ever before
the dupes Of such mockery 7
Strip non-intsrvention Of the sophistry
that has been thrown around it, and the new
fsngled and false doctrines about 6 Mexican
laws" gotten up expressly for the occasion,
and the South is willing to stand by it, as
she ever has been.
| We take this occasion to refer to a speech
delivered by Mr.. TooMBs, during the present
session. Pursuing an original and indepen-
dent course Of reasoning, Mr.. TooMBs APP
pears to us to have arrived at a conclusion
very similar to, if not identical with, that Of
] Mr.. WOODWARD. We make but single
extract, which is in keeping with the entire
speech:
"We hold it to be the duty of this Government
to protect the persons and property of the citizens
Of the United States, wherever its flag floats, and
it has paramount jurisdiction. And as a JUS,
corrolary from this principle, we affirm, that
as the territories of the United States, are the
common property Of the people of the several
States, we have right to enter them with our
cocks and our herds, with our man servants and
Arlr vn,aJd and hot nlvo hal
ony of the States Of this Union declare be prop
arty, and to receive full and ample protection from
| eur common Government until its authority is
respectfully superseded by State government
This is equity; this is what we call equality; and
it is what you call equity and equality, but for
your crusade against slavery.
g We do not demand, as is constantly alleged
on this floor and elsewhere, that you shall estab-
iish slavery in the territories. We have en-
deavored to show you that there is no power
to do so. Slavery is a g. fixed fact," in your
system. We ask protection against all hos
tile impediments to the introduction and peaeeable
enjoyment of all our property in the territories
whittier these impediments arise from foreign laws
or from any pretended domestic authority, we hold
it to be your duty to remove them. Foreign laws
can only exist in acquired territory by our ,oiu
depressed or implied. II is fraud on our rights
to permit them to remain to our prejudice"
From this extract it will appear, that they
greatly misconceive Mr.. TooMBs, who sup
pose him to have denied that negro slavery
goes with the Constitution into the terrific
ries, and is there guaranteed. His position
is, that although guaranteed in the terrific
Iries, slave property cannot, any more thar,
any other property, be securely enjoyed
| there, unless Congress shall enact suitable
conservative laws; just as habeas corpus and
jury trial, which it is not left with Congress.
either to establish or abolish in the terrific
ries, could not practically exist there, unless
Congress, in obedience to the Constitution:
should provide for their enforcement and ex-
ecution.
The Proceedings In New Mexico.