The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-02-05

pun q Nlaltu NIlOn VIC w hOl DiUD-
or to make.
Sir, what else is there in these reso-
lutionsl Why, sir, the residue of these
resolutions purely assert the power of
Congress to prohibit slavery in these ter
rtories and, this, sir, take it, is not
to be regarded as an offensive preten>
sion 1t may not be ill.funded, but,
sir it is merely the assertion of power
that has been exercised ever since the
organization Of this Government;
power exercised in every instance where
the exigency Of tho case called for its
exercise. Is il offensive. Mr.. President,
to assert power which has thus been
exercised by this Government from the
beginning Sir, we may be wrong in
this position the progress of the times,
the superior light Of the present day,
and | nigh; say, perhaps, the superior
knowledge of the present day, may have
dispeled the illusion that Congress has
the right to legisla,e for the Territories,
and we may now be enabled, 10y aban.
doning the construction of the consii-
tuition adopted by all the departments of
the Government, to place ourselves on
more comfortable footing by setting
these Territories adrift for, sir, if the
arguments we have recently heard upon
this subject of the power of Congress to
lcgislate for these Territories be correct,
if the logic is sound and the conclusions
right. there is but one word 10 the En-
gish language which will describe the
position of these Territories, and that is
the word adrih."
Mr.. President, have done with these
resolutions, hut there are other matters
which demand oil me passing notice. !
have heard much, sir, upon this floor, Of
the cncroachments Of The North. Sir,
desire 10 know Whist these encroachmenis
are2 Arc they such as would justify any
portion Of this Union in dissoving its con-
nexion with il, and setting at defiance the
Government Of this Union? What are
those encroaehmenls When did they
commence How have they been follow
ed up? Sir, The first time that This ques-
iiGn ever arose, the first time it was ever
rnpnscd TO regulate this subject by act Of
Congress was with reference 10 the north
west territories, previous 10 ihr passage of
The ordinance Of 1887. Sir. in enutuc.a>
lion Of lhese entertainments Of the North
we have been reminded Of the exclusion
Of slavery from The northwestern territory,
and the peoplng Of that territory with Il
population who would put an interdicl up
on slavery.
Now, sir, be it an cncroachment or be it
not, who was the first man to propose the
exclusion of slavery from that territory
The same individual, Mr.. Picsdcn,. whose
sentiments on this subject have had uc-
casion TO refer 10. Thomas Jefferson was
the man who first proposed This measure,
| in 1854. In 1857 the ordinance WINS adopt
ed. and il was adopted by the unanimous
vote Of the States, including the States OF
the South. Now, sir, if This be an en-
croachmeni, WHO is responsible? II it be
an encroachment upon the rights of the
South, who is the oflendcr2 Why, sir
MIR Jefferson, the original protector, and
the representatives Of The South in that
Congress who sanc,Iored it by their unan.
inous vote. S r. are we at the North 10 he
reproaChcd because savcsy is excluded
from that territory, when il turns out thai
the original Protector, and those who a
dnpted il, were the representatives of .
slaveholding constituency Lnuisianf
came into the Union, and what was dont
with Louisiana Sir, this has heen done
We have in that territory three slavebuld
ing Sta,cs-Louisiana. Arkansas, an,
Mlssouri-and but one free Stale, the Stat,
Of Iowa.
Sir, lei me advert TO another fact. y
the time of the Missouri compromise ihcr,
| 49, A
Of So 30. We'll, sir, the result WAS ihn
wherever the institution was found il wal
permitted by that compromise To exist. 81
far as This species of property had iounC
its way into The territories, SO far il VA
recognised and protected by This comprom
10; hut, sir, by that same compromise
WAS excluded moth oil So 80. Sir, wa
this an encroachmenl2 Why, sir, it wa
a compromise in its terms and compro'n
Use in fact; and will gentlemen assert tina
compromise assenleh 10 on all sides is I,
; he called an encronchmcnl upon the right
Of either pariy2 II n compromise of til
description is to be converted into an " en-
croachment, confess | know not " ha
, meaning TO attach to the expression. Tn
next step. sir. was the Introduction Of Flor
! lila, where slavery was permitted 10 cxis
D Was that nm eucroaclmeni Texas fn|
: lowed II WAS permitted there, TOO. Or
! egon followed, and there il was excluded
u with the concurrence Of Southern mem
hers, with :he appreciation Of Souher
President and il was excluded from III
conviction that, law or no law, the inslitt
, Lion never could find lie way into that Tel
rirory. Sir, think no uan will iudulg
the slightest suspicion that slavery was c
: ,her desired in Oregon. or that, if ii wa
= permitted 10 find lis own wnv, il would c,
b. er find loohold there. Sir, was this a
= encroachmentl Was this lrnmrlng o
o tie righrs Of the South? Sir, don't vi
!. derstand the meaning of such terms.
4 Then came New Mexico and Callorni.
. What is the encroachmcnr with respect
i ihem2 They have seen fiji to abolish III
u institution, and they come 10 us with prt
hibiiun in their fundamental laws. No,
t sir, e we Of the North lei these people
e lone and leave their where their legisli
h lion has seen fit to place Them. we can har,
- ly he taxed with encroaching on the RICH
q Of the South.
r. Sir, II the reverse prove true. il the pow
n er Of this country, once exeried Ia conqu'
these territories. is 10 be exeried again (,
: The purpose of planting an institution whiC
Is they repudiaie. that would he a case cal
y ing for the most plain and palpable app
II cation Of The term encrohchmeni. Sir,
n more egregious encroarhmeni On The RICH
n and liberties of any people cannot well
10 Imagined than 10 attempt TO impose up,
!, them an institution offensive 10 them
y, institution which they have in their fund
-" mental law rejected.
=. Sir, this is species oi encroachme
VI that protest against. have listened
re many homilies about he innate rights NJ
IF Tho ;o.lio,,.I.i .,.b,. - -, i, -,