Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-12
MR.. WEBSTER.

Mr.. Webster's votes, on Wednesday and Thurs
day last, prove, beyond all doubt, that he really
means to tread no step backward. He voted di,
rectly against the Wilmot Provso, against prohi-
biting peon-slavery, against striking out of the
bill the clause prohibiting the Territorial legisla-
ture from passing "any law in respect to African
slavery" and for Mr.. Berriens amendment of
this clause substituting the words Establishing
or prohibiting in lieu of the words, sin respect
to" BY the two last votes, he took ground dis
tincty against Gen Cass's doctrine, that the peo-
pie of Territory have the right to admit or pro-
hibit slavery at their will. On this subject Mr..
Webster made some remarks, on Monday, the Sd
inst, which, though very brief, afford complete
answer to Gen. Cass's extraordinary theory
Having expressed the opinion that it was of no
practical Importance whether any provision con-
corning slavery in the Territories should be adopt
ed or not, he said:
1t has been advanced that these people while terri
tory have right to do anything and everything that
belongs to the rights OF man. | conceive that
they have. | understand something, hope about the
rights OF man, they exist before government and
without government, and before there is social state
and before there is political state But when speak
OF the rights of personsthe rights of people who are
IN social state VINO are IN political state who are
under the dominion and power of government-when
we speak OF their rights, suppose mean their
rights as they exist social rights, and their political
rights more especially they exist in the state of things
existing at the time. shall 90 into the gene
raj reasons of the subject shall | meet the argu-
ment or attempt to meet the argument of the honora-
Bile member from Michigan, addressed to us some time
ago
We have always gone upon the ground that these
territorial governments were in state OF pupage un-
der the protection or patronage of the General Govern
ment The territorial Legislature has constitution pre-
scribed by Congress. They have no power not given
by that Congress. They act within the limits of
the constitution granted them by Congress- or else their
acts become void The people under the territorial 60
Vernmen are not sovereignty. They are, if you so
please to denomlnate 1t, in state of inchoate govern
men and sovereignty. II we well consider this ques-
non upon the ground of practice during the last
hai century, | think we will find one way of dsposng
OF IT. 1t is our duty to provide for the people of the
territory government to keep the peace to secure their
property; to assign to them subordinate legislative au
uorty to assign to them subordinate judicial author
yto see MAT the protection OF their persons and the
security OF Their property all regularly provided for;
au 70 MAINTAIN them IN that state until they grow into
suilcent Importance in point of population TO be adj
mitted INTO the Union State upon the same footing
with the original States 1t seems to me thai that is ali
our duty. l shall most readily concur in anvtbna
which tends to the performance of that dutv Rnt |
cannot 60 into any general discussion about the RIGHTS If
the people while under the territorial government and
do more than they permitted to do by that const
non which creates government over them