Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-04-24

gress, Dy one eusurpatlon atteT aholheT' =
may swallow up all the rights reserved
TO the States and to the people, and
become as competent as the British
Parliament, knowing no restraint on
its powers but its own will and its own
precedents, and our Constitution will
then cease to be Of any binding import.
In order to preserve the integrity Of
the URiop, and the rights of the states,
and the people which were designed
TO be secured and preserved by the
limitations and guarantees of The con.
stilulion, j. is necessary that those
guarantees and securities should be
well understood, and strictly guarded
by the people Of all parties.
Above all others, this is lime when
we should examine into the foundation
of our rights and assert them, since
doctrines are promulgated that tend to
enlarge the powers of Congress, de-
stroy the equality among the States OF
the Union, and take from the property
of large portion of the people, that
protection which was given it by the
Constitution. and without which secu'
rity thus guaranteed, this Government
never could have been formed.
The territories are admitted by aI to
be the common property of the whole
Union; if so each State, and each citi
zen of the several States, have a like
interest in them, and having such in
terest the citizens of each State are
entitled under the constitution 10 the
same rights and privileges in the set,
tement of the territories, with what
ever property the constitution of their
respective States recognize, as are the
citizens of the several States. No one
will deny but that the territories were
acquired by the common means and
common exertions of all the States
and they ought to be governed for the
mutual benefit of the people of all the
States.
The institution Of domestic slavery
existed in the States at the time, and
prior TO the formation of the Federal
Constitution, and as a Il will admit, be-
came an important element in the aP'
pointment of the powers of the Gen
eral Government as a means of its sup
port and defence; that such institution
being then recognized by the constltu'
,ion, and the right in such property
guaranteed, any legislation by Congress
that would preUent or hare q tendency
to preUcnt The people Of any of the
States from removing 10 The territories
with their slareS or any other property
recognized as such by the Fedora
Constitution, and the constituents Of
their respective Slstes, would be sub
versive Of every principle Of justice
destructive Of the equality of right
guaranteed by the constitution of the
citizens of each and every State, cal
culated 10 ALLEVIATE the people of one
portion Of the Union from another, anC
is unauthorized by any express provis
ion of The Constitution. ask you
fellow citizens, TO examine the consI
tuition, read at for yourselves, it is tht
bond of our Union, formed by you
patriot fathers, designed as the char
Ter of our liberties, the perPetuity 0
our Government, and our very lioor
ties depend upon its being properl,
understood, and honestly and fairly e1
pounded. If such power is not dele
gated, you may DO satisfied that
never was intended 10 be exercised
because if not delegated, it is reserved
| h.
contends for the power, ask him I
show it to you, he cannot, es he wi
not be able to do, show him that claus
which says that "lhe powers not herei
, delegated TO the General Governmen
!, or prohibited to the States are reserve
to the States respectively or 10 the pee
, ple."
This is fruitful and an all.absorbin
5 subject, and was, during our last caf
. vass, freely and fully discussed bsfor
, you; it was then deemed Of psramouF
f Importance to all questions of ner
+ expedency, rising far above all part
e considerations, involving, as l the
E thought, and still think, the fundamel
tai principles of our republican forl
e of government, and the perpstuity {
}, the Union itself 1t is true the SLAYER
f question was then the great and col
trolling question which admit, to son
G extent, has been most happily settled b
e the acts Of the last Congress; yet theI
/, is a canker left, which, if not cradle
d ted entirely. will, ere long, make i
Il way to the heart of the body Polili
o and become of more fearful impo
:. than ever. And you will also observ
:. lha, to acknowledge The power of Col
n gress here denied over the subject
# slavery in the territories, involve man
!. fearful admission no less than tha
Q Congress may legislats in a mann'
/. incompatible with that instrument uPs