The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-22
Chief Of the Royal wurtemberg Finance
The Territorial Question--aad the Rights OF the


For the Union
The Territorial Question--aad the Rights OF the
south,
The unammity OF sentiment which prevailed among
number Of the frmest and most efficient democratic
supporters OF the constitutional rights OF the South,
speeding OF the most important principles involved
in the great controversy through which the country has
happily passed, is fact worthy OF observation and,
thinking it would not be uninieesng 10 their opin
ions collatet in your journal, transmit you short
tracts from their remarks spoken and written. and ask
you to give them place in your columns
In the Congressional Globe, vol 81 part l. page sos,
Mr.. Cass is reported saying; 1.
"As have said, laid down four propositions opin
ions, If yon please. in my Nicholson letter The FIRST
that the Wllmot provso unconstitutional; second,
that slavery having been abolished by the Mexican gov
ernmen did not exist in the territory then held by
arms third that slavery would 60 there, well
account OF natural and geographical obstacles as on ac
count OF The feelings OF the people who were and might
ercsng the powers Of government, whether State ler
orial, had alone the right OF determining this question
for themselves"
In the Congressional Globe. VOL 81. part 2, page Ills.
speaking of proposition Of Mr.. Davis, Mr. Douglas
said
But the difference is this: He desires an amendment
which he thinks will recognise the institution OF slavery
in the Territories as now existing in this country. ! do
not believe thai il exists there now by law. believe il
ia prohibited there by law at this time and the effect, il
not the object. of his amendment would be 10 introduce
slavery by law into country from which think a
large majority of this Senate OF the opinion it is
excluded and he calls upon US to vote to Introduce ii
there. But do say that il left TO myself to
carry out my own opinions | would leave the whole
subject TO the people OF the Territories themselves and
allow them TO introduce exclude slavery as they may
proper. believe that that is the principle upon
which institutions rest believe it is OF those
rights 10 be conceded the Territories the they
have governments and legislatures established for them
because, by establishing government and giving them
power 10 form legislature you admit that they
net emf m her
be authorized 10 establish legislature. and confde all
their rights TO with the exception Of this one Of the
will not enlarge upon, am opposed to any provision in
this bill prohibiting the people Of the Territory from
legsating in reference 10 African slavery"
And in the Congressional Globe, Appendix /, vol %.
page 369. Mr. Douglas after quoting portion OF speech
OF Mr.. Calhoun, remarks
at will be observed that the cause Of complaint in
each OF the specified is predcated the assump
ton that the South deprived OF it's due share Of the
hs as ls "a Be
tinctly understood differ from the senator in toto
deny the very proposition he assumes and upon the
sumption OF which he bases all his complaints against
the North II is no violation OF southern rights 10 pro-
hbt slavery, OF northern rights TO leave the people
to decide the question for themselves In this sense
geographical section OF the Union seniied to any share
OF the territories. The senator from South Carolina will
therefore excuse me for expressing the opinion that all his
complaints under this head are pIedicated upon one great
fundamental OF supposDg that his particular section
has right TO have due share OF the territories set apart
and assigned TO IT,"
Congressional Globe, vol. 81 part 2. Mr. Dickinson is
reported follows:
:" do not favor the original section which prohibits
legislation in respect TO African slavery, and shall vote to
strike ii out but shall for the bill if il is retained,
because deem the of so much consequences that
will not be turned from It's support by details oil minor
importance, OF which do not approve"
will stand upon the true principle OF on-interven-
uon IN the broadcast sense for non-neIyentons
sake, TO uphold the fundamental principles OF freedom,
and for other reason and will leave the people oil the
Territories and OF the States 10 such rights and privileges
theirs under the constitution aud laws OF the Uni
ted States, without addition TO or dminuon from such
rights by the ACTON OF Congress"
Same book, page l,i4i, the question OF peon sla
very, Mr. Dickinson said
Whatever restrictions may been placed in other
parts OF the BILL not placed there with my consent,
Tor voted 10 strike them out and get nd OF them. will
not vote 10 egslae matters in this territory
urey domestic this is The restriction which has been
placed in thus bor should rather say, perhaps. which
has been retained in 1t, by the vote OF the Senate yeser
daydoes not embrace legislation in the Territories against
this form of servude All rghtful subjects Of legsla
ton still left open TO them and If the people in the
Territories have not intelligence 10 legslae 10 regulate
domestic affair OF this kind undersiandngly and as 1t
should be legislated upon shall despair OF guiding them
In this way with leading strings three thousand miles
long"
Extracts from letter OF the Hon James Buchanan,
dated Washington, 25ih August, is47
Neither the soil, the climate, nor the productions OF
that portion OF California south OF SO deg 30 min, nor
u
slave labor and, besides, every facility would be there
afforded TO the slave TO escape from his master Such
property would be utterly insecure In any part OF Cali
lorna. II Is morally impossible, therefore, that major
y OF the emigrants to that portion OF the territory south
Of 80 deg 30 min which will be chiefly composed OF our
fellow citizens from the eastern, middle, and western
States, will ever re-esabsh slavery within lis limits In
regard to New Mexico east OF the Rio Grande that has
been already settled by the admission OF Texas into the
Union Should we acquire territory beyond the Rio
Gande, and east OF the Rocky mountains i, is still, more
improbable that majority of the people OF that region
would consent TO re-csabti slavery They are them
selves, IN large proportion, coored population and
among them the negro does not socially belong TO de-
graded race"
summary OF the opinions Of these public men will
show that
Gen. Cass maintained the unconsitutionality Of the
Wmot proviso;
That slavery was abolished in the Territories acquired
from Mexico
That the right TO take slaves there did not attach to
these cessons under the constitutions by the mere act OF
annexation; and that the people Of the States and
Territories Tor the time being, ought to have the right to
determine the question OF slavery for themselves.
Upon all these points the views OF Mr. Dickinson cor
respond with those OF Gen. Cass And so did the views
OF Mr. Douglas, except that he believed Congress
had the constitutional right pass the Wimot proviso
but he considered its exercise altogether inexpedent and
uncaed for and would have voted against il had he not
have been instructed by the legislature OF his State to vote
for il.
Mr. Buchanans opinion respecting the consuiionality
OF the Wilmot proviso does not appear Whatever il
49,. L. ~ Io.h roJ H.