Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-30
From the Washington Union. *
The TerzsfoliaI qucsfion-aad the Rights Of the

The TerEtto1iaI Qucsfion--and the Rights Of the
south. "a
The unanimityof sentiment which prevailed among
number of the frmest and most efficient democratic
supporters of the constitutional rights of the South
respecting some Of the most important principles IN
yolyed in the great controversy through which the
country has happily passed. is fact worthy OF OBJ
seryation; and, thinking it would not be uninterest
inc to see their opinions collated in your Journal
7 transmit Won short extracts 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
39S Mr. Cass is reported saying
GAS have said, laid down four propositions or
onnions If you please in my Nicholson letter. The
first that the Wimot proviso was unconstitutional
second that slavery, having been abolished by the
Mexican government did not exist in the territory
then held by our arms; third, that slavery would
not go there, we'll or account of natural and geo.
graphical obstacles account OF the feelings OF
the peope who were and might be there; and
fourth that organized communities. exercising the
mowers of government, whether State or territorial
had alone the right of determining this question for
themselves"
In the Congressional Globe, vol 81. part Q page
us speaking of proposition of MIR. Davis, MIR.
Douglas said:
ment which he thinks will recognise the institution
of slavery in the Territories as now existing IN this
country do not believe that it exists there now
by law believe it is prohibited there by law at
this time and the effect if not the object of his a
mendment would be to introduce slavery by law in
to country from which think large ma joriy OF
this Senate are of the opinion it is excluded
and he calls upon to vote to introduce it there.
But | do say that. if 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 see proper believe that that is the prin
ciple upon which institutions rest | believe il
is one of those rights to be conceded to the Terrific
ries the moment they have governments and legisEa
lures established for them because by establishing
a government, and giving them power to form a le-
gislature YOU admit that they competent to gov
ern themselves otherwise they would not be author
lied to establish legislature, and confde all their
rights to it with the exception OF this one OF the in
sttution of slavery. For these reasons, and others
will not enlarge upon, am opposed to any provis-
ion in this bill prohibiting the people OF the Terrific
ry from egislating in reference to African slavery
| And in the Congressional Globe, Appendix l, vol.
o. page 500. Mr.. Doug las, after quoting portion
Of speech of Mr.. Calhoun, remarks:
Is 1t will be observed that the of complaint
in each of the causes specified is predicated the
assumption that the South was deprived of its due
share of the territories. [These are the words of
Mr.. Calhoun Upon this point, continues MIR.
Douglass, wish to be distinctly understood. diff
| fer from the senator in toto. deny the very pro-
position he assumes; and upon the assumption of
which be bases all his complaints against the North
| 1t is no violation of southern rights to prohibit
slavery, of northern ghts to leave the people to
decide the question for themselves. In this sense
geographical section of the Union is entitled to any
! share of the territories. The senator from South
Carolina will therefore me for expressing the
opinion that all his complaints under this head are
predicaied upon great fundamental error, OF sup
posing that his particular section has right to
have due share Of the territories set apart and
! signed to it,"
Congressional Globe: vol 81, part q Mr.. Dickin-
son is reported as follows:
II do not favor the original section, which pro-
hibits legislation in respect to African slavery and
shall vote to strike it out but shall vote for the
bill if it is retained. | will not be turned from it's
support by details of minor Importance, of which
do not approve"
81 will stand upon the true principle of nonnter-
venton, in the broadcast possible sense, for nonin
tervention's sake to uphold the fundamental prnci
Piles of freedom: and for other reason, and will
leave the people of the Territories and of the States
to such rights and privileges theirs under the
constitution and laws of the United States, without
addition to diminution from such rights by the
tion of Congress
Same book page liza, on the question of peon
slavery, MIR. Dickinson said
"Whatever restrictions may have been placed in
other parts of the bill were not placed there with
my consent, for | voted to strike them out and get
rid of them. will not vote to legislate over mat
tiers in this territory entirely domestic this is
The restriction which has been placed in this bill
or should rather say perhaps, which has been
tanned in ii, by the vote of the Senate yesterday
does not embrace legislation in the Territories
! against this form of serytude. All rightul sub
iects of legislation still left open to hem and if
the people in the Territories have not intelligence to
regulate domestic affair of this kind understanding
w. and as it should be legslated upon, shall des-
pair of guiding them in this way with leading strings
three thousand miles long"
Extracts from letter of the Hon James Buchan-
an, dated Washington, 25th August, lS47
Neither the soil the climate, nor the productions
of that portion of California south of &c deg. 80
mn nor indeed of any portion oft north or south
is adapted-to slave labor and besides, every faci
ty would be there afforded to the slave to escape from
his master. Such property would be utterly inse-
cure in any part of California. 1t is morally impos
sible therefore, that majority of the emf grants to
that portion of the territory south of SO deg 30 mir
which will be chiefly composed of our fellow citizens
from the eastern, middle, and western States, will
reesabish slavery within its 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 Grande and east of the Rocky Mountains, it is
still more improbable that majority OF the people
of that region would consent TO re-es0bSh slavery
They themselves in large proportion. color
ed population and among them the negro does not
socially belong TO a degraded race"
summary of the opinion of these public men
will show that
Gen. Cass maintained the unconstitutionalty OF
the Wilmot proviso
That slavery was abolished in the Territories ac-
CURED from Mexico;
That the right to take slaves there did not attach
to these cessons under the constitutions by the mere
act of annexaton and that the people of the States