The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-02

tram hun tor higher and nobsr sphere !. 10 redeem
iaiieh and degraded humanity that may worthiy
bear be imsge oi its Maker; 10 break and bend his
mind TO moral and religious thought and reflection and
teach hm 10 understand and know that be s candidate
or lnmoraI'sy and 10 realize his vast responsibilities
or the future, and his final accountability 10 his God
These sr are the grand and noble objects to be accom-
plished BY the bill aud not has been inmaed to rob
nm Rn. o. m ns properly and strip him Of bis rights
ne wdness OF bis nature would prompt him 10 flee al
,hs approach q The white man and seek another home
case 1t would only be his destiny and in perfect con.
ormy with the great plan which the Ruler OF the Uni
verse intends 10 accomplish From the earliest settle
Ment OF the coontry the march OF civilization has been
from the East westward An, sir. permit me here to say
that there Is charm in that word East The East is the
nrs portion Of the earth that lighted up by the rays Of
tle morning. SUM- IL was nihe East that the wise men
Of oden time saw the star that pointed the place where
lay the infant Saviour OF the Word-,he star OF Behle-
hem ln this western bemsphere. the eastern portion OF
was among the first upon which civilization shed It's
rays But il was not to be confined there. Its progress
was to be westward As the sun begins Its the
East and travels through iis meridian splendor 10
light up The distant West, 30 is civzaon with all lis
accompanying blessings TO continue its march westward
until il sheds its brilliant rays upon the uncivilzed por-
tioDs OF the West Sir that ovenung providence which
led the trembling and sen-tossed bark which contained
The hrs discoyeer Of these western Shores which nerved
the patriots heart and led armies battle for civil
liberty, now leads the way to accomplish this This is
!he destiny OF our country, and it cannot be defeated
YEA more il ia destined 10 become the great moral and
political sun 10 illuminate the world and to set
pies for other nations to initiate st5
fet SIR, we are called upon TO array ourselves against
It, and TO say that shall moi be So that the Indians will
be disturbed IN their possessions and their homes Tfi
Ting thought, yapid philosophy indeed compared with
the great object TO be accomplished What, sir shall not
the boundaries OF civilization be enlarged because the In
dams to be disturbed! an astonshed and amazed
TO hear such sediments fall from The lips of civilized and
Christian men am panied to see them far aeaa,ed
from rue consideration OF suffering humanity as to con-
tend against the benevolent provisions OF the bprn-
visions which, if carried out, will be blessing 10 thou
sands OF The human and would soon add another
il not other, bright and blazing TO the great consel
laon Of States, and increase national glory But
can we expect less from fanatcal nthusass May we
not justified IN supposing that they have dark de-
sign IN view IN their opposition to the bill May
believe that they intend, if possible hold the Indian
tribes corps Of reserve for future purpose AT
an early period Of our history the English government
encouraged the importation of slaves into this country
because il thought that they would day be pow
er in its hands against the unruly colonsts" And from
the spirit now manifested, may suppose that abo-
onsis design 10 hold il possibe the Indian tribes in
state OF native wildness, be used distant day. in
carrying out their revolutionary purposesi II So cir 10
aver the awful consequences which such an event would
But. cir, there is another question of importance which
/ design TO notice, which is: Win the people, while
under territorial government, have right 10 egslae
upon and determine the question. whether slavery shall
exs, in the Territory not, whether that power is
vested by the constitution in Congress alone That part
OF the constitution upon which the question arises is TO
be found in the third section OF the fourth article
Tha, Congress shall have power dispose Of, and make
all needai les and regulations respecting the territory and
other property OF the United States" f=
While some have contended ha, this clause only gave
TO Congress The right TO pass such rules regulations or
laws as should be for the disposition OF
the public domain, have always entertained the opin
ion That, as territory is the property OF the people, Con-
gress had right to pass any law necessary for safe
preservation OF il Tor the use OF the people, when wanted
By them for State purposes From the terms used to
wit, rules and regulations" have inferred the right
aud The power OF Congress 10 lay down general prnc-
pies for the government OF the people residing m them
leaving TO them however, the right TO adopt such mun-
cpa regulations their wants and their safe protection
might require have therefore, former OCCASION ac
knowledged the right Congress decide by law whether
slavery should exist 10 Territories not. asserting at the
time, that such law could be Of very little practical
use, the people, when the Territory should be-
come State, could. in their sovereign capacity pass an
entirely different law. which would supersede the of
Congress- and be binding upon them. For this reason
have always been opposed TO the agitation OF the slavery
question in Congress II has business here, and no
man who Is friend to the peace and welfare of the
try will Tor dsorganzing purposes, ever introduce il
But where Congress silent upon the SUBJECT and has
passed law respecting il applicable any Territory
am unable TO see why The people inhabng it may not
among their other municipal egualions pass law upon
the subject OF slavery and which would, with the per
mission OF Congress- be binding upon them Such regu-
aton or law could no, be liable to the objection that il
unconstitutional for il permits the people, in the
sovereign capacity OF State 10 decide the question OF
slavery as they please. So the people in Territory if
etl 10 themselves may eherese Just as much sovereign
people OF State have no right to pass any law hich
would conflict with the constitution and general laws OF
the UnNu STATES, heHnet cOuiu me people of Terri
tory n this respect, therefore. they stand upon equal
festng.
Blu, there may be question as 10 the policy and pro-
pieiy of letting The people under territorial government
decide the question OF slavery. There is doubt my
mind that is not only proper but right that they should
do il and 10 permit them to do would be only to car
ry out the idea OF popular sovereignty and OF self gov
efnmeai, the people everywhere in this country un-
derstand IT, II was Tor that our ancestors contended
when they threw oil the British yoke They had been
oppressed and todden under foot by British legislation
" m nj MA .f
the colonial grievances mentioned in Declaration OF
Independence Now, the people in Territory are in
the nature OF colony. They go in advance into wild.
unculuyaed and savage regions TO level forests take
possession, prepare the way for civilization and TO
bold IL for the country to which they belong. They
spend their time, labor, and money in lng the
ground and improving the soil; they become ac-
quanied with and understand it's nature, and the
climate, also; they know wha, product OF the soil
OF labor vi. yield the greatest reyenue-wbether free or
slave labor Then why not lie, them act upon and choose
them Why not let them pass such laws as their own
welfare may requirel And what State in the Union will
deny them the right Can msssac cbusetis No; for
she the frs, herself 10 resist The oppressive laws OF
England. Can any OF the New England States No;
Tor they equally .li and resisted oppression Can Penn
eyvana No; Tor she, too, has risen up in opposition
10 oppressive laws Many OF the descendants OF the
csrrences Of that lime fresh Can the South deny
the riehti No for has long con'ended for popular
rig and freedom of action Can the people OF any
Stale that back 10 their early history deny them The
right! No sir; not n and Justice And hy should
they have the right Are they freemen and have
taken part in the formation OF laws in the States before
their immigration ihther Are they not our fathers our
/ hrafk fkaNa be.a - n