The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-16

be contended that different rule may or should be
applied to the States IL hardly requires an ar
gdment prove that each State Of this Union must
be equal in respect its rights and powers to every
other State The States sovereign and independent
in all things except where the constitution of the United
States has imposed limitations. Those limitations apply
alike 10 all the States OF the Union, and old slave
holding and Eon-slayeholdDg No other limitation upon
the sovereignty Of State be imposed than those con-
tanned in the constatonnone be imposed by act OF
Coagressnone by any branch OF the federal governmen
by any earthly power except the constitution OF the
United States Entire and perfect equality therefore
al tho States OF the Union In respect 10 their rights
OF legislation and sovereignty is cardinal and fundamen
tai principle in republican system indeed, the mo-
you impose upon the rights OF any one State lina
ton which the constitution has not enjoined upon all the
States such State ceases be STATE uitha the meaning
Of the constitution Such limitation produces nferority
where the constitution has provided for perfect equality
Under the clause of the constitution providing for the adj
mission of new States general thing Congress is in
vested with discretion to admit reject but in the
event new State is admitted into the Union it must come
in State with all the powers and rights of State I'M
der the constitution and an equal footing with the
original States in AL respects whatsoever. Therefore,
whatever powers possessed by any Staeold or
newn respect slavery may OF right under the consti-
tuition be exercised by each and every State In pursu
of this sovereign right which is common TO all the
States sixteen Of the States Of the Union have abolished or
prohibited lavery while the other fifteen States have rec
ognsed and protected it within their limits This great
principle was distinctly recognised and solemnly guaran
The of the organization OF the Territories Of New
Mexico and Utaheach contains the stipulation that when
the Union as States they shall be received with without
slavery their constitution shall prescribe at the time Of
admission The Nebraska bill which has passed Congress
this session. also carries out the same principle in the
precise language of the compromise of 1850
which have just quoted. [Great applause
In 1920 Congress passed an act to authorize the people
of Missouri Territory form constitution preparatory to
their admission into the Union State equal foot
ing with the original States in all respects whatsoever
The 9th section of the act declared that slavery should be
forever prohibited in all the territory acquired from France
north Of SO deg. 80 min and not embraced within the
limits Of the proposed State of Missouri This prohibition
went into practical operation for the that the
country filled with hostile savages and set apart by
law and treaty Indian territory from which all white
excluded by severe penalties Hence the 9Th sec
ton of the Missouri act which relates to slavery has
manned dead letter the stautebook for thirty
years. having civilized people for 1t to operate upo and
its application to the Indians being necessarily included
by of Congress known the Indanntercourse laws
On the introduction of the Nebraska bill therefore, the
question whether legal effect should now be given
for the first time to this old prohibitionn other words
whether Congress should the result Of its action
apply the Wilmot proviso to Nebraska and Kansas To
have given legal effect to this old prohibition would have
involved total abandonment of the cardinal principles Of
the compromise of $780, far they related to
the organization of Territories These rested
upon the great principles of segovernmen which secures
every people the right to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their way subject only to the
constitution INST Of their country ApPlaussel -
permitted decide this question of slavery for them
selves as you did in Pennsylvania, and did in -
nois Are they not capable Of sef-government? Who
mark of ineriorty should be stamped upon them?
Did they not go, and they not going by thou
sands from the East and the West from the North and the
outrom all the States Of the Union old and new, free
and slavehoding? Were they not well qualified to de-
eide the question correctly before they started you
who were their neighbors and kindred? Do you think
that they lost any considerable portion of their inte
genc BY the waysde that they less competent to
Judge for themselves when they arrived in the Terri
with their wives and children? Suppose you, who
are listening with such kind attention, should
clde egrae to those fairy lands do you think that
when you should have arrived at your new homes and
become familiar with the country its resources
don and wants. you would be less capable of deciding
for yourselves what kind of laws and institutions would
promote your happiness and welfare than you before
you start and when you very little of the country
Doubtless you all think yourselves perfectly qualified to
decide the question nowwoud you be less competent TO
As excuse for violating this great principle of self
in the organization of the Territories and in the
slavery is monsrous evil 1t is no part of my purpose
discuss the merits Of slavery domestic political
institution. fit be evil your State and mine have act
wisely and performed their duty nobly in removing it
from their limits Standing by and vndicating the deci-
sion which the people of Illinois have made upon this sub
ect claim for Kansas and Nebraskayea, demand for
every State which shall be admitted in all time TO
comhe right determine for themselves and to exercise
power which the constitution has secured to- and has been
exercised by the people Of every State OF this Union Inn
fit be an y is not the only evil for which the peo
pie of the several States and Territories called upon to
provide ADEQUATE legislation There many good and
true men among us who conscenously believe that the
manufacture sale and of ardent spirits and noxca
ting drinks is grievous evil which calls aloud for the up
pcaion Of the appropriate remedies yet while temperance
socees have been organized everywhere and lectures de-
lvered mad the pledge circulated and strenuous efforts
made induce the legislatures Of the different States and
Territories provide remedies by Legislation for this wide
spread evil have heard that any party society
individual hes presented petition to Congress- praying
that the Maine liquor law shall be imposed upon the Ter
ritores States fundamental condition of their
admission the Union regardless of the wishes and in
defiance the rights Of the people who may reside therein
and be affected thereby. [Cheers.]
Crime in any of its forms and shapes is very great
evil in any State Territory yet Congress has
sued criminal codes for the Territories and new
Ststesto what shall and what shall be deemed
crmnato prescribe the penalty and point out the mode
of punishment These things have always been left and
trust always will be left to the people of the different
States and Territories be determined by them through
their local legislatures in accordance with their of
right duty Why should make exception of the
slavery question and apply to it rule which is admitted
unsound and ubversiye of constitutional right when
applied any other matter of local and domestic concern
Are the people of the Territories capable of segovern-
ment? Ifnot why give them legislature at all--why
allow them make laws upon any subject? If they are
capable of segovernment does it require any higher de-
gree intelligence to egisate for the negro than for the
white man. prescribe the relations of master and
than those of husband and wife, and parent and
child
But in order to excuse themselves for palpabe
pudiaon of the great principle of selfgovernmen the
abotonists tell that slavery is violation Of the law OF
God and therefore the people Of the Territories and
States should be ntrusted with the decision Of the
question provided in the Nebraska bill Without stop
ping to inquire the sinulness of slavery religious
question do maintain that the mode provided in the Ne
raska bill for determining the controversy Of its existence
exclusion by referring to the decision OF the people
who are Immediately interested and alone responsible is