Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-18

late for it south Of that line And are we of the Sh
prepared TO surrender this right, secured, by SUD
declaration as is proposed by Mr. Douglas! all prSi-
Billions to be broken down SIDE does it obe
cessarly follow that all legislative privileges must
broken down on The other
Again ii the Missouri compromise is to be repeale
the ground tct Congress has constitutional pow9 to
egsate on the subject of slavery for the Territories Why
does not Mr. Douglas propose TO amend the two Tefito
rial bills Of Utah aud New Mexico, by which Congress dad
egslate on slavery by making il obligatory on future
Congress to admit them as States with or without
ry as they might themselves determine thus forcing the
admission OF slave States the North in event. and
free States on the South in the other Those twdbls
them are also unconstitutional likewise if Under
stand correctly are the provisions Of the Nebraska and
Kansas bills for the same The Oregon Terrific
rial bill must also he modified repealed becau that
bill contained legislative provisions slavery by xcud
| ing it entirely from the Territory
But this is not all. The chairman of the Committee
Territories, it is certain has been holding converse
with the spirits Of the dead he has consulted none of the
departed patriots and sages to whom we are indebted for
our great birthrght Of freedom for he rejects their
teachings and spurns their wisdom Let me tell him he
will have to 60 still further back than 1920 to correct the
legislation OF mis- predecessors he must go bak to the
days OF Gen. Washington, and he will find that the
9TH day Of August $780, the FIRST Congress that met
der the Constitution passed act by which Of
Congress to legslate the subject of slavery the
ritores distinctly recognised and broadly asserted
/ The preamble to that law reads thus:
Whereas the ordinance of the United States in Congress
assembled for the government Of the territory northwest Of the
Ohio river continue TO have full effect il is requested
that certain provisions should be made adapt
same to the present Constitution Of the United States
| Be it enacted &c.
This must also be repealed and the Judgment Of
this age the unconstitutional
legislation sanctioned by Gen. Washington Mr.. jefferson,
Mr.. Madison, Mr.. Monroe, Gen jackson and Mr. polk
all Southern Presidents, each of whom in
missed the power Of Congress to egsate this subject
for the Territories
believe the only part of the Northwestern Territory
that remains in territorial condition is Minnesota and
in that bill Congress also egsated slavery that bill
then should also be repealed Does the honorable gentle
man, r Douglas and do his associates in the Senate
fail to perceive how by the shining of lights all
things are made dark! Do they fail to perceive that
what they propose unhnges and unsetts the legs
ation of the country for sixty five yearss
is not the least strange chapter in this history that
those who denounce the of the Mis-
souri, compromise should oil have waited until its
prominent advocate had retired from their midst and de-
scended to the tomb before they could find the vaor
assai his work it is libel upon his memory that from
prudential considerations they utter during
his e but although he killed by the unkindaess
of friends he most relied on he has left those behind
him who will be prompt to protect his fame.
By almost superhuman efforts, such went far to
carry the most distinguished Of the age his grave
we have just extngushed conhagraton that threatened
the destruction of the nobes ship State that was
launched upon the waters and We have scarcely had time
realize the result and exchange congratulations
safety when one, rash and wild and frantic than
the rest sezes blazing torch in each hand rushes mad
y into the magazine Of POWDER ourishes his rebrands
alo and bidding defiance to all consequences calls upon
| Us initiate his example. Those may follow him who
choose, but for my part all such occasions pre-
fer the hose to the fambeau.
beg the South to listen and reflect while the oppor-
tunity is offered. ..
! know that the champions of slavery in the South
have made every concession to reesolism since it
in conflict with Mr. Pierce and the spoils know they
have expressed private, sympathy with those Of the
North who battling with Executive power in favor
of great constitutional Southern right but know also
that before public they have every where and on every
trial their allies
aid comfort But let them venture to sacri-
fee the sacred and soemnly secured rights of the South
to promote the ambitious designs of selfish asprants to
power yet with the hope of building up the fallen
fortunes of their party
defended by some on the ground
that the Missouri compromise was unconstitutional, be-
it excluded slavery in terms from the territory
orerer and thereby undertook to restrict the States
that might be formed out of that territory hereafter
submit that those gentlemen who take this ground
make it apreext for the repeal, rather late in
ing the discovery especially those who were active parti
cpants in the Of that day, and who did not the
and have not since, until now, raised voice against il
But further respectfully submit that the word toy
rer is susceptible ono such Interpretation To suppos
= that it intended to apply to the territory after
should have been formed into States and passed fror
the authority and control of Congress- would not on
prove it to have been unconstitutional but absurd an
the authors Of little less than idiots Suppose tn
Union should any time hereafter under such thought
less legislation is soposed be divided does an
in his suppose that the authors of the Mis-
souri, compromise intended to apply its provisions the
territory in that condition. when their power should cease
Or suppose it became conquered territory how could
Congress then exercise jurisdiction it? Yet nigh
do in either with much proprety after it be
came an independent State What then is the true con
structon to be given to this word crercr? Why sure
y that limited and only sensible meaning that would
attach it, could have been intended by the authors
Of the compromise w.t. that slavery shall be prohib
ted torere while they, Congress- had any power over il
in its territorial capacity in other words Congress ony
guaranteed for itself and ID that they wout
attempt to egsate slavery into the territory Fo
illustration it is be interpreted in the sense in which
it is used in every deed A. B. conveys to c. D a certain
parcel of land to have and to hold to him. hi
heirs, and assigns, forever" This does not obige G.
d. to hold forever" but simply transfers the title
A. B. "forever" So Congress in this case renounce
forever all claim to establish slavery north of 800 80,
Give it this natural reasonable sense nterpre
ation, and the argument against its constitutiennty
vanshes into thin air Yet it may be said that the
gress of 1920 had right to egsae for its
Strictly speaking thsis certainly true but the argu
would apply to all compromises and every OF
! ordinary legislation
AS Southern man and q national man should like
to this misshapen and il-begotten killed
should rejoice to see this Pandoras box of evils for
ever buried and would resort to any fair and legiti
mate means TO accomplish desirable end and
as stand in the presence Of my Maker l will do
what to defeat it and would say my friends
CT the South particularly, and to the people Of the
country every where that their cry should be- Let the de-
of discord be strangled in its birth Let it have
resting place for its disturbed repose Let it be boot
ed, secuted, and driven from door door like worth
less pennyess, beggarly thief Let man give it a
shelter from the ptess storm Let ii die and upon
the dunghl Let every lover of his country and Of its
faith, and durability turn from it with oathsome and
shudderipr would avoid or