Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-03-08

their slaves into the territory, and hold them there
under the provisions of the Constitution Tke
territorial compromise acts, as the committe tell
us, steered clear of these questions. They simply
provided that the States ofganized out Of these
Territories might come in with or without slayery,
as they should elect but did not affect the question
whether slaves could or could not be Introduced
before the organization Of State goyernments.---
That question was left entirely 10 judicial decision
Well, sir, what did the eommittee propose 70.
do with the Nebraska Territoryl In respecffo
that as in respect to the Mexican Territory. dif.
erences Of opinion exist IN relation 10 the Intro.
doetion of slaves. There are southern gentlemen
who contend that notwithstanding the Missouri
prohibition, they can take their slaves into the
Territory covered by it, and hold them there By
virtue Of the Constitution. On the other hand,
the great majority of the American people, north
and south, believe the Missouri prohibition to ha
constitutional and efectual. Now what dia the
committee proposes Did they propose, to repeal
the prohibition! Did they suggest that it had been
superseded Did they advance any idea of that
kind! No, SIR. This is their language:; ',o.,s =
"Under this section, as in the case of the Mex
ican law In New Mexico and Utah, il is disputed
point whether slavery is prohibited in the Me-
braska country by valid enactment. The deci-,
sion of this question involves the constitatioual
power of Congress to pass laws prescribing and
regulating the domestic institutions of the various
Territories of the. URion. In the opinion ofthOse,
eminent statesmen who hold that Congress- Is ifi.,
vested with rightful authority to legisate upon
the subject of slavery in the Territories, the eighth
section of the act preparatory to the admissopeof
Missouri is null and void, while the prevailing
sentiment in large portion Of the Union sustainsg
the doctrine that the Constitution of the United,
States secures to every citizen an inalienable.
right to move into any of the Territories with his
property of whatever kind and description, and TO-
hold and enjoy the same under the sanction of
law. Your committee do not feel themselves ealf-i
ed upon to enter into the discussion of these con-.
troverted questions. They involve the same grave,
issues which produced the agitation the sectional
strife and the fearful struggle of 1862 b.,tsi
This language will bear repetition: Il ~,
"Your committee do not feel themselves called
upon to enter into the discussion of these contro-
verted questions. They involve the same grave
issues which produced the agitation, the sectional
strife, and the fearful struggle Of 1850" ,Al b.
And they go on to say; ag ,rs 'sybisis
"Congress deemed it wise and prudent IN re-,
frain from deciding the matters in controseFsv
then, either by affirming or repeating the Mexi-
can laws, or by an act declaratory ofthe true in
tent of the Constitution and the extent of the pro-
lection afforded by it to slave property in the
Territories; so your committee are not prepared
hO"
pursued on that memorable occasion, either by
affirming or repeating the eighth section of the
Missouri act, or by any act declaratory of the
meaning of the Constitution, is respect to the le-
gal points in dispute.'' 3a7aT e'ag ,qaa t3l96
Mr.. President, here are very remarkable facts,
The Committee on Territories declared that was
not wise, that it was not prudent, that il was NOT
right, to renew the old controversy, and to rouse
agitation. They declared that they would abstain
from any recommendation of repeal of the pro-
hibition, or of any provision deolaratory of the
construction Of the Constitution in respect to the
legal points in dispute. f'at 'lH l'g 3a5M3geta
Mr.. President, am not one Of those who cup
pose that the question between Mexican law and
the slave holding claims was avoided in the Utah
and New Mexico act; Ror do think that the in-
PRODUCTION into the Nebraska bill of the provisions
of these acts in respect to slavery wonld leave the
question between, the Missouri prohibition and the
same slave-holding claim entirely unaffected. j
am of very different opinion, But lam dealing
now with the report of the Senator FROM Illinois,
as chairman of the committee, and show, be-
yond all controversy that that report gave no
countenance whatever to the doctrine Of repeal
by supersedurn. @h = te, ,I,,y5 a,4r n,
H Well, sir, the billireported by the committeewa
printed in the Washington Sentinel on Saturday,
january. 1t contained twenty sections; no more,
no less. 1t contained no provisions in respect to
slavery, except those in the Utah and New Mex
leo bills. 1t left those provisions to speak for
themselves. This was in harmony with the re-
port of the committe. On the 10th of January
on Tuesday--the act appeared again in the Senti-
mel: but it had grown longer during the interval.
1t appeared now with twenty-one sections. There
was statement in the paper that the twenty-frst
section had been omitted by a clerical error.,.,
But, sir, it is Singular fact that this twenty
first section is entirely out Of harmony with the
committees report. 1t undertakes to determine
the effect of the provision in the Utah and New
M xico bills. 1T declares, among other things,
that all questions pertaining to slavery in the Ter
rories, and in the new States TO be formed there,
from, are to be left to the decision of the people
residing therein, through their appropriate repre-
sentatives This provision in effect, repealed the
Missouri prohibition, which the committee, in
their report, declared ought not to be done. Isit
possible, sir, that this was a mere clerical errors
May it no be that this twenty-frst section wasthe
fruit of some Sunday scork between Saturday the
7th and Tuesday the lOthl sG.a iir .5.i.sa t.
In But, SIR the addition of this section, Il seems,
did not helpthe bill. 1t did not, / suppose, meet
the appreciation of southern gentlemen, who con-
tend that they have right to take the slaves into
the Territories, notwithstanding any prohibition,
either by Congress or by Territorial Legislature.
dare say it was found that the votes of these gem
tlemen could not be had for the bill with that
clause in it. Itwas not enough that the commit
tee had abandoned Their report, and added this
twentyfrst section, in direct contraventien oi its
reasonings and principles. The twenty-frst sec
ton itself must be abandoned, and the repeal Of
the Missouri prohibition placed in a shape which
would not deny the slave-holding claim, 49,
The Senator from Kentucky, Mr., DrxOH,1 on
the 10th January, submitted an amendment which
came square up to repeal and to the claim. That
amendment, probably, produced some ,antteFing
and some consultation. It met the. views Of
southern, Senators, and probabl, determine the
shape which the bill has finally assumed, Of the
hardly be mistaken in attributihg the last To the
amendment ef, the Senator from Keptucky.-
/ That there il. no effect without cause, is among
our earliest lessons in physical philosophy, and