Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-21

as they pleased formed constitution prohibiting
the introduction of slaves California, therefore,
became free State, mol at the bidding or by The
dictation Of Congress, but under the operation Of
the principle Of the Nebraska bill. When Utah
and New Mexico were organized the same princi-
pie was applied TO them, and they were left free
TO decide the slavery question for themselves.
Have they established slavery? The history Of
the country for the last six years has fasi6edvery
prediction, exploded every theory, negaiiyed
every proposition, urged by the abolitonists at
that day Yet, in the face of these facts and in
contempt of past experience, they come forward
now with the same theories and predictions, sus-
tanned by the same arguments, and urged with as
much assurance and apparent zeal as il what they
had predicted of California and the Territories had
proved true instead of false. Where, then, are the
beneficial results of their abolition doctrines which
calls upon Congress 10 relieve the people from
evils which they are supposed TO be incapable Of
averting? From what foot of American soil have
they drawn slavery by act Of Congress! When
the Constitution was adopted, the Union consisted
of twelve slaveholding States and one non-slave-
holding State. Since that time slavery has been
abolished in six out fsthose twelve slaveholding
States. Was this accomplished by act of Con-
gress, or through the mysterious instrumentalty
of the Wlmot proviso, or the ordinance of 1857
orthe Missouri restriction2
Slavery was abolished in New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, PennsyI-
vania and New Jersey, under the operation of
the Nebraska bill, which, under the Constitution
Of the United States, leaves the people of each
State free TO form and regulate their domestic in
situations in their own way.
Fl Where, then, are the trumphs of the Congress
sional interference and dictation? The Abolition
ist points to the free institutions in Illinois and the
other States formed from the old Northwest Ter
rory and attributes these to the ordinance of 1857
prohibiting slavery. Is it true that these States
rejected slavery merely because of an obsolete
ordinance, which, Mr.. Madison informs US, was
originally passed without constitutional authority
and whicht the Supreme Court of the United States
has decidedto have become void when the Consti-
tuition was adopted. If so, how happens it that the
people of these States, when relieved from the
operation Of that ordinance by being received into
States, did not adopt slavery? Willitbe contended
that Illinois and each other State formedo out ofthe
Northwest Territory have not the same right to
establish or abolish, introduce or exclude, slavery
that Virginia or Massachusetts has under the
Constitution? do not recognize the doctrine
that there can be inequality in respect tothe rights
and powers ofthe different States in this Confcde-
racy. Each State is an absolute sovereignty in all
things where the Constitution Of the United States
has not imposed limitations; aud whatever limta
ton that instrument has placed upon any of the
States applies with equal force TO each Of all the
States, old and new, slaveholding and non-slave-
holding Nor is IT compensation Congress, or any
otherpower, so long as the Constitution remansun-
changed, TO impose limitation, either by the name
OF the Wllmof proviso or the ordinance Of l7S7, or
the missouri restriction, rbyany othername, upon
any new State, either now in the Union or here
after 10 be admitted which the Constitution has
not placed upon all the States. Hence / insist
that the true and only reason why slavery does
not exist IN Illinois is because the people do not
want van, y, ana consequently have prohibited IT.
nor is II historically true that slavery did not ex
list or was not introduced into Illinois while Ter
rilory, and under the restrictions OF the ordinance
oi % ny reference to the code OF territorial laws
ADOPTED al Flncennes in 1877 by the Legislature of
the territory, II will be seen that the door was
opened for the Introduction of slaves, and provi-
sion made for protecting and enforcing the rights
o. inc master Under the influence and protec-
lion OF those laws Illinois became siaveholding
territory, and remained such until after Congress,
10 1910, passed law for her admission into the
Union on an equaiity with the original States IN
all respects whatsoever. Then the people OF llli-
nois, Deing released from any other limitation upon
tnen rights tnan that OF the federal Constitution,
and being iei entirely free 10 form and regulate
tneir domestic institutions TO suit themselves, de-
termned in their State constitution: LIST, that all
persons owing service labor in the State should
fghi Inc period OF service; 3D. that no more slaves
should pc Introduced into the State; Sd, that all
chidren hereafter born of slave parents should
become iree al special age, and all persons born
o. save parents aiter a particular period should
De iree- speak rom my general recollection,
not having the old constitution OF Illinois before
me, put 90 mol think can be mistaken IN regard
70 the substantial provisions OF that instrument.
from these facts " appears that, SO long as Con-
gress saio lnat me people OF ILLINOIS should not
nave siaveiy, JUST so long they ana and would
nave ~ put the moment that congressional inter-
ference was Withdrawn, and the great principle
o. a. sel-governmen,, as recognizedfn the Nebraska
pll,l was extended 70 our people as q matter OF
ngnt, tney, oil Their own choice and with refer
ence 70 tner own welfare and prosperity, abol-
isnea ana proniprled slavery. lCheers.l do not
thank any man for complimenting our State by
saying we are the advocates OF freedom and the
enemies o. slavery only because an nnconstifu-
iona ordnance Of the year l1S1 would moi let US
In The farma,;ou ~ as s'a.T, anu
ner;ods us have h.ou a,snaJ.a .. une.sn.
ineoua;tv With or s;s,sr S,a,a .,J ha,,n
come ,nhroo;s,s ,srs, aaJ sa al ue
M I7S7 rrond ~, 1919, .ae
ers reneaf ae;n n,hare 80 ~ s .h!
abolition princ;nle ,bs, ,h ,,a as .nis
10 be exerted 10 drive saverv fr, orr .,'s, -
hans thew will no;n, 10 0rea,n a. ,,.,, , III
have rescuea fror, ~ a,sS - uS .ney
sIavsrv 7, !. ,sna ~ =; ~ uoon. Vi AFRICAN s,
lisbine that Tsrr;,o,rv - ,e,e osaniu ac. es'ao