Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-19

was direct interference Win slavery AL aDsotuto
int dict Of its existence in the Territories, was
presented and pressed in every possible way,
and was as steadily resisted and defeated, until
Congress came to the result not to interfere at
all, and left the whole subject with the people.
This is what we call the policy of non-inter-
vention, as re-established by the compromise
measures of 1850; and we regard it now as the
| settled and permanent policy Of the country.
| Why should we not carry out this policy!
Why should there be any opposition in the
north to this policy? The south offer it. They
are willing to leave it to the people of the Ter
ritories to decide what their own domestic insti-
tutions shall be. They have taken that posi-
ton. Why should northern men object to it?
VIII the institution be likely to prevail inthose
Territories? Climate, soil, the productions Of
the soil, forbid it. The laws of nature forbid
it. The same general causes which expelled
that institution from the northern States, and
pushed it south to the line that now bounds it,
would preclude it from that region, or expel it
| 1T came. 1t is grain country, country OF
wheat and corn; and it is q very poor compli-
ment to the power and efficiency of the free
labor Of the north, to believe that, in its own
proper home, it could be supplanted and driven
out by that which is comparatively feeble and
| inefficient. Is there any danger to the north
Il
| they object if slaves 90 into that Territory and
become free? Ifthey are right in maintaining
| that slavery is a local institution, and cannot
live outside Of the State whose laws support it,
then slaves taken there viii become free. If,
on the contrary, the Constitution upholds it,
and carries it there, you cannot prohibit it. But
where is the danger?
Tn the non slaveholding States we have a
white population of thirteen and half millions;
in the saveholding States only six and halt
million. That is about the proportion. Does
any one doubt that the north, going into this
open Territory, in its own latitude, can com
pete with the south, maintain itself; and exert
It's full share of influence, according to It's own
| views and opinions. over the institutions and
over the laws Of these new Territories?
j Mr.. President, there is u strong reason to
my mind, which has already been adverted to,
why this course should be pursued. Who can
object to it? 1t is carrying out the principle
Of selfgovernment-self government as prac-
tised by our ancestors from the landing at
| Plymouth Rock down to the present moment;
the principle of sclfgovernment-he right Of
the people to govern themselves in an indie
| pendent, separate, distinct community, where
they lave the rightful power Of legislation
Why should any one object to this principle!
1t is the basis of political liberty and of popu.
lar government. 1t is this on which is found
ed the right of every independent community
to govern itself, and regulate its own internal
affairs, without interference from any quarter
1t was this which, by its woodworking ener
gy, accomplished the miracle of the American
Revolution. It.. is this principle which lies al
the foundation of all our State governments
and of this great overshadowing federal gov
eminent. 1t has penetrated far and wide into
the Old World, and has already wrought a
mighty change in the condition of oppressed
and suffering humanity; ard in the ages to
come, is destined to prevail wherever earth
has an inhabitant. Sir, it will 60 on, and viii
overspread the world as intelligence advances
as education is extended, as the people become
/ capable of sefgovernment. And here, sir, on
| this continent, in this American Congress
which comes into the place Of the Continental
1 Congress, is it to be gravely debated whether
a hundred thousand Americans, removing into
1 Nebraska and Kansas to found an American
State, have lost their rights and liberties, have
ceased to be American citizens, have become
political slaves, have forfeited the very right Of
elfgovernment-the right to found their.own
domestic institutions, and pass their own do
nestle laws-and whether Congress may lord il
over them as absolutely as an eastern despot!
Why should we undertake in this government
here to exercise this power of debating to them?
What right have we, in these Atlantic States
overthc people of the remote Territories to die
tate law to them? They are American citi.
zens. They have gone into these Territories
with the full rights Of American citizens. Why
should we seek to exercise this arbitrary power
over them? Why should we assume, on our
part, to govern them at our will and pleasure
| 1t would be rs arbitrary and despotc power as
exists anywhere in the civilized or uncivilizcd
world. 1t will be the same arbitrary power
| which the Parliament of Great Britain under.
| took to exercise over the American colonies
when they resisted and revolted. 1t will be the
despotism practised by the worst governments
over the most abject and down-trodden people
of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Having no fonn-
dation in the consent of the people who are
made its slaves, it will be an unmixed evil in
our system, pregnant with the worst conse-
/ quences of tyranny, and worse than anarchy in
its worst form. And am | to be called upon
here to participate in exercising any such
power? | detest it; / will never participate
in it. | will 60 to the people, and will ask
them if they are willing'to be instrumental in
the exercise Of despotic power over their fellow
citizens because, forsooth their enterprise
has borne them on to the region of the Rocky
NlOuHtdfHS! i VIII aSk III tHcSc people have
ceased to be Americans if they have become
incapable Of exercising the right Of selfgov
eminent, because they have encountered the
hardships of the wilderness to become the foun.
ders of new States? and if they have themselves
so soon forgotten the first principles of liberty,
the lessons of the revolution, and the lessons of
the revolutionary fathers, that they are willing to
WELD this despotic power over their children.
Sir, know what the popular response will
be. Sir, know what it will be. The people
of this country will be unanimous-ultimately
unanimous. Their "sober secondthought"
will be everywhere: Let the people rule let
them govern themselves in their own way,
when in the possession of Legislative power;
let this federal government, in welding the
power that is necessary over the Territories,
conform it to the principles upon which the
Constitution is founded.
If that is done, there will be peace, there will
be harmony. Sir, / ask for peace; j shall
strive for peace; / shall endeavor in my part