The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-30

end in iew would be keeping the word Of promise TO
| the ear, and breaking IL TO the hope
What then Is the power of Congress the organized
Territories Ii is simply and solely protect and sustain
the inhabitants and regulate and control them in their
efforts towards the formation of State government and
this must be done with due regard TO the end In view and
especially TO the rights OF all the other States AT the pre-
else moment of establishing State government il is said
they may adopt what institutions they WILL but in the
mean time Congress may impose any conditions whatever
You might MS We'll say to me- Sir you perfectly at
liberty to swim the Potomac have doubt you do
it but before try win bind hands and feet and
put weight on besides Laughterl remember, sir,
when quite child told that if could throw
q little fresh salt the wings Of bird could catch him
without difficulty. In childish simplicity, had faith in
the Of securing the beautiful object of my desires
But could find the material which was to be so po-
tent in eHccng the capture And after you have kept
territorial organization restricted for years. that 1t has
free win TO adopt the institution in question where will
find the fresh salt necessary to enable 1t to catch the
bird that has been flying away from the moment you inn
This argument you will see Mr.. Chairman is drawn
alone from the rights Of the people of the Territories them
selves looking them alone and to.he ultimate organ
zaon State with all the privileges conferred rather
acknowledged by the constitution think this view is
decisive of the question of constitutional power and moral
right But when in addition it is considered that the peo
Pile Of all the States have equal rights and equal interests
in the Territory, do not think there be left shadow
of doubt TO the validity of my argument This right of
all the people of all the States to occupy the Territories
upon equal terms and without exclusion of the peculiar
property of any has been often argued and it is fully
dcrstood. do not propose to say nything upon it.
1t will be readily seen, from what have already said,
that do not admit the possession of sovereign power by
the territorial organization am not in favor OF "squat-
ter sovereignty" it has been called. No sir The gov
ernment of the United States itself is not sovereign 1t has
power to create States for that would imply the power
prescribe their institutions Its power in this respect is
only permssiye not controlling and absolute. Between
the federal government and the territorial organization
there exists relation very from that which
exists between the former and State and yet while the
Territory is not sovereign has rights and powers arising
from the fact thait is destined to become sovereign 1t
may be difficult to define what these rights allow to the
Territory but is not difficult to say what they
sarly prohibit to the power Of the general government
II have succeeded as hope have, III demonstrating
the want Of power in Congress to apply the restriction in
question the Territories it becomes proper for here
to answer the demand of my colleague, Mr. ErnERlDGE
who requires me to explain why the Oregon bill Of l84S
approved by Mr. Polk Another colleague, from the
Knoxville district Mr. CRcHwEL has very successfully
answered that nerrogatoy by reference to the language
of Mr. Poks message which expressly the aniici-
patton that the Missouri line would be extended TO the Pa
cc 1t true had been proposed upon that very
bin make that extension and the proposition had been
rejected But did then the Mexican territories
and Oregon was far above the proposed line Its extension
would not have touched or approached any part OF Ore
gon 1t was, therefore, wholly inapplicable was mem
Der of this House. present when the proposition offered
and rejected then heard northern gentlemensuch men
as DOUGLAS and McClernand-pledge themselves to vote
for the extension of the Missouri line when the proper
cason arrived to act upon the territory through which il
would pass This pledge afterwards faithfully
deemed although there not enough Of them TO
p,ish the object 1t is true therefore, that there still
room to hope that the line of compromise would be
/
not ask to attach this proposition to bill to which it is
clearly not pertinent Do not call upon to step out Of
he to do this thing But when the proper time comes
will help you to do it, They did help to do it and
it upon that expectation Mr. Polk states in his
sage, that he was induced TO sanction the bill
did not vote for the Oregon bill at tina, time But
afterwards, in with the whole South, Mr.
Calhoun among them voted TO extend the Missouri line
to thePacifc ocean. did upon the principle which
proceed 10 STATE the same principle upon which under
stood Mr. Polk TO act in approving the Oregon bill
knowledged the Missouri restriction to be unconstitutional
and did not try TO shield myself by that refined dstnc
| ton which attempted last night by the honorable
gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. MH1sos | consider the
people Of the South alone interested in resisting this
stricon invasion OF their rights They could waive
this constitutional right If they thought fit do The
question between entire exclusion from the whole
territory of the one hand and partial participation in II
on the other With only this alternative left as measure
of peace, compromise, at the time protesting
against the injustice which forced us to it, willing
TO accept IL and even TO sanction it by our votes If the
alleged inconsistency OF our votes cannot I've justified upon
the grounds stated must acknowledge that II cannot be
justified at all insist that not committed by
this action in favor of the constutonay of the measure
but forever freed from all obligation to respect it, for
the simple reason that pcaceofsring dsdainfuly
| refused
Again, my colleague Mr. ETHEnrDeEl asks why the Ne
braska bill Of the last session did not propose TO repeal the
Missouri restricton2 believe IL is true that the repeal
not attempted in that bill at the last session But the
measure came here with little preparation previous
notice and passed with little discussion that my
self bad actually forgotten the fact that such bill had been
presented IT, indeed, knew IL believe | not
when the bill before the House IL could
not have excited much interest among the members and
certainly still less among the people Of the country
Mr., ETHERIDGE, (interruping) | would ask my col
league how IL is that the bin Of the last session should
have passed without any special notice when the fact and
effect Of the Missouri Compromise made question be-
fore the committee and when the bill thoroughly dis
cused for weeks and opposed upon every other ground
except that Of proposing TO repeal the Missouri Commo
mse2 ask how that bill then unimportan and insig
7ca TO the whole country and especially to the South
could have acquired such immense importance in the
short space OF time which has elapsed between the last and
| present session of Congress
| Mr. STANTON, fresumng) So far that matter is
concerned must acknowledge that the omission TO make
the question at that time oversight ! quite
ready TO acknowledge IT | viii go further, and nc
knowledge that would not have made the question.
| acknowledge that would not have been disposed TO
raise IL because do not consider this Of any
practical importance except for the assertion Of great
principle which is to be applied in other But when
northern men, in their magnsnmity forward TO pre-
sent to which ia right in itsolf-a measure
which perfectly consistent with the compromises Of $50
and indeed, necessary result Of those measures in
support Of which the people Of the South and especially
my colleague and his party have been heretofore almost
unanmons am astonshod 20 find that nearly onehalf of
| my colleagues reject the proposition.
1 Mr. ETHERlDGE viii my colleague again allow me
| to interrupt him ...,
1 Mr. STANTON. have but a few moments left to con-
cude what have to say and have good deal more to
say yet However If the gentleman be very brief will
| yield to him.
Mr. ETHERIDGE | win be brief IL as the gentle
states northern forward and make the prop
osition comprised in this BILL the South ought not 10 re-
ject H. Now will suggest to the gentleman that very
great majority of the northern this floor have
bibed bitter oppos ton TO the measure and that every
northern State, except oneso far as know--whch has
baoO