The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-30

advantages from this territory will you take away all
the advantages you agreed some thirty yeas sgohat nee
dom should receive from III Nf
Mr. DOUGLAS Who says il was y oompacif
Mr. FESSENDEN. Who says il was compacti
Everybody has said since have been this door Ii
has been said and over again.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. What friend of the bill said so
Mr.. FEssENDEN cannot cali names, but 1 have
heard nothing else.
Mr.. PRATT. Give one name.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Yes, give one name. 1t has been
Mr. FEssENDEN. Wen, ] am not particular about
words. If il compromise, what else was il but
compact il that compromise resulted IN an agreement
MIR. BUTLER. The gentleman seems to argue the quess
ton very fairly. Will he allow nae TO make single re-
MIR Mr. FEssENpEN. Certainly.
Mr., BUTLER. l wish 10 pronounce what think is
consistent with the purpose Of this bill In the constitution
-now mark what say the gentleman seems 10 trace dis
such parties North and South there thirteen States
entering into this Union and under the constitution
Mr.. FESSENDEN. deny that the thirteen States, as
States framed the constitutions IL was the act of the peo
Pile
Mr.. BUTLER Very well; go | have no hope for
Mr.. FEssENDEN. The constitution was not formed
by the States States 1t formed by the people of
the United States, have always understood it. am
not choice, stated in the of language, and do not
whether gentlemen admit the word compact to be
applicable mean by that the proposition that they
made themselves and enforced by the aid of northern
those who voted for from the North being pledged to go
home and defend before their people, the ground that
they had received this consideration for it, That the doe
rne, and other that have heard and is all wish TO
say in reference to that point.
hope, if there is sgitation if there is excitement; if
there is anatcism if you choose call il 80; if there is
sicky senmentaty, if you like that better, the free
States from this time forward, you will just cast your eyes
L you hear IF saypss at the Heh spSR s with
H.. Il,
tell the people of the free States that this rendered by
the North to the South We do admit the authority Of
the senator making IL though he may occupy most emf
nent position TO speak for the North. He has no more
authority than have AT any rate, repudiae him
acting for us in part of the country can answer for
my State. With all the respect that the people Of my
State may have for his character and position he cannot
claim and the gentlemen of the South cannot claim for him,
or for any other gentlemen from the North who act with
him. that ne speaks for u.s. except SO far as h own State
is concerned They cannot claim for him that he has any
right tender from the North this release. And allow
to say that do understand that principe Of honor,
although 10 be well understood here, which allows
that what cannot honorably be taken directly, be
grasped with honor when offered by another having no
authority give it, There may be verynce distinc-
tons in the minds of gentlemen They may be able to
reconcile the difficulty They could not seems in
this Natter they could not undertake to bring up IN any
shape form; but, nasmuch the proposition has
here, they will not wait 10 whether it is authorized by
those who alone competent to make it. but will take 1t
at once, and settle that question afterwards. Sir do not
understand such principle.
Sir what are the particular grounds OF excuse Tor the IN
PRODUCTION Of this troublesome question the present time
Mark YOU practical result is expected from 1t. No
change of position is to arise from IT, Nothing is to come
out ALL ereep the repeal Of this restriction in the act
for the admission of Missouri That is all and that all is
nothing, say southern gentlemen Why then, is it to be
done Because say several senator's that restriction
constitutional But upon this point there is difference of
opinion among themselves. | understand my honorable
friend from North Carolina Mr. BADGER] to say-and
have great respect for his opinion awyerhat he has
doubt of the constituionalty of that restriction UNI
beru nd nth Girn,
ionality.
But il singular that, in the history Of this question,
the unconsuonay of this restriction laid dormant IN the
minds of southern gentlemen for than thirty years II
very singular that it laid long enough for them to avail
themselves Of the admission of Missouri State Of Ar
kansas State and of Texas State. When the lat
question up this Senate not the first man that
know Of ever heard of beahcd tho idea, suggested
any way that restriction thus fixed and determined
unconstitutional Why did not that objection arise then
What light has been shed upon the counryi When
did Gomez Did present itself at any time before slavery
readyhaving secured all it at first clamedto grasp
all the remaining territory How far this to goi Are
the restriction in the resolution admitting
Texas and all territory hereafter to be acquired to be
subject estrcon' think the country will be led to
inquire what be the effect of this continued increase Of
slave Sates Gentlemen talk ofhe balance power having
been secured TO the Tree States Ii strikes that there
will be little power secured 10 the South to the
slave States But upon this question Of consttuonay
have had argument from the learned and honorable
tor from Connecticut, Mr.. TouoEY He not content
with the views taken by other gentlemen but has argued the
nhuer IN iul as lawyer. Allow me 10 say,
upon that question never had the least doubt give
for it. Sir my early reading there such
thing found as sovereignty The senator from Michigan
has given argument the subject of this constitution
al power Of Congress TO prohibit slavery in the Terri
tories
Mr.. CAsS Do you fpd it in the constitution
Mr.. FESSENDEN Suppose do not does il exist or
does it not existi
Mr.. CAsS: Il gives you no power,
Mr.. FESSENDEN. Is there such thing sovereign
y recognised by the peoplei
Mr.. CASS | viii the that it gives you
kind of power You sovereign in relation to other
nations. When you want TO know what you may do, you
may consult the laws of nations ascertain; but TO who
is TO do IT, and how II 10 be done, you must look To the
constitution and il you do find there, 1t is with the
people
Mr. FEssENDEN acknowledge the very high au-
honty Of the honorable senator; but want TO AJAX again,
and gentlemen answer whether there is or Is
not such thing sovereignythe power command and
the power TO mike awsi Isrikes that there IT, Well
such thing existed this territory before was coded
by France If did exist there when the territory cedec
the United States Of America did did the sovereign
y pass with the euitoryi Ii ceased in France Did be-
extinct did Il live and pass to the United States
II 1t passed to the United States passed TO the people
of the United States Sovereignty is not granted by
the constutonis in the people All sovereignty with us
is in the people They parted with nome except the form
Of the constitution II II existed in the people, to whom
do the people delegate that sovcreignty How do they ex
ercise that soveregnyf Why SIR, they delegate II to the
officers Of the constitution, whom the constitution made
the Congress Of the United States and the President OF
United Sintcs What sovereignty they may have, so
far they did act upon the subject delegated TO the
Congress Of The Uped States Ia not this particular sub
the Territories in The constituonl Do find them
n,rn there 1 believe think we find il snid