Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-23
WASHINGTON, d. G.
THURSDAY, MARCH %, 1854.
HOW IT WILL wORK--A GLANCE AT THE
FUTURE.

HOW IT WILL WORK "A GLANCE AT THE
FUTURE
Let us suppose that, the anti alien clause OF
the Nebraska Bill having been stricken out
the measure has passed both Houses Of Con-
gress, received the sanction Of the President
and become a law.
Now, saws the stakeholder, we shall have
peace. There will DO no more Congressional
Intervention with Slavery. The vexcd question
is excluded from the halls Of representation.
There is an end Of agitation.
A word on that point, says the Northern
man. Your cherished principle is Non-lnter-
vention by Congress with the subject Of Sla-
very---to the States and to the Territories that
question is committed We shall hold you to
this principle. To maintain it when its appli-
cation suits your convenience or interest, and
deny it when it may work to our benefit, will
not answer. There must be no discrimination
The principle, without qualification, yon have
asserted and established-we shall not permit
you to qualify or limit it's legitimate conse-
quences
First then, we demand the repeal Of the
act Of Congress Of 1912, by which the
slave code Of Maryland was ret enacted in this
District Slavery here rests upon that code;
that code rests upon special act Of Congress;
that act is Intervention with the question Of
Slavery, and the principle Of Non-Intervention
requires its repeal. This demand we shall
continue to urge, and you shall have no peace
till it be complied with
Secondly. The Fugitive Slave Law Of 1859
is a clear violation Of the principle. To TIP
States and to the Territories you have referred
the entire question Of Slavery; we now agree
in this reference. To say the least, the ques-
ton whether Congress has the power to legis-
late for the reclamation of fugitive slaves is
just as doubtful as the question whether it has
the right to legislate for Territories. You
take the ground Of strict construction in
the latter case we take the same ground in
the former and, ~ you have established the
principle that Congress ought not to intervene
in any form in regard to Slavery, we insist
upon its application in the repeal of the Fugi-
tive Slave Law, most odious act Of Congress
sonal Intervention. Let the States and the
Territories regulate the matter Of escaping
slaves for themselves Are they not quite as
capable of acting wisely in the premises as
Congress How dare you array yourselves
against Popular Sovereignty and State Rights
You are anxious to exclude agitation from the
Halls Of Congress; but this cannot be done,
30 long as Congress shall persist in violating
the principle Of Non.Intervention, by usurping
the powers belonging to the States and the
Territories over the subject Of fugtives from
Slavery.
Thirdly. The law regulating the coastwise
slave trade, prescribing the amount of tonnage
in the vessels engaged in transporting slaves
from one port to another Of the United States,
is palpable violation of the Principle, and
we shall give Congress no rest till it erase it
from the Statute Book
Fourthly. The Laws abolishing the foreign
Slave Trade and making participation in that
traffic by American citizens, piracy, are in
clear violation Of the Principle. They inter-
fere wantonly with the domestic institutions Of
the South, implicitly question the humanity Of
the People Of the South, unjustly discriminate
between one kind Of property and another,
fasten a stigma upon the slayeholding States,
are repugnant to Popular Sovereignty and
State rights. The subject is one belonging
exclusively TO the States and Territories, and
should be left with them 10 deal with accord
ing TO their own judgment. IL is fair pre-
sumption that they understand best what their
own dignity and welfare demand Carry out
your Principle Of Non-Intcrvention, and repeal
these obnoxious Laws. Let the State or Ter
ritory decide for itself whether il will import
or exclude slaves This the Principle Of Non
Intervention requires.
Filthy Az the subject Of Slavery in the
Territories OF the Union is excluded from Con-
gress, We shall commence agitation among the
People, whom your act empowers 10 form and
regulate their institutions, in their own way.
We are aware that by inserting tho proviso,
subject 10 The Constitution Of the United
States you covcrtly intended TO prevent them
from excluding Slavery. Bat there are two
sides to that question. The Northern men who
joined you in passing the Bill held that the
Proviso imposed no disability upon the inhabit-
ants Of Territory in relation 10 Slavery, for
a law excluding il would not be repugnant to
tho Constitution Of the United States. That is
just what we think. We, Northern People,
numbering some fourteen millions Of frcemcn,
while you, Shareholders, count not more than
three hundred thousand heads, hold that the
Federal Constitution docs not carry Slavery
with it or that you have the right in virtue Of
il 10 take your slaves into United States Terri.
tory, or that the Territorial Legislatures will
violate that instrument by excluding your