Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-18
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
TO SENATOR DOUGLAS.

the Nebraska DILL and cannot refrain from express
ing my extreme surprise at some of your assertion
shout the fundamental laws of Illinois. hope tina
my personal relations to that State will my
calling your attention in brief manner to few 0
she erroneous assertions to which / allude.
You assert that slavery has not been excluded By
an act of Congress from one inch of American sol!
THAT the history of the country viii show it was not
excluded in fact from the Northwestern Territory by the
ordinance of 1857 that Illinois, when organized into
Territorial Government established and protected slavery
and maintained it in spite of the expressed prohibition
or the ordinance; that the people of Illinois regarded
the ordinance usurpaon the part of the Federal
Government and invasion OF their rights, and Il
violation Of the great principles Of that
IL is curious fact that long Congress said the Ter
sory of Illinois should have slavery she actually had
It. and the very day when the Congressional prohibit
Hsu Withdrawn the people of Illinois, of their own
Ircc viii and accord, provided for system Of emauc
parion.
These assertions cast Notifying reproach our
1auntry its Government and citizens. If faith is given
~ them the history of the country made ludcrous 1t
Bi show that greatest and highest functional
have been for seventy years under most ridiculous
aa1 false deuson They have been occupying much of
te time of Congress- at various periods from the ORR
sir Of the Government the present time, in discus
seg the question and passing laws for the restriction Of
simple enough to believe they had done When, be-
hald new umnary appears il 1854 in the political FIR
of the Senate Of the United States, and unfods
the astounding fact to benighed people that slavery
abolished prevented by Congressional enact
nfeat from inch of American soil According to this
light YATES the only wise man in the Congress
al 1897 for he the only member who voted against
the ordinance prohibiting slavery in the Territory north
OF the Ohio river. What smpetons, too were the
members of Congress Of 1920 and the citizens of that
psriod for the time consumed and the excitement felt in
the measures which ended in the Missouri compromise
Again in 1850 the whole country convulsed by the
sst tempestuous of political storms, which allayed
ag che compromise of that year. But all this legislation
and excitement arose. as it would seem, from the
profound ignorance in legislators and citizens
No act you say had been passed by Congress to
y,hbit slavery in any of Territories, and if at
nSapted it would have been null and void, well from
Ee of power in Congress to pass it as from deter
aaaton Of the people establish and protect slavery in
defiance of Congressional euactments. If this had been
aaown how much time and excitement would have been
saved! ,'.' ..+ ....... ..... ~. 49,. ~.
Ii slavery was not prohibited, why did some of the
most intelligent citizens of the Territory petition Con-
aress to modify the ordinance and permit them hold
Jlares? If tolerated. why did emgrants take
eAet slaves with Them 1t may be said in reply, that
whle emgrants fearful OF taking their slaves into
I2ino the persons commonly known French slaves"
who held in bondage under the laws of Virginia in
GfS continued to be held both in the Territory and
State. For the continuance of this of slavery
Congress is not justly chargeable with want of power
Of will to prevent it. Congress did its duty in pro-
hihtng slavery, and that in the strong and explicit
s2guage of the ordinance drawn by the enlightened
IEFFERSON and if it did not effect its object the fault
not in Congress. The failure might have arisen from
ell.
te ordinance from their fear ofpunishent from ;Eeir
if they claimed them it may have been from
prejudice and interest il the officers whose business it
see justice done them Whatever the cause,
local in character and attributable Congress
That Congress had done its duty and effected its Objects
shown by decision pronounced at early period by
the Judiciary of Indiana, by which it decided that
the ordnance had abolished and prohibited slavery in
aat State similar decision afterwards pronounced
by the Supreme Court of Missouri, by which it de-
ied that the ordinance of 1857 had put end to slave
ry the territory northwest cf the Ohio. These deci
sions years since further confirmed by deci-
aS9u of the Supreme Court of Illinois; and what is
ore, confirmed blythe Supreme Court of the S. in
Ts3I The validity OF the ordinance cannot be doubedby
persons who know its high sanction and the unanimy
With which it had been adopted by Congress- aud how
peatedy it had been reenacted and ratified and that
Eso by all parties and all administrations Of the Govern
since the Constitution adopted. If unanimity
In adoption and repeated sanctions give additional weight
act of Congress, the Constitution itself, has
received such strong evidence of popular favor ors
eatitled to the claim of validity.
Every conformity to law is proof Of the
aI stence of law The fault may be in the law but
IN its administration. 1t is the duty Of the Legislature
rake laws and Of the Judiciary interpret and ad-
minister them If the people omit to appea! to the courts
hey 70 act WI a-uealel TO- " lie
party emitting, and with the power enacng the law
kiaw often do the laws not enforced. 4 State
passes law Cor instance, prohibiting the circulation of
bank under five dollars; yet these notes in
circulation. viii this warrant in saying that the State
had passed prohibiting the circulation Of
such notes. or in asserting because they received and
passed ny persons, that the people had established
AMI protected the circulation OF them despite Of the law
ni would be considered just AID fair conclusion to
raw from th's that these notes not prohibited from
SIZE inch OF the soil Of the State, that the law
arded by the people invasion Of their rights and
violation Of The great principles Of self government:
SO much for the action Of Congress. Now what. has
The traLuced State Of ingiz done II credit be civcu
10 what is stated above in her minority or territorial
state she established and protected sayer and main
tanned it in spite Of the express prohibition Of her pa
rental GUARDIAN the Federal Government; and rs if for
the purpose of showing her contempt and disregard for
Lat authority, $50 long Congress said Illinois should
gnt have slavery, she actually had it, and On the very
lsy when the Congressional prohibition was withdrawn