Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-31

atItred mod,sd, or repealed by the General issem5l"
er men, is an act Of Congress expressly providing that
Inc law respecting slavery which just read shall be
the law OF The Territory Of Missouri Congress was bound
10 know what laws and regulations were Ia force there
pecay when enacted by territorial because
these laws were required 10 be Congress fox revision
and dsapproved were to be void So far from bens an
nued, however established of the Territory
OF Missouri and that was the law prior at the time
the passage o The OF 9th Of March, 1920 the date of
the Missouri prohibition.
But have already said these laws have never been
repealed Yes, sir they are now 10 force There parts
oil the Louisiana purchase which those Iaws
operating What effect heu did 9Th OF March,
e2O have upon ,hem7 II simply prohibited slavery
ol 50 deg 81 min did moi repeal the laws These laws
are now n existence simply restricted and confined tho
practical operation Of those laws and statutes particular
but % d not 5 ,o, end repeal the laws them
souri, refers TO them as still In existence.
To illustrates suppose Congress, should pasa
ference to A. and c. and should afterwards pass another
act declaring that should excepted operations
OF the law; would that be repeal of the frs, act2 Un
doub,edly not.
Sir when reflect upon theso things may we not we'll
inquire what was there in this BILL of advantage honor
to the South, to warrant Southern gentlemen 10 making
not indeed thankful for small iaVors7 Was it they
oyepowercd by tho exubernnce of generos
~, and determined not TO be outdone In such displays OF
selfsacTcng heroism7 Sir trust may moderate our
ardor when 10 upon amendments in this
House. lest In paroxysm OF Poleness, may DO tempted
10 throw In provision Tor gradual emancipation In Virginia
and the Caroinas.
May not hope TOO, that northern friends will them
selves resist the introduction of this proyiso1 win IL
weaken Instead OF strengthening their poston2 Is 1t not
utterly variance with their in 1850 when they
sfused abolish The local laws n the Mexican territory g.
Can they stand firmly upon clear and well
defined principle, than upon whose effects are at
with its own professed puposes7 They support the
doctrine OF nonntervenlon let them not deny II in prac
ce Ii refusal extingush local laws allowing slavery
would be to lessate slavery into Territory, does it not fol-
their former refusal abolish local laws prohibiting
slavery exclusion Of slavery from itq
But there another question involved In these bills
on Of gentlemen TO than TO offer at this time any deter
inmate opinion upon H. lis matter which seems to have
escaped the notice OF those who have spoken in this Nebras
ka debate 1t is this: Within the limits of the proposed
Territory of Kansas there about twenty thousand
miles of counyarger than Massachusetts. Connecticut
and Rhode Island togoher-wh!ch is now, BY law slave
holding territory lis par OF the territory coded oy Tex
The United States and from some cause or oher nr
perhaps from oversight added to New Mexico with
the of the ceded territory Of Texas II s slaVehodpg
territory because such uuder the laws OF Texas when
she cold United States. 1t is lruc that under our
stipulation with Texas not come into the Union as
State except upon condition shall be nonslavehodng;
but 5 territorial condition. II s .sasehodng ierrto-
W These are tho n, eoan1sres @ o mus "h mei, ,.a,rG
Sc deg 80 mn tho Texas nc East by The Indian Terri
tory 100 deg West longude Ind North by the Arkansas
river abou, 80 deg North latitude So much of the country
81 deg is Included within the proposed limits
of Kansas. The between 36 deg 30 min and 81 deg
contains five thousand eight hundred and twenty square
miles, 81 deg is than double that quau
uy Besides this there is another tract OF country ceded BY
Texas bounded fellows: West bV the Sierra eladte
South by SO deg, New MeIico East and North by the
Nov sir supposing this Territory united with tho Mis-
souri, Territory one government what IS 10 be the rule as
~ slavery anoving to The whorl WIN The bill establish
out one law for the whole Territory or TWO Inconsistent
ws for the several pas7 II there not TO be Two incon-
stent laws governing people, teu is slavery to
nc abolished Tho Texas leslslated into the Dls-
not Iessa,e slavery any Territory; would rather
SEEM the .eforo that be abolished 10 the Texas
country And is 10 be the legal effect upon that coun
Of that part of tho provso which declares h, no law or
regulation existing prior 1920 protecting abshins
slavery, shall bo put in force' AT all events authority Ia
given TO the Legislature abolish slavery Only year
since II was almost the unanimous opinion Of southern
Legislature 10 abolish prohibit slavery as that would
imply that Congress could grant 10 others what It did not
possess ITSELF But in the manifold changes of mortal life
It s perhaps uncommon thing that men should solicit
boon what, at one time they resisted as an outage
Congress will legsate slavery into Territory
cude lherelrom but will leave the people perfectly free 10
form and regulate their domestic institutions subject
y TO the Constitution OF course in this connection The in-
tution o! slavery is Immediately referred to- IT, trust
have shown the Senate bill does the resrc
on how does differ from the Missouri compromise sei
except that at liberty address ourselves to the so'e
nibiiop, simply the Settlers whom II
transfers lis powers Of legislation, nsy do Till such re-
peal is voted by hen the nterdct continues and In order
to secure the possibllty-potenh re1nosma though /, 49,
pf obtaining such gift by this ccuous mode OF convey
to agree In advance that they The Settlers are
vested with pepary sovereign powers TO grant
or withhold 1t.
There s indeed one crest ond terrible difference between
them. The Missouri restriction fastened upon US by
others and only acquesced Of its equivalent
advantages This is to be rired by ourselr ana ve ara
submit sacrifices Of opinion and ineret for the priut-
This then Is the denouemen, of the drama, which was
usered in with such note of preparation II Is the delec'
table and most amentabIe comedy" Of the "Nssouri Com
promise Repeal The part of the Repeal being omitted In
the representation. OF all the tanied characters who fig.
the august representative of the sovereignty OF the setes
and as curtain falls he alone is found upon the stage
and makes his bow the audience the cole survivor OF the
play. Truly sir had comica catastrophe!
Just before passage of the Senate BILL and to complete
the mor,iica.on say humiliation, OF the South, the
usual clause providing that the acts OF the Territorial Leg
salue should be 10 Congress for GV5on and decar
ing they should be void dsaPProVed was stricken
out. Not a word of remonsrance heard Not voice
was raised in opposition But 1t is answered, why should
the settlers have the privilege Of governing theuseves'
Themselces Sir is the privilege of governing others
Congress is comforting upon them II Is the privilege OF
governing and resisting the control OF the United States
which are the of the country All persons to some
rxtent possesses the right of segovcrnmen Even tho
child and the idiot must remain uncontrolled in the exercise
If personal rights and determine for themselves lucs-
;ions that no other can properly interfere win 5ul rnoe
color of recognizing the right Of the inhabitants oil Ier'
toy belonging to US 10 govern themselves powers OF egs
atou arc them independent OF our contro IRE
power legte for Others the power 10 impress her VIII
noon Others aud exact and enforce obedience TO 1t.
An but II Is compllceny nsHch, where DO we get the
power TO govern the Territories? In what part of the Con
tituon Is oundl Sir where Go we get The power 10 be
economical and industrious? In what part of the Constu
ton is it fount1 These things fall under The head Of obi!
y1ons rather than Of rights powers The rgh; 10 ac
que territory which nobody now disputes, Imposes upon
the duty TO manage it, and TO manage Tor the oest IN.
OF those for whom II was acquired and who can only
govern through In doing OF course we must al.
ways act in subaerviency to the Constitution
Sir how any doubt the authority OF congress 10
eeislnc for The Territories and govern the people who are
there? Do exert this power In every act by which
we provide government for them? Do we not appoint
hs Governor and Judges and mlrshas and other oices
Do declare how representatives they may elect.
and prescribe subjects they may and %hat tey may
not ersatc upon7 Is all this govenmenf But tax
alton without representation Why, even there does any
man doubt that ample 10 a1 them TO the same
extent that we everybody ee though they have nc
voice in laying the taSes2 Has 1t ever been pretended that
the people Of the Territories have the right TO receive
their merchandise free of our duties and imposts,
because OF their naiensble right 10 govern them
seyes and of the Of all authority our part to gov
crn them7 How far they should be left regulate their own
local and internal affairs is matter within our own dscEe
ton think the largest latitude ehould be given consistent
" with the rights Of whole people, aud the proper su
oemacy OF the States The Senate bill seems 10 give the
unchecked discretion 10 form and regulate their own aomes
tic institutions subject only the Const tuon vi
they subject to the Constitution an hs o n W -. b
lec TO the Constitution But they are 10 pe sLoec ne
Constitution "oHiy" And yet hce are 30 ise Sm,h
who think that valuable privilege is secuiea W s 1ua
IN The opoortuny of obtaining from the people Oh nese er
oes he admission Of Is s p,ese pess eploy as
~, Vrmon, and MASSACHUSETTS. These States can admit