The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-28


Mr. CHAIRMAN The bill to organize the Territories of
Kansas and Nebraska before the committee has been
more thoroughly Investigated and discussed than any
! measure ever before the American Congress.
had not intended 70 have said thing the subject
having, after mature deiberaon the conclusion
as TO the course by which | should be guided should
have preferred give my and remain quietly In my
seat to have heard my colleagues and been silent myself
Nor should ! have felt constrained to depart from
that now but for the defiant of the gallant
knight, my colleague, Mr.. ETHERlD6E two three days
when he invited to the tournament and challenged
me to shiver lance with him accept the banter and
into the tilt not however, without reluctance
and should be unhosed and fall at the mercy my gen.
erous colleague, pray him to remember Tennes-
5eans 'at n
Sir what question which is ectng so much debate
in this Congress- What is il that is attracting the
est attention Of the people of the United States What is
the involved in this dscussion IL il the extern
sion OF slavery ls 1t proposed to ensave any free?
No. sir Is it in reference to that inherent principle the
right of the people to govern themselves in their own way
That is the main principle involved in the bill before the
| committee.
Then if that is the question that is the philosophy in
volved what is its orign2 Where do find its birth
place. When and by whom was it established
The Declaration of Independence in l7T6 affirmed that
every State was free and independent In july l77s,
when the confederation formed it declared that
each State retains its sovereignty freedom and ndepend
ence and every power and right which IS not expressly
delegated to the United States in Congress assembled
Here that the States expressly reserved their right
| to govern their domestic concerns. .s
Go back, sir the instructions given by the people
their delegates sent up the Continental Congress for the
purpose Of making the Declaration of independence They
bound those delegates expressly to form ogoy-
that did the domestic each State
to itself Accordingly they obeyed their Instructions and
reserved the States each and every one the right to
regulate and govern their domestic in their
way. That right then declared acknowledged,
and established. In 1857 those States made the consu-
1 ton Of the United States. tsa+ M @ Il
They were the constituency that made this constitution,
and gave power Congress touch slavery except
prohibit the slave trade in 1908 powers delegated
to the United States by the constitution and prohibited
by it to the States reserved to the States respectively
the people, There is power given by the consti
tuition Congress legsnte upon slavery either in the
States Territories Nowhere except perhaps, in the
District Of Columbia where ii Is declared that Congress
shall have power of Exclusive legislation = and do not
conoede that Congress has the power to abolish slavery
4 even in the District Of Columbia without the will and
sanction Of the people of the District The vital principle
of popular sovereignty secured by adoption Of the
federal constitution to the citizens Of each member of the
confederacy. The thirteen original States exercised and
enjoyed the privilege reserved and delegated They
lated their domestic they pleased Othe thirteen
original States that framed that sacred instrument twelve
were saveholdng States. BY whom, then was the main
principle imboded in the pending bin first established
Was by non-savehoding people, Was itestablished by
the North independent OF the South or BY the South in
dependent of the North BY neither sections but by
bothby the people Of country in Congress
assembled Established for the mutual benefit not Of Mas
sachusetts Virginia alone but for the whole thirteen
They every member Of the confederation rights
which mutual respected and enjoyed by each State
and under i,s operation the republic continued grow
and expand All worked well Ihere was no trouble i
constitution and State by State with slavery in them,
admitted until slave States added TO the orig
The North seemed satisfied with the institution 1t was
then profitable the North Interest seemed 10 control
their antslavery notions If they had any then II was
not until lslo20 when IL proposed TO admit Missouri
and Alabama that ant-savery loomed up Then il was
moved exclude slavery from Missouri then commenced
that unholy agitation which has nigh severing the
bonds OF fraterna emty between brotherhood
that the first time the power Of Congress to legslate
on the subject Of slavery asserted The ordinance
1884, concerning the Northwest Territory, made be-
the confederation
fore forms exception From the formation of the
sution, in 1887 by twelve slave and nonaveholdng
State up TO 1920, there trouble arising out OF
this question Notwithstanding there were seven yehold
ing States admitted.
No fault was found with il until that time--and why
Why appeal to those gentlemen who contesng every
inch Of the way in the progress Of this bill win say
with magnanmity, but with esergy-why, ask, NOT
this slavery institution attacked during m progress under
this government previous TO lslo-2o2 In asking this
question, beg TO ask those gentlemen who here
day making inammatory appeals to the American people
to remember s fact that the principle which proposed
be carried by this first established by
ancestry and Acknowledged and held In good
faith by them until 1920 While the North owners Of
slaves the institution seemed TO work we'll You heard
complaint then from any quarter Of the country against IL
There slavery agitation The and set upon the
northern master and slave alike happy and conened No
antislavery disturbance known II until the
starving paupcrs Of Europe oced to northern shores
that northern friends mooied this dangerous and
citing question II not until their interest induced
them substitute white panper labor for their fnves that
this trouble commenced In America
The northern people found that they could command the
labor of white slaves for nominal compensation without
ncnring risk Of doctors bills loss by death and hence
they sold their slaves southern pockotsd their
value and then commenced magnanimousy to agtate and
cry out humanity.
Then came the slavery agitation would beg the gen
tlemen who to-day cry loud against the repeal Of the
Missouri restriction to tell why objection not raised
until seven slave States added the original thirteen
States Of the Union Was the institution less odious 70
the North then than now Slavery not considered
evil then II became vaueless the North before they
abandoned IL II the footsteps Of Enropes starring mill
lions had not been allowed to mark and crowd shores
and our cities slavery would to-day have been in exist
encefourshing In Boston and popular in the North But
the hungry horde ocked TO band and impored bread
4 and emDloyment thank God had an asylum for
thsm do not regret That they They are from the
carly backgrounds Of fathers and welcome them 70
our fields of freedom would not blame mon for the nm
just and unreasonable demands Of the North upon the
South
There was no call for compromise conflicting with
the constitution until 1890 In 1903 by treaty with
France we acquired whs, called the Louisiana purchaso
vast sud valuable territory extending far north IL was
the first great toward republican empire BY this
country. The proposition made believe by Andrew
Jackson The ederasts Of New England opposed it. They
have always opposed every great tending 70 the
ing interest Of this country They opposed he war
Of 1sl2 They opposed the annexation Of Florida IN
1914 They opposed The annexation Of Texas IN lsA5
They opposed the Mexican in 1916 ! have not the
time show what would have been condition Il
they bad succeeded while very plain that each Of the
measures brought good esns with them, In II. 10
our people II Il part Of the Louisiana purchase
propose organize into the Territories Of Kansas and Ne
bFnska For this territory indebted the sagpcit
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