The daily union., 1854-02-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN PETIT.

Mr. PETIT said
Ma PREsIDEET: Before proceeding in my remarks.
and predatory hem, desire TO read short despatch
that has Iusl reached me;
rhe Baltic has arrived with Liverpool dates OF the 9Th
instant Count oro mission has failed, and the Russian
ministers left Paris and London The Cars last
ppsons broken oil. England and France are making ex
prepaaiiongt send troops 20 Turkey Unless The
Gar speedily wIhdtaws. general war - certain
MIR President, return, this mornings my sincere, de-
yont and humble thanks the Ruler OF all nations that
our beloved country not involved In that dire catastro
phe--war Long may be spared such calamity.
MIR President, the day is gloomy and lowering one,
and it may we'll be supposed that my mind and my spirits
parake somewhat OF the condition OF the elements with.
out but. sir, am not man OF passions or oil pTelu-
dices but yield a willing obedience To the dictates OF
reason and Justice enlightened, as believe, by sound
aud unbiased judgment ! live not for glory, in the
French sccepaton Of the term, nor the misguided huz-
zas ar the popuace, but obsequous slave 10 the
stern mandates OF duty, shall proceed, dsegadng the
weather without
Sir, il becomes me, then, to inquire. what are my du-
iiesno prelndices or my passions upon this sub
ieetl What are my duties towards my iellow-czens,
towards my equas, towards the States collectively, and
the States and the people individuality
ectiyely and the States Individually to endeavo 10 pre-
serve that harmony which the machinery of the respect
i've governments was designed to 10 them, that
there shall be no cashing no jarring, warrlng;
that dscord may be found in their harmonious circle
Towards my fellow citizens and the citizens OF the coun-
try Individually il is plainly my duty TO place. nearly
or government, upon equal political basis, with equal
political rights, so 10 divide with them, share with
them equality OF right IN all our property territorial
or otherwise, and in all the protection and all the advan
tages of the government Upon these principles my votes
have been, and shall be, governed upon this bill.
Mr.. President, have already said enough 10 sati sly
senator's any doubt existed before to how shall
vote upon the question pending before the Senate. !
need further TO satisfy the Senate what my ludg-
ment and conclusions are but shall beg the indulgence
OF the Senate to discuss the question: IN s various forms,
at considerable length shall be driven, IN the course
OF my remarks, into consideration and revew OF sent-
which would gladly avoid but that | believe duty TO
myself requires me to refer to them.
Mr. President SO far the form Of this bill is
ed need waste but little time upon il. Suffice it
10 say, that il is in the form which has been adopted
since the foundation OF The government, with hitle ex
cepon and little variation, Tor the organization oi our
Territories. There provision, 10 be sure, and only
one an it seems 10 me, which meets with any serious
objection here, will encounter any serious difficulty in
the other end OF the Capitol That Is the one which
peas the Missouri Compromisefo grast that ii does
so-or other words repeas The eighth section Of the
act approved March 6, 1920, authorizing The people OF
Missouri Territory 10 hold convention, and form a
State constitution preparatory TO her admission into the
Union. .tsl
There is provision ihs bill. however, which, IN
order that the bill may harmonize with the provisions al
ready adopted upon that subject, II would TO me,
ought 10 be stricken out. II will be recoecled that the
people expressly authorized 70 eesa.e upon all sub
ecls whatever, slavery included They may either es
abs or abolish it, at their pleasure and at their will,
IL The constitution OF The United States allows IT, Such
my understanding OF H. aud such is my desire that 1t
should be Bu make the question palmer and clearer
and rid 1t OF all difficulties, will suggest, If do not
move the striking OF the following provision in the
sixth section
That all laws passed by assembly, and approved bY
the governor, shall br submitted TO tbe Congress OF The
Unid salss, aud. 4 disOpproved, snail be null and Of
none effect"
My desire is 10 authorize The people Of the Territory
legsae upon all eglmaie subjects OF legislation, with
out lei or hindrance by this government. Sir, admit
that the striking out OF that provision, or Clause, say
ing, The mosi positive terms that Congress submits all
questions to them without appeal 10 this government,
viii not prevent such appeal, nor prevent our taking
cognizance oil II Tor we cannot stuuiy ourselves; we
throw of from ourselves that power which is ne
cessarly Inherently, and consliulonaY vested in
Yet show, by striking ou, this clause, what our
Intention is and II our Intention shall govern those who
follow us, shall be IN more harmonious condition.
So much for the form OF the bill
Mr. President proceed briefly TO the CONSIDERATION OF
the justce and The pfopreiy o this MEASURE First 10
the justice Of The measure Wha, does propose Il
says all that common country The United States,
or The people Of the United States, you will, have
atge unoccupied, partially unoccupled, territory, TO
which proposed 10 give an organic Jaw. ana % esao
sh the principles aud rules ol civilization there; that
the Norh and the South, the East and the West. the
middle aud the extremes. alike have an interest In this
common property and comnon domain What then, /
ask you, Josice in this cater How shall justice be
applied III The government and the administration OF this
properlyi Shall Il be appropriated 20 section 70
The other exclusively Shall you say that the North
with ber institutions may 70 there, aed that tbe South
and her institutions shall not 90 there Or viii you
yese the positions say that the Sonlh may 10 there
with her institutions, and toe North shall 20 here
S so far regards the States themselves and the men,
consdered citizens OF the respective States, protest
that there is no justice, no equality IN Gepuyiag each iron
going there with the nghls that all have, and protest
against the principle that all may not 90 there with the
tghls that any have.
But how does apply the citizen after lie gets there
What does justice say then Does Il not say that he
shalt have the right 10 determine what ha municipal In
s,liutons shall be You authorize him TO legtsa,e upon
all the rights OF white you eay thai lhe rights OF
life liberty, and of property he marital relation the re-
ation OF and servant, OF Of master aud appren.
ee IL you wl, not too sacred for them to leg
upon rs regards whites bu you say that the rights OF
the black man TOO sacred TO be uused 10 this neo.
phyte or beginning order Of socially Then, sir as mat
ter OF justice, say their right 10 determine what ins,i.
utions will best snit them Cannot those who nina bin
these dsaB, regions OF vast country, away from
here tell wha institutions will suit their latitude and
longitude their climate, SOIL and pfodnctiOnsi Of can
we lodge better than they And ~ can, st right,
is Il fair il Il in accordance with the principles o Ameri
can legislation that should do so bold that is
not The dea that negroes il they are 10 go there, are
to be Tree and feemen. is 10 my mind prePosefous-l
mean as 10 the propnety OF the question All history
and all experienced have shown that two distinct and
sepsIae races cannot live upon the same territory under
the same government, on an equally No puncple was
better knovn 10 or better understood by Moses, The
leader Of te children OF Israel. than his, which was
made Known to him by the ihunders OF Sinai, when be
was Commanded 10 put all the ancient CanaaHres 70
desh 10 pnt them The sword leaving not one, neter
head man nor a small man. neither high nor low no
age, no sex, except them And this was The stern
decree oi the Almighty himself Upon what principle
was il basedl twas upon the principle that two races
dlsac their Organization. in The volume and amount
q Intellect OF mind, ol brain, dieten IN The rapidy OF
be eoursing oi the blood through their veins, cannot
I've aed enjoy equalily together There - no such