Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-04-06

tom grew UP under the Missouri compro-
mise BY which these laws were disregarded
they became a dead letter. This act is in
some respect, better hill than the Clayton
Compromise, in which his colleague Mr..
Calhoun acquiesced. Mr. Calhoun's doc
trine was, that the Constitution of the Uni
ted States went proprio cigore into all Ter
ritories, and repealed any laws then in force
there. Mr.. Calhoun remarked to him on
one occasion that ifit should be decided that
the territory Of the United States was to be
appropriated for the benefit of one portion
ofthc country alone, it would give rise TO a
contest such as never before agtated the
nation. Let Northern men take the alter
native of this bill or keep the Missouri
Compromise line in force.
Under this bill the South obtained some
rights. Under the Missouri Compromise
they had none. He was of opinion that the
operation Of the bill would be that the Ter
ritorial Legislature would take no action
on the subject but leave it to the American
citizens who reside in the Territory. to act
as they pleased in regard to the introduction
of slaves. This bill was a recognition that
| Congress had exclusive jurisdiction on the
subject of territorial government, and that
, Congress could give the Territories no more
/ than was authorized by The Constitution Of
the United States. If there was any ques-
) tion TO be made in regard TO the freedom ola
. slave in these Territories, and he should de-
: mand his freedom on this ground-that he
. was free under territorial law-the an
swer ofthe master would be, that he held
the slave as properly under higher law
than the enactment of Territorial Legisla-
ture-under the great fundamental law Of
: the country
Mr. Mason said that the bill which had
just passed the Senate, would be received
by the American people as one of the most
1 important measures that had been adopted
t for many years. The South had not come
half way, but had advanced to give the North
: the hand of friendship. The North had
! boldly come forward TO repeal an obnoxious
5 law. The amendment in question was in
S serted in order to make it clear that the
r South had no intention to extend slavery
? into these Territories. He was willing .
o yield nothing of the rights Of the South.
E That odous measure. the Missouri law was
: annuled, and the Territory was left unaf-
e fected by any law on the subject Of Slavery.
c It was too much that those who professcd a
= regard for the Union shonld reject fms op-
g portunity TO cement it forever. This bill
: would send forth to the world the great
V principle that Congress discIaimcd iursdic-
l. ton over the subject of Slavery. When
Il the principle Of the bill was 50 salutary it
: was idle 10 contend about details which did
II not affect that principle.
= Mr.. Blown wished to sny a word in ius-
: tifca;on of himself in voting against the
c proviso Of the Senator from North Carroll
5 ma. He had at first understood that the
J. only effect of the act upon the Missouri
: Compromise was TO repeal #. If this had
Is been done, and nothing more, we ,hoult
at have stood in the position we occupied be.
e fore the Missouri act. The Soulh claimcj
to be restored to the rights which she hal
s. in the Territories before The passage Of The
le Missouri Compromise. Il she had no
rs gained this restoration, the bill just passed
h was not worth a rush. At the time thi.
= amendment was offered, he fe't that it wa,
d another concession from the South. and fol
l. this reason he had voted against it..
/ Mr.. Clayton explained why he favored thu
n Compromise Measures of 1913, and opposed
l. the Badger amendment: He supported The
l. former because il was a true non interven
lie ton measure. Ii gave to certain authoritic
= in the Territories the power 10 prohibit o
7. establish slavery as they saw fit, subject t,
the decision of the Courts. BY that cours,
n the people of the Territories would hay,
re been driven TO the Courts for the settlemeu
r Of he question of slavery. This dispose,
s. of the whole subject, SO far as the UnittC
I'd States government was concerned. But tn
$ Nebraska bill, with the Badger amendment
ne referred the question to the people, to com
OF back again by and by for the consideration
at of Congress. The latter involved direct in
e. terventiOn, and established the squatte
n sovereignty.
10 Mr.. Stuart was prepared 10 argue gencr
" ally with the Senator from North Carolina
10 :. that probably the Interpretation of the bi
=" would be the same without his amendmen
" as now, but it was too much TO say that
would certainly be so. There would hav
- been room for a diversity of Interpretation
." He preferred that amendment, and voted fc
." it in order that there might be no chance fc