The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-08
WASHINGTON, d. C.
MR.. CHASE'S FINAL SPEECH,
liz REFEAL OF TEE MISSOURI PRoHIB1rIoB.

stance what follows:
| cannot Mr President, permit this bill to
pass without the ut5erance OF q few words.
The rejection Of the amendment upon which
we have Just voted is great triumph Of prin-
ciple. not the less valuable because coereei
from its opponents by necessity to which
they have yielded so reluctantly. The bill at last
comedies full, ample, and complete recogni-
tion IN these new Territories Of the right of i'm
migrants from the Old World to an equal parli-
cipation with the native-born in the organization
and contro! of the Territorial Cove rnments.
But, sir, while this principle is conceded, the
great wrong Of the bill still remains coaspicu
Gus snd fragrant The Senator frora Virginia
has emphstically declared this great wrong to
: be its vital principle He tells us that the re-
peal of the Missouri prohibition Of slavery is
THE PRINCIPLE Of the bill. Against that re-
peal, every word uttered by me upon this floor,
in opposition to the bill, has been directed
have never controverted the right OF the
people of the Territories to govern themselves.
The prohibition Of slavery in the Territory is
nothing more nor less than simple declara-
ton, that every inhabitant Of the Territory
shall be recognised as a full man, and protect
cd in the enjoyment Of al the rights which
man derives from God | join with the Sens-
tor from Michigan il the assertion Of the great
these rights, that Governments are instituted
among men; and it is because the prohibition
of slavery fultils this greatest object Of Govern
ment that | revere and defend il.
Bot, Mr. President, differ widely from that
honorable Senator in some important particu-
lars. have no doubt whatever as 10 the con-
Etitutional power Of Congress to legislate for
Territory IL is needless nov TO inquire into
the source from which that power is derived.
The Senator from Michigan denies its exist
ence but at the same moment, as 1t seems to
me, comedies It IN tire assertion Of the right Of
Congress = organize Governments for the Ter
ritories That i-ht the honorable Senator has
distinctly and emphGtcally asserted here to-
night. And if Congress can organize Gov
eminent can authorize the appointment of
Governor and Judges, and the election of a
Legislature can define the sphere of executive
judicial, and legislative authority, and can
prescribe the qualifications Of voters how i il
possible to maintain that Congress cannot Iegis-
late for Territory There can be no higher
power Of legislation than that which prescribes
the fundamental law. This greatest power
necessarily includes every lesser power When
the Senator from Michigan, therefore, asserts
the right Of Congress to organize a Govern
ment, define its departments prescribe their
powers and determine who shall exercise tho
right OF suffrage, he necessarily asserts a right
of Congress to egislatc for the Territories quite
as ample as that for which any man will con
tend.
The Senator asks, Can the Government of
the United States own the people of the Terri
tories? He answers, and he may well answer,
No. | say, No. Everybody says No. But why
not For the plain and simple reason that
the individuals of the people have inaliena bic
rights, and these rights the Declaration Of To-
dependence enumerates SIS the rights 10 life, to
liberty, aud the pursuit Of happiness
The very first step towards selfgOyernment
is the inviOlable security Of these rights The
highest duty OF Congress to the people CT the
Territories is to furnish this security. The
Senator from Michigan, ! trust Will find few
converts 70 the doctrine that IL is necessary :,
self government that this security shall be
broken up and destroyed.
For thirty-four years the Missouri prohibi-
ton has stood at the gateway of the vast
Northwest a guardian angel prOclaiming
TO all its future inhabitants absolute security
in the enjoyment Of these rights. 1t is for the
sake Of that security shat this prohibition il so
dear to the people Of the country.
/ have heretofore expressed the opinion Mr..
President, that the exclusion of slavery from
the territory northwest Of the Mississippi was
parcel Of compact between the two great sec
tions Of the country. But when have insisted
upon the fulfilment of this great stipulation.
! have been told that ] have no right TO
claim it, because ] was no friend to the origi-
nal compromise Of which it formed q part
Why, sir, when that compromise was made. |
was little boy at school. OF course, | was
neither art nor part Of it. But as grew up
to mans estate, and became acquainted with
the great public questions Of our history, GER
talnly SOW no reason for approving the COM
promise. If the making of it were now an
original question, would never consent to il.
| am no friend Of compromises. But, sir, the
compromise was made. It was made by our
fathers. The Representatives of the free States
and the Representatives of the slave States
united in it. 1t was acquiesced in by the peo-
pie Of both sections of the country. For more
than third Of q century it has stood untouch-
ed. These are the great facts. disregard all
mere technical;ties and petty bubbles about
what was done in 1920, and in 1921 | take
the plain general result Of the whole and see
IN this compromise what the men of the time
sew in it and what the people of the whole
country have ever since seen IN it, A COMPACT
binding upon honor and good faith although
embodied IN legislative act, and therefore re-
pesable
ST, If this compact yet remained unexecu-
ted, 1t might be abrogated by the parties who
made IT. without reproach to either Bot it
does not remain unexecuted. Ii has been COM
pletely fulfilled on tho part of the free States.
Their Senators in this Chamber, and their Rep
resentativea in the other Hall of Congress, con
sented to the admission Of Missouri and Arkan-
sas as slave States, solely upon the ground of
this compact. Nor can it be doubted that the
admission Of all the slave Ssates which have
come into the Union since Missouri. was soeur
ed through its influence upon public sentiment
and the legislation Of the country And now
sir, after the slave States have gained all that
could be gained under this compact. after Mis-
souri, and Arkansas have been admitted. and
the remnant Of the Territory covered By j..
south of SO deg 80 min, has been filed up by
slayeholdlDg Indian tribes we are co0lly told.
that this compact IL nothing but an ordinary
act of legislation which may be repealed with
out any violation of faith
Ii is to be repealed tonight. The Senator
from Florida Mr.. MALLoRTl has told US that
the news OF it repeal will send thrill of pleas
ure through the hearts of thousands It NAV
be So Bat, Sir, there are other thousands, and
tens OF thousands, and hundreds of thousands,
who will receive that intelligence with deep
indignation. They will SEQ in the transactions
OF this night, the breach and dishonor Of an
ancient and sacred obligation. They will see
in 1t the destruction Of a security and guaran-
tee of Freedom, which, for thirty-four wears.
and by universal acquiescence, has been re-
gsrded as inviolabie.
And, sir, for what? What does this bill
give US in lieu CT the prohibition of slavery in
the Territories? Why, sir, we are told that it
gives the principle of Congressional non-inter.
vention That is the great merit of the bill
in the eyes Of the distinguished Senator from
Michigan But be tells us, also that in other
respects this bill is in advance of former Ter
Il ookz Novv sir CO - II