Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-01-14
MR.. DOUGLASS NEBRASKA BILL.


administration with such efficiency as we coulu com
mand we have been forced to vindicate the Presi-
dent as well ourself against the charge OF tavorh
free-soilism and disunionism Our VlntIcatlon OF
both rested upon the assumption, which have felt
fully authorized to adopt that the policy OF the al
minstration recognises none as orthordox democrats
who do not faithfully abide by the Compromise OF
1850 as final settlement of the slavery issue upon,
this ground we have gone before the country, anu
upon that issue we have sgnally triumphed. me
Nebraska bill is drawn upon the same PrlnciPics'
and presents an opportunity for practical Vndlc:
ton of the policy of the administration, winch Is
destined to exert a prominent influence on tue P""-
lie mind. Bat 50 important document VIII con-
mand universal attention, and needs no coiIncll''
ton from us. H"" C''0'''
REPORT.
|. Tho Cop,mittec on Territories, to which was re-
frred bill for an act to establish the territory Oh
Nebraska, have given the same that serious anu
Gberate which its great importance de-
nands and beg leave to report back to the Senate
with various amendments i'll the form OF sUosu-
: tute for the bill. ....
deem it their duty to commend to the favorable ac-
ton of the Senate in a special report arc those Ill
which the principles established by the compromise
measures of 1850, far as they are apphcaoie 10
terrific organization, are proposed to be anrneu
and carried into practical alton within the ts
of the new Territory.
The wisdom of those measures is attcsted not less
by their salutary and beneficial effects IN aaylns
sectional agitation and restoring peace and harmony
to an rritated and distracted people, than by the
cordial and almost universal appreciation with Wnch
they have been received and sanctioned by the whole
country In the Judgment of your committee, those
measures were intended to have far more compre-
hensve and enduring effect than the mere ADJUST
ment of the difficulties arising out OF the recent ac
ousition of Mexican territory Iney were CeSiSheu
to establish certain great principles, winch would
not only furnish adequate remedies for existing evils,
but in all time to come avoid the perlls OF Siiar
agitation, by Withdrawing the question OF slavery
from the halls of Congress and the political arena,
and committing it to the arbltrament OF those VINO
were Immediately interested in, and alone TeSponsl-
BILE for its consequences. With the view OF con-
forming their action to what they regard the settled
policy of the government, sanctioned by the APPROX
ing voice of the American people, your committee
have deemed it their duty to incorporate and per-
peuate in their territorial bill the principles and
spirit of those measures If any other consider
atoms necessary to render the propricty OF
this course imperative upon the committee they may
be found in the fact that the Nebraska country occ
pies the relative position to the slavery qucs-
ton did New Mexico and Utah when those Terri
tories were organized 1t was a disputed point
whether slavery was prohibited by law Ill the coun
try acquired from Mexico. On the one hand 1t WAS
commended legal proposition that slavery hav-
ing been prohibited by the enactments OF Mexico,
according to the laws of nations received the !
country with all its local laws and domestic lnStltu-
tons attached to the soil, so far as they did not
conflict with the constitution OF the United States;
and that law, either protecting or prohibiting |
",
was evidenced by the fact that half of the States
of the Union tolerated. while the other half prohibit
ed, the institution of slavery On the other hand, !
it insisted that, by virtue of the constitution OF
the United States, every citizen had right to re-
move to any territory of the Union, and carry his ,
property with him, under the protection of law,
whether that property consisted in persons things
The difficulties arising from this diversity OF opinion
were greatly aggravated by the fact that there
many persons both sides of the legal controver-
sy who were unwilling to abide the decision of the !
courts the matters in dispute. Thus among !
those who claimed that the Mexican laws were still
in force, and consequently that slavery already
prohibited in those territories by valid enactment
there were many who insisted upon Congress max !
ing the matter certain by enacting another prohibit
ton. In like manner, some OF those who argued .
that the Mexican laws had ceased to have any bind
ing force and that the constitution tolerated and
protected slave property in those territories were
unwilling to trust the decision of the courts upon
that point, and insisted that Congress should by d
rect enactment remove all legal obstacles to the in
trodu ction of slaves into those territories.
Such icing the character of the controversy in
respect to TIE territory acquired from Mexico sim
liar question has arisen i'll regard to the right to hold
slaves in the propos ID TERRITORY of Nebraska when
the Indian laws shall Sc withdrawn and the country
thrown open to emigration and settlement BY the
9Th section of An act to authorize the people OF
the Missouri Territory to tC->l a constitution and
State government, and for the omission of such
State into the Union original noting with the
original States, and to prohibit slavery IN certain
Territories, approved March 6, 1920 1t Was pr0yl-
ded " That in all territory ceded by France to the
United States under the of Louisiana, which
lies north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes
north latitude not included within the limits of the
State contemplated by this act slavery and nvolun
Eary Servtude otherwise than in the punishment of
crimes whereof the parties shall have ben duly con-
victcd, shall be, and is hereby, forever prohibited
F70ridel al'c0ys That any person escaping into
The same, from whom labor service is lawfully
claimed in any State Territory of the United
States such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and
conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or
service aforesaid"
Under this section, as in the case of the Mexican
aw in New Mexico and Utah, it is a disputed point
whether slavery is prohibited in the Nebraska coun-
ry by rGtid enactment The decision of this ques-
ion involves the constitutional power of Congress to
PASS laws prescribing and regulating the domestic
Institutions of the various Territories of the Union
n the opinion of those eminent statesmen who hold
hat Congress is invested with no rightful authority Il
lcgislate upon the subject of slavery in the Terri
cries. the eighth section of the preparatory to
he admission of Missouri null and void while the
REVEALING sentiment III large portion of the Union
ustains the doctrine that the constitution of the u
lite States give every citizen unalcnable right
o move into any of the Territories with his proper
" of whatever kind and description and to hold and
njoy the under the sanction of law Your | {
ommittce do not feel themselves called upon to ell
into the discussion of these controverted uues-
IONS. They involve the same grave issues which | {
roduced the agitation the sectional strife and the
earful struggle of 1850. As Congress deemed it
rise and prudent to refrain from deciding the mat
er in controversy then either by affirming or re-
ealing the Mexican laws, by an act delaratory of
ne true intent of the constitution, and the extent of