The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-11
Mr. Davis, Of Miasissippi. said

tuition, on the same basis other property
And have seen in the public journals letter recently
published from this distinguished citizen now high in the
councils of his country but higher than the confidence
and esteem OF his counymen in which he speaks In rather
feproaehiul terms conemptuous, might say, of those
who doubt the proposition that there certain constit
uonal motive power in slavery by which il Immediately
spreads any country at eas for class Of per-
sons as soon as 10 acquired by the United States what
ever may be the local law previously existing there upon the
subject by which, If Canada Nova cota annexed
TO the United States Tomorrow slaves might To introduced
and held there I'D prohibited by article then constitu
ton, be formed preparatory TO their admission
Uaion.
lie calls them sect and seems to make it reproach
to stand on the same platform with them. think, SIR, he
Will lind the believers in this doctrine the and orthodox
church, whether Judged by the purity OF their constu-
uonal creed by the number of the faithful and such
are the manifest signs of the times.
Among these believers, to my knowledge, the two
distinguished men whom have already alluded, whoee
services IN lfe and memory dea'h, will always be
dear TO Their connuymen and whose sentiments VIII 80 lar
to redeem from the charge of heerodoxy those who
o paed In the belief they prolessed, And among them
are also equally to my knowledge living statesmen honor
able and intelligent men, who have occupied important
stations and enjoy the confidence of their felowctizens,
and whose residence slave States il al any rate proof of
their Observation-Disclosures.
The writer considers this sec aa having "arrnyed the
sovereignty of the Territorial inhabitants barrier to fed
eal legislation, for the protection of stakeholder prop
ery who should migrate from southern State Of the
JOINT owners OF that Territory to become an nhabltant of
For myself, do know of any one who claimed
sovereignty for the Territories though know of one,
least who claimed them the right internal legislation
because jurisdiction hem TO that effect Is given
Congress by the constitutions and because they have in
aienab!e right to enjoy that privileges and the moment
government Is organized by federal power, that moment
commences their right exercise their legislation
do not understand what in the above paragraph
by the sovereignty OF the territorial Inhabitants barrier
to federal legislation.
do not believe in crushing human liberty TO the earth
by kind of abstract mystical attribute even if you call it
sovereignty, which, under government, mere as
SUMPTION the word itself being the constitution,
can any power be exercised by virtue Of il.
never heard Of such barrier but have heard Of one,
and much legitimate and eectual one, and that is
the of constitutional power in Congress leglslae
upon the subject of slavery ALL We who deny The ex-
ence OF any such authority deny because the general
government is government Of limited powers, with right
exercise which expressly granted,
necessary the execution Of those that And have
in vain for years called upon those who naiaain the
ary position 10 point TO the section, paragraph, or
clause word, letter OF the constitution, which gives
any such power Congress, either expressly by any
reasonable implication. II is discovery yet to be made
will quote the opinions of two other gentlemen and
then quit this branch of tho subject. Mr. Berrien said
You say that the inhabitants of those States he
non-sayehodng Sta,s) shall have any exclusive privilege
the entry and occupation of the public land there"
THE South then her right participate any
and all of the territories which may be acquired by the
United States. She her right migrate them
with her property of every description"
Governor Means in message the legislature of South
Carolina said
"You know have been deprived OF every of that
territory which won by blood and treasure, robbed
&c, Of the very graves Of gallant countrymen."
MIR. Venable said
1T would be equally epugnan to the principles Of right
justice that large portion of the citizens of the United
States, even the very whose lives pered in the
war should be excluded from occupying the land that they
had won with their swords"
And again Mr. venobc gave as a reason for the right
take slaves to the Territories that these the
"Pubc domain acquired by the expenditure of the
mon purse purchased by the vaor of people, with
reference 10 geographical distinctions domestic regu
lstions,"
Mr. Woodward said
Are Shareholders under the common constitution of the
Union entitled with their slaves enter upon purchase
and occupy peacefully public lands which arc the
properly Of the people Of the United Statesi'
He commended they were.
And understood the from Virgins Mr. HuHTERl
and the senator from Mississippi Mr. BsowE to express
their full concurrence ~ these views.
In reviewing the opinions which have referred, it
VIII be that the general proposition may be thus stated
That the territory Of the United States beng acquired by
the and exerons Of the whole country every c
has constitutional right go there hbiitn, and
to take with him and to hold every kind Of property
nsed such by the laws Of the State he leaves aud there
to hold it. whatever may be the local law, unt prevented
by constitutional provision Of the State embracing
such district Of country
Ii pretended that clause TO this effect the
constitution but that tho right and the principle the
necessary results Of the equality Of the fundamental
pact.
Let first whst the words of that instrument
this general subject Of the public properly Here they
are
The Congress shall have power to dispose Of and make
oil necdfu rules and regulations respecting the territory
other property Of the United States"
The posiuate may be well granted that the property OF
the Un.ed Ststes belongs ultimately 10 the people, Without
however, the slightest approach towards the right Of any
individual 10 take Of any part Of and 10 appro
pirate II his Ii belongs the people, in Their
political organization the final deposaes Of the power
-
vested excufvely the legislature Of the United Staea,
that name which desgnhtes political confederation
among the powers Of the earth the States united
asrcesby TO the pregnant reading lately adopted
the states separately coporuons individuals, take
possession OF the public property unless such right given
oy any more than they take possession Of the prop
ery OF any private citizen II e held for the people, and
for their benefit but this TO done the
mode pomied out by the constitution No State claim,
as right ts distnbuve share Of the public land,
any individual appropriate himself portion Of il under
the preox that he is entitled the quantity he chooses
seize. The ships-oEwar Of the United States and their
forts, and arsenas, and custo-houses the Capitol the
public Offices the Executive mansion all acquired
erected by the Of the whole people Of the Ubon and
the whole people have edue interest 10 their and adj
ministrson but would contend that he has
right to enter those works pleasure and there remain
because they belong the confederation and because every
citizen having share the property may take and hold
it in severance when he will and as he viii.
That all the citizens Of tho United States have equal
right under the law and purchase any part Of
the public domain, open for SALE political rusm, which
will deny Bot If he go there contrary to the law he y
trespesser unless, indeed the law which prohibits him
violation Of the constitution. We have already that
Congress has been committed the power "dspose OF