Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-26


to the adoption of the federal Constitution and each
of them has since abolished and prohibited slavery
without the consent, or interference OF Congress
No man denied the right of each of these States un-
der the Constitution retain the institution of slave
ry so long as they choose to do so-no man denied
their right to abolish it at time it was abolished IN
each by voluntary action of their own people; ana
presume that will now deny the right OF cach
of these States to introduce slavery provided ther
own people should deem it Just and wise to do so by
the modification of their constitution and laws
1t being conceded, then that the original States,
one and all, have the undoubted rigLi under the
Constitution, introduce exclu lie slavery at plea
sure, with what reason can it commended that differ
cnt rule may should be applied to the new States!
1t hardly requires argument to prove that each
State of this Union must be equal in respect to Its
rights and powers toevcry ohe: State The Statesarc
sovereign and independent in all things except where
the Constitution of the United States has imposed
limitations. Those limitations apply alike to all the
States of the Union, and old, Slaveholding and
non slaveholding. No other limitation upon the
sovereignty Of State can be imposed than those
contained in the Constitution, none can be imposed
by act of Congress- none by any branch OF the fed
creal government, none by any earthly power, ex-
cept the Constitution of the United States. Entire
and perfect equality therefore, among all the States
of the Union i'll respect to their rights OF Legislation
and sovereignty, is cardinal and fundamental prln-
clpe i'll our republican system. Indeed, the moment
you impose upon the rights of any one State lim-
tation which the Constitution has not enoined upon
all the States, such State ceases to be State aoaan
the meaning OF the Constructor. Sucn HmltaClou
produces inferiority where the Constitution has pro-
vided for perfect equality. Under the clause of the
Constitution providing for the admission OF new
States" general thing, Congress is invested
with discretion to admit or reject but IN the event
a State is admitted into the Union, 1t must
come in as State, with all the powers and lights OF
State under the Constitution, and on an equal loot
ing with the original States in all respects whatso-
ever. Therefore, whatever powers are possessed oy
any one State-old or ncw-in respect to slavery,
may of right under the Constitution, be exercised
by each and every State. In pursuance OF this SOW
ereign right, which is common to all the States SIX
teen of the States of the Union have apohSheo OF
prohibited slavery, while the other fifteen States have
recognized and protected it within their limits. This
great principle distinctly recognized and SOL
emily guaranteed in the compromise measures OF
1850. [Applausc.]
The acts for the organization of the Territories of
New Mexico and Utah. each contains the stipulation
that when said Territories any part thereof shall
be admitted into the Union as States they Shall be
received with without slavery, as their constitu-
ton shall prescribe at the time of admission The
Nebraska BILL which has passed Congress at this SEES
sion also carries out the principle in the pre-
else language of the compromise measures OF 1850,
which have Just quoted. [Great applause
In 1920 Congress passed an act to authorize the
people of Missouri Territory to form constitution
preparatory to their admission into the Union as
State, equal footing with the original states IN
all respects whatsoever The 9Th section OF the act
declared that slavery should be forever prohibited!
in all the territory acquired from France north OF
SO deg 80 min and not embraced within the limits
of the proposed State of Missouri This prohibition
never went into practical operation, Tor the reason
that the country was filled with hostile savages, and
set apart by law and treaty an Indian territory,
f: om which all white men were excluded by severe
penalties Hence the 9Th section OF the Missouri
act, which relates to slavery, has remained dead
letter the statute book for thirtytour years. hav
ing no civilized people for it cooperate upon, and
its application to the Indians being necessarily eX-
cluded by acts of Congress known as the Indian IN
tercourse laws. On the introduction OF the Nebras
Kat bill, therefore, the question arose whether legal
effect should be given for the first time to this
old prohibtion-in other words, whether Congress
should, the result of its action, now apply the
Wilmot prOviso to Nebraska and Kansas! 10 have |
given legal effect this old prohibition would have
involved total abandonment of the cardinal princi
pies of the compromise measures of 1850, so far |
as they related to the organization of terriro- |
rics. These measures rest.d upon the great prnci-
los of self government, which secures to every peo-
pie the right to form and regulate their own domes-
tic institutions in their way, subject only to the
Constitution of their country. [Applause]
Why should not the people ofNebraska and Kan
gas be permitted to decide this question of slavery
for themselves you did in Pennsylvania, and as
We did in Illinois? Are they not capable Of self
government? Who are they and where did they
move from, that this mark of inferiorty should be
stamped upon them? Did they not go and are they
not going by the thousands from the east and
the west from the north and the south-from all the
States in the Union old and new, free and slavehod
Ig? W ere they not as well qualified to decide the
question before they started, you who
their neghbors and kindred? Do you think that
hey lost any considerable portion of their ntelli-
yence by the way-side, that they were less COM
0etent Judge for themselves when they arrived in
he Territories with their wives and children?
Suppose you, who listening to me with such
sind attention, should conclude to emigrate to those
airy lands; do you think that when you should have
rrived at your new home and have become familiar
With the country it's resources condition and wants,
less capable
What kind of laws and institutions would promote
start and when you know very little of the coun-
ry? Doubtless you all think yom selves perfectly
qualified to decide the question now would you be
ess competent to decide it then? [Applause.]
AS for violating this great principle of
in the organization of the Terrific
les and in the admission of States the aboli-
ionists tell us that slavery is monstrous evil 1t
$ no part of my purpose to discuss the merits of
lavery as domestic political institution. If
t be an evil, your State and mine have acted
ng it from their limits. Standing by and vndicat-
ng the decision which the people of Illinois have
made upon this subject claim for Kansas and Ne
raska-yea, demand for every new State which
hall be admitted in all time to come, the right to
etermne for themselves and to exercise every pow
r which the Constitution has secured to and has
cen exercised by the people of every State of this
jnlon. Immense applause.
If it be evil it is not the only evil for which the
eopie of the several States and Territories are call
lany good and true men among US who conscien- |
hat he faptI1 COLI opAt