The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-06-21

for Mr.. Dodge's bill, from the Committee on
Territories, in the Senate, on the 4th Janu-
ary OF this year. SIR, say that the idea
which suggested the formation Of Kansas
was to add new slave State to the Union,
and ! think the chances are favorable to
that result.
Butmy northern friends who support this
bill say that slavery is a local institution,
existing only by virtue Of the local laws OF
the States and Territories where it obtains,
and that outside their limits it cannot exist
until laws are passed protecting 1t, and
hence they say that a man carrying slave
to these Territories would by that act make
him freeman. If the principles OF the
common law prevailed there, such. in my
opinion, would be the case This bill gives
the courts common law jurisdi ton, and
hence infer that it is designed to recognize
its principles, but the language of the bill
takes the subject of slavery out of their op-
Grafton. Let us look at this. The bill says
that when States are formed out of the Ter
ritories they are to come into the Union, with
Or without slavery. 1t next declares the
Missouri restriction imperative and void,
and prevents any law or regulation, for or
against slavery existing before its adoption,
from reviving. If it stopped here there
would be no statute on the subject of sla-
very, and the common law being recognized,
the courts would be bound to declare a
slave taken there free, should he have
knowledge enough to bring his cause be.
fore them. But the bill goes on, and tells
Us what its object is, and that is, mot to
legislate slavery into any Territory or State
nor exclude it therefrom, but TO leave the
people thereof not the courts perfectly free
to torm and regulate their domestic insti-
tutiops in their own way, subject only to the
Constitution not to the principles of the
common law of the United States"
Now, sir, this language takes the sub
ject of slavery out of the operation Of the
principles of the common law. and leaves
the courts no jurisdiction over it until such
time as the Territorial Legislatures shall pass
laws giving it to them. From the time this
bill passes, until the time they do egislate
on the subject of slavery-be it one year OF
tiye--there will be no law to protect person
al liberty. A white man may carry his
slave there, and hold them, or he may lay
hold ofa free black man already there, and
make a slave of him, or the black man may
enslave his master There is no law to pre-.
vent this; or, if there is, you have no au-
thority to enforce it, which is in effect the
same thing. You bave a taAula rasa-a
state Of nature-and physical force is the
law from which there is no appeal. While
saying you do not legislate slavery in Or out
Of the Territories, you do legislate itin.-
Gentlemen may differ with me in construc
ton; bu. it is at least question for the
courts, and are you prepared to 60 home
and tell the people that you are hot sure
that you have authorized the first settler to
enslave the second, but have left that to be
decided by the men whom the President
shall appoint as judges!
But we are told that we ought to vote for
this bill because it establishes the right of
self government. Yes, sir, we are asked in
tones of apparent surprise, if we are unwil-
ling to permit the people of the Territories
to govern themselves in their own way
Why this is most singular argument for
men to present who urge the passage of this
or any other bill for governing the Terrific
ries. II they believe that the people should
be permitted to govern themselves, why
should Congress pass law to do it for
them?, The fact is that you have brought
this bill here shows that YOU repudlate the
idea. A provisional government already
exists oyer this Territory, and delegate to
represent the people on this floor presented
himself, here at the commencement of this
session, He occupied a seat beside me for
some time. He was an intelligent gentle
man, fully capable and well qualified to
take care Of the interests of the people he
Was sent to represent. Did you recognize
him? No sir, you did not. He was per-
mitted the privilege of chair to sit on for
two or thee weeks, and then your door
keeper turned him out Of the Hall. If the
committee which reported this bill believed
that the people of these Territories should
be permitted to govern themselves in their
own way, why did it NOT report resolution
recognizing the government they had chosen
for themselves, and admitting their repre-
sentative to a seat among us.
The bill itself ignores the principle in
every line. Insted of recognizing the Gov
ernor whom the people have elected, and
for the term he was elected, the Presiden
appoints that officer, and his term is fixed at
four years. He takes the census, districts
the Territory, and assigns the number Of
representatives each is to have in the Le-
gislature, and is the Judge as to the legality
,Nf fho,. alnnfS1., 10 e. tl
Legislature to meet, the place at which ii
shall meet, has veto over the laws it shall
pass, and his veto can only be overcome by
the agreement oftwo thirds of each branch.
He cuts the Territory into counties and
townships at pleasure, and has the right to
appoint and commission all probate Judges,
sheriffs, treasurers, auditors, coroners, COM
mlssioners, recorders, prosecutors, Dotaries,
justices of the peace, township trustees, &C.,
&C., down to fence viewers, and remove
them at will He commands the militia,
has general supervision over the laws.
oyerrules the Judges by an unconditional
pardon, and gets paid from the Federal
Treasury. And for the due execution OF
all these trusts, and many more which have
not time to enumerate, he is OF RESPONSE
BILE to the people, but is the viceroy Of the
President, who removes him at pleasure. -
A secretary, attorney, and marshall are al
SO appointed by the President, receive their
pay from the Federal Treasury, are NOT
amenable to the people, and are removable
at the will Of the President The President
also appoints the judges. The bill fixes the
precise time at which the Legislature must