The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-18


tribunals of the couairy But what the principle of his
bill Non-incrvcnon with existing iaws No. air. The
principle of ths bill the repeal of existing law the sub
Of established law the breaking down and abroga
ting Of which has existed covering this territory
over with the shield Of liberty during the period OF thirty
-four years.
cannot be shown 10 be the any logic Whatever with
the principle Of this bill But, sir do propose TO 60
into that subject at this time What desire TO have
vote Of the Senate clearly understood and distinct
VOTE upon which each will be willing stand before
the enuniryis the question: whether not under this bill
the Senate propose leave the disposition Of this subject If
slavery in fact The people of the TerorosS Sir this
Idle question: When first proposed this amendment
the senator from Michigan Mr. CAss well said behind
the on which upon the words subject only
the constitution of tho United Sates lay the really great
question be settled, whether not under that conslu-
on the people Of The Territory could exclude slavery
Now what have heard advanced this floor respect
that matieri The from Mssi> spp [Mr. Baows
the senator from Souh Carolina, Mr. 6urIER and thr
from Virginia, Mr. HUSrkR and as understood
him. also the senator from New Jersey Mr Tnosrsos
and perhaps other Senator's have taken the broad ground
that under the constitution of the United States slavery
at the moment Of acquisition ps0 Jaco extended Into the
Territories, and that all exclusion,
rial unconstitutional interference with the vested rgh
Of the stakeholder introduce his slaves every national
Territory, and hold Them These senators no,
take the ground Of the from Michigan ALL They
do say that the people Of the Territories inaen
able right Of sovereignty in virtue Of which they cam
they choose exclude slavery They do say that,
ythDg like it. They do not deny, the from
Michigan Does The right Of Congress to legsae for the
Territories except just 40 far as to establish
firm Of government Not all These say that
the right of the people of the Territories any
subject deryatve right that il 10 right derived from
Congress- and flows Of the general power Of Congress
TO egisae upon all subjects in the Territories That
their doctrines and they assert the double proposition iha
Congress prohibit slavery in the Territories, and
therefore, that territorial legislatures deriving all their author
y over every subject from Congress, cannot themselves
prohibit slavery. That IL their argument.
Well, sir, il s manifest, them tina, this bill carries
double aspect Il settles nothing It leaves everything
open dispute and controversy hereafter. According
the savehoIdng argument it confers power all upon
the people Of the Territories protect themselves from
slavery but while holding out the deceptive AID ilusory
idea the people ohe clothed by with the
power egsate upon every subject which interests hem
wihholds, under these words subject only the
stution of the United Sales all power egis!ae on
this particular subject.
Why Mr. President within the last three days papers
have been sent from my State--I am happy 70
say however that the papers which sustain this bill are
very few in DISCRIMINATING this BILL upon the ground tina
the bill contains express provision referring all questions
respecting slavery 10 the uncontrolled disposal of the
pie of the Territories and, sustain themselves these
papers cite the first clause of the twenty first section OF
the amended bill originally reported from the Commute.
on Territories But all know here that whole twenty
first section long since stricken of the BILL And
thus this remarkable of things presented that the
bill is defended before the people upon the ground ,ha,
contains express clause referring, without limitation
this whole subject of slavery to the people of the Territories
when, fact, the bill contains such clause at all
will read the clause which have referred stood in
the amended bill reported from the committee
And be further enacted That in order avoid all
construction, hereby declared to be the
meaning of this act far the question of slavery
carry into practical operation the following
and principles established by the compro
mise measures Of 1885, to wit;
First That all questions pertaining to slavery in the
Territories, and in the States be formed hsrefrom
be left the de son of the people residing therein
through their appropriate representative"
That clause has been stricken from the bill have
heretofore expressed the opinion thrt senators from the
STATS would not vote for the bill with that clause
Instead Of this clause, have proposition to exce
from laws of the Union TO be extended Terri
Tory the Missouri prohibition, which be declared in
operative and void, and in connection with that,
sion OF Legislative intent that the people be e
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, 50 subject only to the constitution"
Now sir, the words subject only to the constitution OF
the Uniled States," in the clause of the bill it
stands unnecessary. The very clause in which tn
occur extends the constitution and laws Of the Uned
States over Territories Why hen adj these words
of the power of the people the subject
Of slavery unless to admit the inference actually drawn by
slavsSse senators, that the people exclude slave
ryl
In my Judgment there was no necessity for provision
Of law exenjng the constitution Of the United States
the Ferrory. The moment We ncqui esny territory, In
my judgment IT under the testion of the
extend The constitution IT, II under
the jun dcon Of Congress the authority Of the genera
government If the Union embraces and, their action
pon every subject within .ri,oy tho Congress of the
United Satss and the gene al government of the Union
bounded and limited 10y the Of the constitution
The general government, and Congress- the legislative
department OF the neral government have that power
every Territory which the constitution confep, and they
have power under the mitao which the consti-
iion imposes But, of caution perhaps this
bill, in terms, the stuton and laws Of the
Union the Territories created 10y III md then GOES
subsequent paragraph, TO declare that it is he
Of bill leg slate slavery into the Territories
of the Territories but to leave dis
posal Of the people, subject only to the constitution of the
United States
As have already sad, the words subject to the con-
tutuuon of the United SnIes in this connexion was
totally unnt etsssry. Neither Congress nor territorial
legislature exercise any power prohibited by the
sututron. 1h,se words then, must have been Inserted
as suppose for the purpose OF wing color to the con-
strucon which is coneud-d for ny ouhern ntlemen
and by from the Zee upon this Hor
The pra teal result, III ~ VIII he that il pass the BIZ
with this clause 4 stands, simply refer ne W
to the county, TIE endnIent which
have proposed designed neg itve the clam set up in
behalf Of tbs holders OF slaves, and people
clear expression Of the Of Cong that they
f they please, protect themselves against the great evil Of
slavery
have hesitation in ssying that while have desire
that Congress shall abditae just and cnns
,uonal power the Territories and viii regard es
the first and most duty Of Cong es when organiz-
log governments for Territories, and co,erriug III il in
habsns liuca poweis, to G to II that Of all
those inhabitants shall, upon euy pr by any monns
be deprived OF his iuaienab igh's Of e and be ty
st n c, neress determined u rcnounte the right aid
decline duty OF establishing the great principe civ
liberty contained in the Declaration Of Indope, dence the
Of territorial institutions then
ous to the people Of the Territory invested with full
undensbe