The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-22

stances and their expectations were not disappointed The
honesty and sagacity which prevail despite all denias
among laborng and rural population solid basis
upon which the integrity and courage of public
securely The warm honest heart Of the people is
appealed to in vain by the Of single purpose and solid
courage Against enmy and persecution they will sus-
tain him and carry him forward in his of usefulness
triumphant and unscathed. From the most dangerous
trials they win bring him FORTH without so much the
smell Of fire upon his garments
Mr. Speaker | rely upon this patriotic and sagacious
spirit among the Of the people for the vndicaton
and support Of the great national measure assaed by these
resolutions IL is only necessary that people should
comprehend that brethren settled and about TO settle
beyond the Mississippi river"he Father Of Waersare
by the terms Of the bill to have the same rights Of self
government which they enjoy before removing thither
The people OF Pennsylvania have from the earliest times
had the unqnesoned right Of establishing prohibiting
among themselves the institution OF slavery They per-
med and egalzed il so long as they thought proper and
when the time arrived that il expedient and right to
eradicate it, they did So without dication from any for
egn authority. Neither the British Crown the Contnen-
tai Congress the government of the United States
spoke 10 Pennsylvania in the tone of command upon this
subject We decided for ourselves the best judge of
interests and welfare and could have justly spurned
any injunction issued from alien authority All the north
States of the old thirteen who participated in the revou
ton and their liberties by the power oforce enjoyed the
exclusive jurisdiction the question This
principle Of local control and legislation is prominently
stamped upon the political policy Of the northern States
any of which history holds the record Pennsylvania
for good reasons founded in policy and principle abolish
ed in 1880 the institution Of slavery within her borders
and she did this in just it benefcent
and sauary. Not prompted by the blind incacuating
spirit of modern abolitions she accomplished the work
gradually, and under conditions little oppressive
possible upon individual rights and existing arrangements
Is there any solid objection against extending TO the pco
pie OF Nebraska the same rights which have enjoyed
and exercised Are republican principles be varied by
location and geography so that what is right along the
waters of the Susquehanna shall be considered criminal
upon the pares of the far West and at the base of the
Rocky mountains? Can Massachusetts, or New York,
Maryland deny to their people who have gone westward
rights which have been neither denied Questioned in the
State from, iel fhnra al y
What spirit Of evil is this which rises up midst and
inyokes us to work OF outrage and wrongl Have the
republican citizens Of the Territories no right complain
that the general government should attempt to dictate
their Institutions and deprive them of jurisdiction
their which has been enjoyed by the oden
States of the Unon2 They have rescued and are resc-
ing the region in which they have settled from its desert
condition. and have made and making, it fit for the
habitaton of civilized The forests have fallen before
them the has retired they have advanced they
have subjected alike prairie mountain, and valley, the
dominion of labor and industry and have swollen the
wealth and extended the limits of the republic And shall
they have rights except such doled to them
from government located the city OF VAST Shall
their laws be framed and imposed upon them By repre-
sentaves of Hartford Boston, and Baltimore Or shall
they free from congressional interference from the
dicaon of representatives they have voice in electng
shape their institutions, and the laws under which
they to live However Others may act whether alone
supported stand to-day in vindication of their right
to the powers of local legislation which we enjoy
and trust that the decision Of the question pending in
Congress may be in strict accordance with this principle
hcultes upon the question OF slavery in Congress The
general government stripped of all control the sub
iec will be left to perform its appropriate constitutional
duties and will no longer be medder with matters that
do not justly pertain TO it,
This principle of congressional non-acion is powerfully
recommended by the fact that strictly accordan with the
character OF our federal government No idea is firmly
rooted in national system useful in its results
than that which leaves to the States the exclusive regua
ton Of their internal affairs Without this salutary prin-
cple il would he impossible that the general government
could long continue without changes radical change
in whole system Of administration The term State
rights is not mere political watchword but contains in
II meaning OF the highest significance 1t limita-
ton and restraint to the general government means
that there arr real barriers against the encroachmens
federal power II means that Capitalization not an idea
of government amongst And means finally that pop
ular local. and individual rights have real guarantees and
solid defence We would in yvana TO this
most any encroachment of the federal government upon
just and reserved rights And why should We there
fore assist in extending congressional interference the
Territories Of the Union The humble emgrant who goes
out from amongst us-our relative, neghbor friend
should carry with him. to his home in the West the
same republican principles which prevail in the locality
from which be emf CRATES. There is why he
should forfeit any of his rights American citizen by
removal into the Territores-the common property Of
the United States Sir when this principle of local power
squares exactly with the national interests in removing
the question OF slavery from the field of congressional
bate and secures the peace and harmony Of the States
their relation TO each other that mus, have bad mo-
tves or must DC greatly grossly mistaken who would
oppose its adoption.
Ny argument has been upon the sixth section of the Ne
braska BILL already read establishing the power of terri
toral legislation II is the vital section and the debate
hinges upon it,
now read from the l4th section
% That the constitution, and all laws OF the United
States which not locally inapplcable shall the
force and effect within the said Territory Of Nebraska
where within the United States (2) Except the eighth
section OF the act preparatory the admission Of
into the Union approved March sixth eighteen hundred
twenty which being inconsistent with the principle
Intervention by Congress with slavery in the States and
Territories recognised BY the legislation hun
dred and fifty, Commonly called the compromise
Is hereby declared imperative and void 90 IL being
true intent and meaning Of this legsae
into any Territory State exclude il thererom but
to leave the people thereof perfectly free 10 form regulate
their domestic institutions in their subject
the constitution OF the United States al Proridcd That
nothing herein contained shall 10 revive or
in force any law regulation which may have existed prior
to the act Of sixth March eighteen hundred and twenty
either protecting establishing, prohibiting abohing
very
regard this section decavaory in its character The
first clause asserts the extension the constitution and
laws TO the Territory The second declares the legal
effect Of the nth section, already read with the reason
therefor The third avoid misconception declares the
general intention Of the and for the same reason the
concluding clause declares that prior to 1920 shall
be considered revived The propety Of this section lies in
the fact that II states succncty and clearly the SCOPE pur
pose character and effect of the II shuts the door 10
misrepresentation and gives upon the face Of the bill
in direct terms expression TO the principles IL intended
to endorse The preamble to the pending resolutions
serts that the bill permits the existence OF slavery the
Territory 1t docs not permit it 1t leaves to the Terri
tory 10 decide whether IL shall be permitted or not This
s the meaning Of the sixth section rendered indsputahle
by the clear terms Of the fourteenth nv opinion the
preamble Is untrue and those who for 1t endorse
fasehood.
The senator from Wyoming said the bin was an nya
atpr gFp s1grY,~ 80 l.tu A.