The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-11


IN the punishment OF crimes whereof the parties shall hays
been duly convicted shall be- and Is hereby orever prohibit
sa m %s That amy sspg into the
State Territory of the United States such fugitive be
lawfully reclaimed and conveyed 70 the person claiming bis
or her labor or service as aforesaid" .# 4
The one is that these Territories shall come into the
Union with without slavery the people thereof may
determine and the other oreper prohibits slavery therein
perpetual prohibition and as far as it can have legal
effect and force oyeu takes from the people what should
belong TO them Since sir these Territories to be
ganzed and upon us for that purpose il s fit time
having just triumphantly emerged from the great conflict
OF 1850 which settled this principle in this bill by ncor
porang it in the Utah and New Mexican governments
that 1T should have our continued Legislative endorsement
and sanction Sir would have this principle this repub-
can principle of the right and power of the people stand
forth prominently pre-eminenty, and continually before
the American people Iwoud have it set forth in every
territorial bill for organization that might not forget
the true principles Of the constitution or the rights Of c
people Of Territories and Satcs would accustom the
public mind to its contemplation as great truth in our
But gentlemen say that this is comparatively an
unimportant provision that the States the Territories
just becoming States have already that right to determine
for themselves their domestic institutions Notwithstanding
whatever previous act may have been passed. by Congress
admit this. But do not msapprehendl Do not mis-
ake Be not deluded You and J. with tho whole South,
may believe; but does the Northdoes the political
power of the North-so understand it2
What gave rise to the Missouri agitation What gave
birth to this eighth section just before quoted 1t was the
political power of the North refusing admission to Mis-
souri, unless it abolished slavery Its plea was and
is that that clause in the constitution which declares that
Congress may admit Sas" confers the power deny
and deny it did, and deny IL will whenever it
mand sufficient power Why, sir after the act passed
orizing Missouri to form State government and which,
it supposed settled the question: the great States Of
New York and Massachusetts, and other States OF the North
by their legislatures demanded of their representatives in
Congress to resist to the last the admission Of Missouri if
it presented itself with constitution olerang slavery
And they did resist it, In ls4 Massachusetts, with quite
number OF northern States but Massachusetts partcu-
ly declared its unaerabe opposition to the annexation
Texas because ofits being savehodng State Bnt as
index OF that peculiar public sentiment in the North
which Massachusetts, has since 1900 always represented
and truly in all its phases and changes give the
luton then passed by its legislature 18th February ls45
Resolved That the people Of Massachusetts will never
the powers reserved to themselves 10 admit
Texas any other State Territory without the
man and that while slavery slave representation forms
any part Of the claims or conditions Of admission Texas
with their consent, can never be admitted
This right then being so sternly resisted will whenever
/ can have it affirmed by legislative action.
Well, sir practically called upon to choose
between two bills the one this one under considerations
which removes abrogates this perpetual prohibition OF the
right of the people TO determine their domestic ns
tuions and the other which maintains it in force and Vi
ty Sir l. for one will take this bill that acknowledges
the principle admire, and that commends itself TO my
Judgment
Why do further support this billY
shall have nothing to say about the following clause
it is common to nearly all the territorial bills;
Thnt the legislative power of the Territory shall extend
all rghtfu subjects of legislation with the
stituon of the United States and the provisions Of this
Ii is an important clause but believe exception
be or has been made 10 it,
Let to that section Of the bin which has
impaired TO it all its interest and feeling 1t Is fol-
lows
That the constitution, and all laws of the United States
which not locally inappcabe shall have the force
and effect within the said Territory Of Nebraska elsewhere
within the United States except the eighth section Of the act
preparatory the admission Of Missouri into the Union ap
proved March g. ls2o which, being inconsistent with the
principle Of intervention by Congress with slavery in the
States and Territories recognised by the legislation Of 1880
imperative and void il being the true intent and meaning
of this egate slavery into any Territory State
exclude IL thererom but leave the people thereof
perfectly free form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way subject only TO the constitution of the
shall be construed revive put any or regua
tion which may have existed prior the Of 9th March,
1920 either protecting establishing prohibiting, abolish
ing slavery"
This the section that has come under the ban Of the
enemies of the bill II has been criticised analysed de-
nounced condemned 1t is the text context and pretex
for all kinds Of opposition TO the bill Ii supplies fund for
low and for refined dicule for grave argument for exag
gerated denuncaton II denounced by its opponents
to be complex obscure confused aud contradictory to be
amphiboogcalp and "nonsenscalI Z that IL estab-
fishes "squaer sovereignty, another that il confcrs
right whatever upon the people to decide the question OF
slavery whilst Territory that II establishes another
that II abolishes slavery one that II extends slavery
another that II withdraws all protection from IL that
openly and agrany repcas the Missouri line another
that il does "coverty = that it is stump speech
another that II Is ruthless legislative wrong and
the end Of chapters Of denunciaon shall take up this
section clause BY clause ad seo and give 10 each con-
sderation TO whether It's obnoxious 10 this heap OF
parliamentary objurgaton
The first part of the section which Is "af he cons
tuition and all lasos Of the United States hich are locally
iHappcab shall hare The same force and eect ,citn he
sad Territory Of Nbraska land Kansas ese,ohe toi
IN the United Sates is all right and proper No person
can take just exception to it. although gentlemen
hero talk much in opposition 10 IL and about throwing
"car-oads" of laws these infant people Such talk Is
OF place Sir the people Of Territory within the
corporate limits Of the United States are subject the
constitution and the laws of Congress passed in pursuance
TO it, They ought TO know the laws they too arc well
calculated TO understand the laws and constitution we
in the States True the Territory is an embryo is an
infant State but the people not innts because they
inbsbt IT. They Americans; they are citizens; they
old are with possibly more experience aud as
well able TO understand and interpret the laws az We are
They live under them and adjust their rights and re-
latons under them well and so in this par
neular they are subject to the laws and constitution as
we are, and equally competent TO understand them
Next as TO the clause Of the section which repoas the
Missouri line or prohibition, IL reads as follows.
That the constitution and all the laws of tho United
States which not locally inappcabe shall have tho same
force and effect within the said Territory OF Nebraska a else
where within the United States except eighth section
Union, approved March 6, 1920 which, being
with the principle Of by Congress with ala
very IN the States and Territories recognised by the
laon OF 1880 commonly called the compromise
hereby declared imperative and void"
have already noticed the first part Of this clause and
as to that part OF it which declares the eighth section Of the
Missouri act inconsistent with the principles of nopnter-
venon' by Congress with slavery In the States and Terri
tories recognised by the legislation of 1850 but little Ia
required TO be said IL is merely decaratory Il inmate
rial decides nothing egsatively is we'll out of the bill
as in and Is nothing to mo and but little to the bill
nxt ~. A. -