The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-20


constitution preparatory 10 admission into the Union
have the right This Of the Of self
gqsernment and admits Of rational dispute The
nerstone of our American fabric must be Withdrawn be
fore an5 different principle be admitted maintained
The people have yielded their right OF sovereignty
win not IL is their pride and their boast and their glory
But II that right involving il does the right to live
der regulations and laws Of their choice be denied by
the action Of Congress they longer the eemen they
thought themselves They brought under subjecdor
10 power foreign TO them and must look to another vii
| than their own.
Now, what is the Missouri restriction 1t is the fat
the Congress Of the United States that slavery shall be
prohibited north Of SO deg 80 min Suppose the
srcton had been that spirituous liquors should be for
prohibited north of SO deg 80 min viii not every
admit that this would have been infringement
the rights of the people there Property in spruous Ii
quors and property in slaves left TO be determined and
regulated by the same auhoritthe authority of the peo
pie governing themselves; and Congress becomes pre-
sumptnous intermedder when il attempts to curb that
thority Did II not make the attempt in ordaning Ibis
perpetual prohibition of slavery How any mind
cape c conclusion that 1t did unable To To say
that il legisating for Territories yet ripe for
States does avoid the conclusion because there
such limitation But if there had been, it would
still remain unusthed because Congress has authority
to make laws in derogaton of the equal privileges of the
citizens Of different States within the Terrific
ries.
Ii will be seen then that unless gentlemen prepared
to repudiae the doctrine Of selgoyerning power in the
people and the doctrine that the States independent in
the management of their domestic affairs they obliged
10 admit that the Missouri restriction wrongly m-
posed If driven to this conclusion what is their duty
To keep it there To hold il standing monument OF
the error and injustice of prior Congress That would
not be 10 the of statesmen exhibit the lib
era and Christian spirit which is ashamed to confess
fault retrace OF am If they wond
follow out to their consequences the just views they enter
tain and they could not hesitate in their support
Of the objects of the bill in its bearing upon the question
Issue fear the misfortune is their prejudices and the
peudices OF those they represent win not permit them TO
examine and treat this question as they would any other
involving the rights Of property recognised sanctioned
and guaranteed by the constitution Yet win not ceass
to reason with them There is hope for the triumph o
truth long its opponents win permit you press its
teachings upon them.
Let us look at this question as an original one Why
should be forbid to go to the Territories with
hopery2 Because hold such property IS in your opn-
ion, wrong? That cannot be sufficient, for you
live and act under compact by which well your
selves left to determine what shall shall not be prop
erty within the jurisdiction OF our respective States and
therefore whatever be your opinion il is senced by the
bond 10 which you are solemnly committed The same
right and power which you claim and exercise in relation
property we also claim and exercise The compact which
binds together recognises and guarantees that right and
that power; and in particular more strongly clearly
than in reference to the very property about which this
controversy is raised. But while this win be admitted il
is said that the doctrine cannot be extended beyond ae
limits Of existing States When Territories under tie
supervision Of the common government Congress do
il pleasenake what laws its discretion thinks best
admit exclude slavery suits lis high judgment Can
this be true, Mr. Chairman? If so the argument would
thus Southern States have the right under the
constitution, 10 ewn and use negroes property The
opinion of northern States that exercise this right
wrong cannot affect it because they have agreed to leave
TO be local and domestic question These States together
acquire and hold Territories which In time Il
become States also Each bear her share Of
pense and IL necessary funis her quota Of defend
and preserve such Terrore and species of proper
ty slaves included be taxed enable the government
to defend and preserve them The citizens Of these State.
carrying with them their property. But nasmuch tn,
holding Of slaves is condemned by northern sentiment
wrong and offence against humanity, the government
shall not permit IL in those Territories although southern
IL and fltag in
lection given by the compact from which alone Is derived
any authority to supervise their domain" Tn,
aburdity Of such argument Is apparent though how
legitimately from the positions that viii be granted
The this subject arises from confounding th
opinion Of right and wrong with the authority
force that opinion If that authority were clear and un
doubted then the contest would simply be between th
opposing opinions AS IL s now the South thinks she ha
moral perceptions not inferior to those OF her northern
brethren and faculties Of mind quite capable theirs
close and profound reasoning upon all social questions and
she claims the respect for her conclusions that they
do; but besides she them the threshold and un
folding the agreement they have mutually entered into says
whatever your opinions mine such questions, th
agreement conrs authority either 10 enforce them
but the contrary, that authority be
eresed in the country and by the people 10 be directly
affected.
This idea that slavery wrong and should therefore b
arrested by Congress really goes further than s pretended
has no force at all II implies the responsibility Of the
general government for domestic evils and the power "a
deal with them To draw distinction between Territories
and States does not avoid this far the advocates fol
7
many Of them a. earnestly any avow their adherence
the doctrine that the people Of the Territories have the rgh
20 regulate their domestic relations by their discretion
IL Is true they offer interference with that right bu
they always take good 70 find pretext in The view
OF which the mind will becomeo absorbed to forget th
main point and in the blaze Of which they but
fully hide from their constituents the Inconsistency they
practise Ask them II they admit the right Of the peop,
Of the Territories TO govern themselves and they will
swer you, yes because looking 70 the home tribunal
they dare not controvcrt what s there regarded In
alierabe right But nsk hem II these same people shall b
permitted 70 do they please about slavery they wiz
you, But the win be given amid suct
burning appeals ia behalf Of persecued ow-bengs such
glowing assertions Of every mans right liberty and sucl
rousing denunciaons Of the evils Of slavery that the
tradicon win be lost in the ferment thereby excited ant
fortunate enough 10 preserve the canees Of his
son, would be almost induced to suppose that they them
selves did not perceive il
N let not be misunderstood I speak Of this claim fa
the people Of the Territories In connection merely with th
views Of those who admit IL IN words but would practi
cay deny IL Ny own vcw Of the position Of those peo
ro recognises their power regugts the domestic right
and rights of property which have gone there as rights ex
tng by the sanction and protection of the constitution
the United States bat to aJrogac these That IL de
sired be done until they act in The sovereign oapa
city which calls into being State endowed with al
the powers belonging 70 the older ones. But I cnnno
pause 20 argue this point and have only said thus much
guard against misspprehension.
My remarks q moment ago show that by The sam
method certain gentlemen Justify interference with sayerl
in the Territories because II Is wrong they can Justify IN
reference with It in the States They win not
edge This but II Is nevertheless true b. the one case he
terrors for the Union in the other they boho
yawnng before them dark and horrid abyss into which
a must 90 when the first step forward is taken In tp
one they conde in the submissive spirit o the South 10
acquiescenee IN the other, they know that when the