Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-06-27
MIR. CnAsEs, SPEECH
aAlNsr the REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI


On the night oi the passage Of the
bill, Immediately after the rejection Of
the Clayton amendment, Mr.. Chase
rose anil said in substance what follows:
u. can not. Mr.. President, permit this
bill TO pass, without the utterance OF a
few words. The rejection ofthe amenl
ment upon which we have just voted, is
great triumph ofprinciple, not the less
valuable because, coerced from its op-
none ITS by necessity 10 which they
ave yielded 80 reluctantly. The bill
last comedies full. ample, aud com.
.te recognition in these new territor.
of the right Of Immigrants from the
Old World TO an equal participation
with the notivc born in the organization
an.i control Of tho territorial govern.
m+nts.
But, sir, while this principle is con.
ce,led, the great wrong Of the bill still
remains conspicuous and fragrant. The
Senator from Virginia has emphaticnIly
declared this great wrong to b. its vital
principle. He tells us that the repeal
OF the Missouri prohibition OF slavery is
tine PRINCIPLE OF the bill. Agains. that
repeal, every worl uttered by me upon
this floor, in opposition to the bill, has
been directed.
/ have never controveited the right oil
the people. Of tho territories 10 govern
themselves. The prohibition Of slavery
in the territory is nothing more noe less
than o simple declaration that every in.
habitant Of the territory shal! be recog.
nzcd as q free man, and protected in
tho enjoyment Of all the rights which
man derives fiom God. join with the
Senator from Michigan in the assertion
of the great doctrine Of inalienable
rights. 1t isto protect these rights that
governments are instituted anon, men;
and itis because The prohibition Of sla.
very fulfls this greatest object Of govern
mont, that revere and defend il.
~ But, Mr.. President, l differ widely
from that honorable Senator in some
important particulars. ! have no doubt
Whatever as TO the constitutional power
,of Congress 10 legislate for territory. |,
is needless now to inquire into q the
source from which that power is derived
The Senator from Michigan denies its
existence, but at the same moment. as IL
seems TO me, comedies it in the asser-
ton ofthe right OF Congress 20 organize
goyerpments for the territories. That
tight the honorable Senator hos distinct
" and emphatically asserted here to.
'nisht, & And If Congress can organize
governrnant: can authorize the appoint.
ment Of 4 governor and judges, and the
election Of = legislature; can define the
sphere Of executive, Judicial, and iegis'
latiye authority, and can prescribe the
qualifications ofvoters, how isit possible
10 msintain that Congress can not legis
lste for a ,erritoryi There can. be nc
higher power sf legislation than tha
which prescyibss The fundamental law
This gies,est power necessarily include'
evsry l.s.et pewss.s When the Ssnato
from Michigan, therefore. assests tn
: ,;,ht Of ConssesS To- ofgsniEea govern
nssht. define III sdspSrli6snts. ptesctih,
49, uowers. 6nd dslsfmiis Who 3shal
"lsrcI,s lhe rriehk sf saasaSs, he neees
sss,lv sspsrts 1 right Of Conf sEess % u
s;.ists 81 ahs tsrfitet,es. guiss ~ Z ampl.
~ hat iot which 'Ahy msn wiiL = {. cor q
Tsa S.u,tor SIX s,eanths soysrpnaea
sfshssUnlted Etstss own re tecRis =
fsrritoliesi BE snswsrS d M e Aas e =! "a
w:u, sasess.Ny lsslsl lNS setpc !.
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