The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-21
CITY OF WASHINGTON TUESDAY MORNING. MARCH 81. 1854

as human foresight discern, will probably be the
.eans OF carrying civilization and Christianity back into
that benghted continent, and OF eevatnx It's people 10
rank with the civilized Eatons OF the world say this.
not 10 indicate slavery the slave trade, but 10 notice
the course OF human events as permitted by the wisdom
oI Providence
When these States became sovereign and independent.
they necessarily sovereign States, each OF them,
sumed entire and absolute control this, as one OF
rs domestic Institutions Each acquired independent
absolute, sovereign right 10 control il according 10 the
will OF lis people. No other State had right 10 inter-
!ere The Continental Congress, representing all the
States had no right 10 interfere No foreign government
had any longer any right 10 interfere; but each State
was as absolutely sovereign and independent IN The ex
ercise OF legislative power over II as the government OF
any civilized country lis own internal affairs.
Some o them proceeded, Immediately by gradual pro-
cess, TO abolish 1t; Others under an oveupg necessity
imposed upon them without any agency OF their own,
II, admitting no right OF interference IRON any
quarter, and acknowledging their responsibility.
This, sir. was the condition OF the original States
when the constitution was formed ihefe were at ina,
time TWO Territories; one in the northwest which had
been ceded to the United States by Virginia, New York.
Connecticut, and Massachusetts the other in the south
west, which had been ceded by South Carolina and
seems 10 have been somewhat overlooked The charac-
ter q both these Territories was fixed by law before Inc
formation OF the constitution Congress, under the con.
federation, had passed the ordinance OF ISL ana had
inserted in il certain articles which were declared to be
articles OF compact between the original States ana tha
people and the States IN that Territory, ana forever 10 re-
main unalieTabe except by common consent, One OF
these articles provided that there should be neither sla-
very nor involuntary servitude in the Territory other
wise than ~ the punishment OF crimes where The party
shall have been duly convicted.
This ordinance, let il be remembered, adopted be-
fore the formation OF the constitution Il had been adopt
ed BY the States before their power had been notified or
restricted by the constitution, and OF conslitu
ona question could arise whether the Continental Con-
gress had the power adop, such ordinance Ii de-
pended tie consent OF the States and il they in any
manner directly indirectly, assened to il, they were
absolutely sovereign, and had The right and power 10 do
so, !, was valid and binding upon them That il was
valid ordinances was admitted by the first Congress that
assembled under The constitution; but il was not re-
enacted; il alluded 10 as pre-eXs,ing valid ordi-
nance, dating back prior 10 the formation OF the consitu
lion There IN ii certain provisions requiring the
governors OF the Territories 10 make report to the Cont-
mental Congress. and requiring authorizing that Con
gress 10 appoint certain officers; but there was no
longer any Continental Congress, became necessary IN
order 10 carry II into effect IA an existing, valid ordi.
nance, which was admitted 10 be, that the defect should
be supplied The first Congress under the constitutions
therefore, supplied tha, defect by directing the reports TO
be made President the officers to be nominated by
The President and confirmed by the Senae and, IN case
Of any vacancy the Office of governor that the
larry should act IN his place
Here is the recital:
Whereas in order that the ordnance Of the United
States in Congress assembled for the government of the
eitoy northwest of be river Ohio NAV continue TO have
fun effect, is requisite that certain provisions should be
made adapt the same to the present constitution Of
the United States !"
The character oil the territory 10 the southwest was
equally fixed Ii had been part OF the State OF South
Carolina where slavery was established By law and
when il was ceded TO the United States the 9th o
August, l7s7 il still retained It's original character :
(Uniled States Laws, vol l. p. 4s6, edition OF 1915 by
and d. In the Northwestern Territory slavery was IN
ierdlced in the territory in the southwest il was estab
lished and both, having these peculiar char
came together uDcer federal government and were
designed to be the theatre OF States to be admitted
INTO The Union on an equal footing with the original
ates in all respects whatever Such was the condition
of the States and Territories when The constitution
adopted and The government went into operation. Now
ask, sir when The convention came together 10 frame
this Constitution, and when the people assembled TO adop
IT, extending slaveboldng States and non siavehold
ing Siates, savehodIng territory and non slave
holding ,errory-l ask If it is possible thai, when they
/ were setting up government they were about iC
confer that government the power 10 pass uDorn
law that should apply TO this institution, ~ The States
IN the Terrtoriesi
meraled powers conferred upon Congress, we shall tn'
that be tortured into grant OF power TO IN
erere with the domestic relations OF any present OF any
future State eiiber before after It's admission II we
look into other paris OF the constitution, shall hDt
eqaa difficulty IN discovering any such grant OF power
bst we shall find there provision by which Congress
was forbidden TO interfere with the slave trade nat the
year s0s We shall hnd provision by which the slave
population in the States made the basis OF representation
We shall find provision by which, IT slave escapes
from Stale into another. The fugitive shall be deiiv
cred upa supreme, unorn, irrepeaabe, universal law
that the fugitive shall be delivered up We shall hnd an
other provision tha, the powers not delegated TO the Uni
ted States By the constitution prohibited by 1t to bs
States reserved 10 the Saiss respectively, or 10 I'M
people From these provisions, and from the absence
grant, u ~ pefeCy clear thal Congress has no pow
er whatever 10 interfere with the domestic institutions 0
any Sale,
n This is lrue not only oi the original States, but OF tn
new States also With regard TO the five States north
west OF the Ohio, the ordinance Of 81 provides by tn
fifth article OF compact, that they shall be admitted OF
an equal footing with the original States la all respect
whaevern As 10 the States formed out OF the Territory
of Louisiana there are, the treaty by which
qdired n PROVISIONS OF equivalent import But deco
any such provision entirely nugaioTy or independently
OF any oTdnaAce any treaty, every State admed mt
the Union comes IN upon footing OF perfect tquat
with all others respect OF political sovereignty Con
gees mas admit States into the Union. The honor
abls senator IRON New York lMr SEwARDl has express
ed al least ntuatcd, singular opinion that a. th
greater embraces he less, therefore Congtess may ADM
a Stale with something less Than the usual sovereign
powers 81 a Stale; that we have The power OF imposing
condition taking away from new State portion OF "
sovereignty; and therefore, may admit new States o
every grade Certainly, II you take away the sover
ugny III Stale ~ one respect you can 10 another
and may strip OF halt political power on ts admsno
ino The Union,
The &od State, in the constitution, Is word OF pre-
ciss aud definite meaning II applies equally 70 ever
Sate lhat comes into the Union II imports
less of political poaer M than another The
are All atsJuey sovereign % all respects except ihos
10 which their sovereignty Is limited by the constitution
The powers not delegated the United States by th
eonsuop, prohibited by 4 90 hs states are reserve
70 tbe Staies respectively Or 20 the people
The same standard is applied to all The same pow
ers are delegated the powers are prohtbited an
the same powers reserved, and u - impossible tna
there should be sny difference IN the espl The meas
ore being applied all. II legal mpossibiy, as wei
a. log possibility that Tie result should be dteren
as impossible A. u is that hngs which are equal 10 20
- laslt. l