The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-01-18
r r P o n T

RE oRT,
The Committee on Territories, to which was re-
ferred bill for on act 10 establish the Territnry of
Nebraska, have given the same that serious aud de
Lberate consideration winch its great importance
demands, and beg leave TO report il back the Sen
ate, with various amendments, in the form of a
substitute for the bill.
The principal amendments which your commit
tee deem it their duty 10 commend to the favora
ble action of the Senate, in speciaI report, are
those in which the principles established by the
Compromise measures of $50, 20 lar as they are
applicable to Territorial organizai ~, proposed
to be affirmed and carried iato practical operation
within the limits of the new Territory.
The wisdom of those measures il attested not
less by their salu,ary and beneficial effects in alIay-
ing sectional agitation and restoring peace and bar
mopy TO an ritated and distracted people, than by
the cordial and almost universal appreciation with
which they have been received and sanctioned by
the whole country. In the judgment of your com;
mittee. those measures were intended to have
far more comprehensive and enduring effect than
the adjustment of the difficulties arising out
Of the recent acquisition of Mexican territory
They were designed to establish certain great
principles, which would not only furnish adequate
remedies for existing evils, but in all times to
avoid the perils Of similar agitation, by withdraw
ing the question of Slavery from the halls of Con-
gress aud the political arena, aud committing it to
the arbi,rament of those who were Immediately
interested in and alone responsible for its eorse-
quences. With the view Of confirming their ac-
ton to what they regard the settlsd policy of the
Government sanctioned ty the approving voice oil
the American people, your committee have deem
ed 1t their duty to incorporate and perpeiuate in
their Territorial bill the principles and spirit Of
those measures. ...
If any other considerations were necessary to
render tho rropriety of this course imperative up
on the committee, they may be found in the facl
that the Nebraska country occupies the same rel
atiye position TO the Slavery question us did New
Mexico and Utah when ihose Territories were
organized. 1t was disputed point whether Sla
very was prohibited by law 10 the country acquired
from Mexico. Ga the one band, it Yves contepded
as legal proposition, that Slavery having been
prohibited by the enaetmeuts of Mexico, according
to the laws of nations, we received the country
with all ita local laws and domestic institutions at
tached to the soil, far as they did not conflict
with the Constitution of the United States; and
that a law either protecting prohibiting Slavery
was not repugnant to that instrument, Us was evil
denced by the fact that one half the Safes The
Union tolerated, while the other half prohibited
the institution of Slavery. On the otEsr hand, 1t
was insisted that, by virtue OF the Constitution OF
the United States, every citizen had right to re-
move to any territory of the Union. and carry his
property with him, under the protection OF law
whether that property consisted in persons or
things The difficulties arising from this diversity
Of opinion were greatly aggravated by the fact that
there were many persons. on both sides of the le-
cal controversy, who We're unwilling to abide the
decisions of the courts on the matters in dispute.
Thus, among those who claimed that the Mexican
laws were still in force. and consequently that sla
very was already prohibited in those territories by
valid enactment, there were many who insisted up
IN Congress making the matter certain by euacting
ano,hsr prohibition. In like manner. como of those
who argued that the Mexican laws had ceased to
have any binding force, and that the Constitution
tolerated and protected slave property in those ter
ritores, were unwilling to trust the decision Of the
courts upon that point and insisted that Congress
should, by direct enactment. remove all legal OBJ
sacles to the iu;reductos of slaves into thoee tor
riterieE ,-