Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-02

where they are tolerated? And has any one
cantended that the exclusion Of gambling To-
bles and the exclusion Of ardent spirits, was .
violation Of any constitutional right or PRIV.
Why, SIR our laws now prevent tavern-keep,
or from going into some Of the Territories Of
the United States and taking bar with him,
and using and selling spirits there The law
also prohibits certain other descriptions OF bu-
siness from being carried on in the Territories
4 am not, therefore prepared % sag tAat under
the Constitution we haze not the potcer to pass
ia,os excluding negro Slavery from the Terri
tories II involves the same principle"
| Mr.. Douglas then proceeded to say, that for
his own part he preferred that the whole SUBJ
iect Of Slavery be left to the will Of the People
Of Territory.
Mr. Butler Of South Carolina, claimed the
| right under the Constitution to carry "slave
property y into United States territory. What
his opinions are concerning the right Of the
people Of a Territory to govern themselves, are
shown by the following extracts from his
speech:
"This idea that people in Territory can
! legislate for themselves Independently Of Con-
gress-that they have q right to assume to
themselves whatever powers of legislation they
choose to assume--is most monstrous."
| Again
aThe principle which peryades all legislation
on this subject is, that Territorial Legislature
is given by Congress, subject to all the limita-
tions imposed by Congress, and that it has no
power except those which are given to it by
Congress In other words, it has power TO
legislate upon those subjects only which are
specified in the grant"
/ Has Mr.. Butler changed his opinions Not
at all. How happens it, then, that he supports
the clause in the Nebraska Bill, which leaves
the People Of a Territory perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the Constitution
of the United States?n Because that saving
proviso, asubjsct only to the Constitution Of the
United States" prohibits, in his Judgment and
that of the South, the People of . Territory
from legislating against Slavery.
Mr.. KING, Of Alabama, late Vice President
by the vote Of the so.called Democratic Party,
said
~, sir, am opposed to giving to the Terrific
rial Legislatures any power either to prohibit
| or to introduce it. | believe that the power
does not exist on the part Of Congress, and in
that respect differ from the Senator from IL
| linois, an toto Sir, bis argument is Free Soil
speech; it is the Wilmot Proviso, 20 far as the
argument goes as to giving to the Congress Of
the United States the power of regulating
every description Of property which the citi-
zens of the country possess who chance to
emigrate there. \ Sir, never did
agree with my friend from Michigan, in regard
to what is supposed to be the construction of
| the Nicholson Letter. never did believe that
| Territorial Government possessed any power
\ whatever but such as is delegated to il by the
| Congress of the United States; and the power
which it did possess simply related to the pro-
lection Of persons and property, and the pun
ishment Of crime. Sir, what do you require Of
thema That they shall pass no law that is
not to be submitted to Congress for its appro-
baton, leaving them strictly to the control of
the Congress Of the United States, in every act
that they may pass. And yet gentlemen get
| up at this day and advocate on the floor of the
Senate the monstrous doctrine that these Ter
ritorial Legislatures, consisting of mere hand
full of men, should make laws to affect every
description of property"
The opinions maintained by the South in
1850 are its opinions now. The representa-
ton given at the North by the friends of the
Nebraska Bill of the. policy Of Non Interyen-
ton is fraud. The South spurns such Non
Intervention. Its Senators in Congress will
agree with Northern Senators, who call them
selves Democrats, in voting for provision to
leave the People of Territory or State "per-
fectly free to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way, subject only to
the Constitution Of the United States" when
they know that they hold precisely opposite
views of the restrictions (printed in italics.
Now, they are determined not to quarrel about
terms. They will make use Of Northern Sena-
tors, to accomplish vital object-the repeal Of
all Congressional legislation prohibiting Slavery
in United States territory-they will carry this
measure on the strength of an appeal to the
Northern People in behalf Of Popular Sover-
eighty, which Northern journals in their in
terest say, is violated by this Missouri Compro-
mise. Then, when Territorial Legislature
shall undertake to exclude Slavery, they will
exclaim against such action, as in gross viola
ton Of the restriction subject TO the Consiitu-
tion of the United Siates.D aWhat! handful
Of Squatters, presuming TO legislate against the
rights of property recognised and guaranteed
| by the Constitution
But it may be said, the North will have the
majority, and the Southern construction Of the
Constitution cannot prevail Not 50 fast
Has not the North now the majority in both
branches Of Congress and is not the President
Northern man If q majority can be found
in Congress to repeal the Missouri Compromise
majority will be found to confirm the South
ern construction Of the act Of repeal, and to
anuul any Territorial leOislation aOaiua< Sla