Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-20

Calhoun acquiesced Mr.. Calhouns doctrine
was, that tho Constitution Of the United States
went prop,io vigors into all Territories and
repealed any laws then in force there. Mr..
Calhoun remarked to him, ON one occasion,
that If it should be decided that the territory
Of the United States was to be appropriated for
the benefit Of one portion of the country alone,
it would give rise to a contest such as never
before agitated the nation. Let Southern men
take the alternative Of this bill, or keeping the
Missouri Compromise line in force. Under
this bill, the South obtained some rights; under
the Missouri Compromise, they had none
He was Of opinion that the operation Of the
bill would be that the Territorial Legislature
would take no action ON the subject, but leave
il to the American citizens who resided in the
Territory, to act az they please in regard to
the introduction of slaves. This bill was
recognition that Congress had exclusive jlris-
diction in the subject Of Territorial Govern
ment and that Congress could give to the
Territories no more than was authorized by
the Consultation Of tho United States. He had
voted to give this power to these Territories;
because he had full confidence that they would
impress the principles Of the American Gov
eminent upon the legislation of the Territories
until they were ready to assume the powers OF
States. If there was any question to be made
| in regard to the freedom Of a slave in those
| Territories, and he should demand his freedom
on the ground that he was free under a Terri
torial law, the answer Of the master could be,
that he held the slave as property under
higher law than the enactment Of a Territorial
Legislature under the great fundamental law
of the country.
| Mr. Mason said that the bill which had
Just passed the Senate would be received by
the American People az one Of the most i'm.
| portant measures that had been adopted for
many years. The South had not come half
/ way, but had advanced to give the North the
hand of friendship. The North had boldly
manfnlly, and in the spirit of true Americans
come forward to repeal an obnoxious law.
| The amendment in question was inserted in
order to mako it clear that the South had no
intention to extend Slavery into these Terrific
rios. He was willing to yield nothing Of tho
rights of the South. This odious measure-the
Missouri Law-was annulled, and tho Terri
tory was left unaffected by any law on the
subject of Slavery. 1t was too much, that
those who professed a regard for the Union
should reject this opportunity to cement it for
ever. This bill would send forth to the world
the great principle, that Congress disclaimed
jurisdiction over this subject Of Slavery When
this bill goes into effect, sectional division and
agitation will be Quoted and settled forever
When the principle of the bill was so salutary,
! it was idle to contend about details which did
not affect that principle
Mr.. Brown wished to say word in justf-
cation Of himself in voting against the proviso
Of the Senator from North Carolina. He had
at first understood that the only effect of tho
act upon the Missouri Compromise was to re-
peal it. IL this had been done, and nothing
more, we should have stood on the position we
occupied before the Missouri act. The South
/ oIoiu noA 70 bn 10 he VIC at.o
had in the Territories before the passage of the
Missouri Compromise. IL she had not gained
this restoration, the bill just passed was not
worth rush. At the time this amendment
was offered he felt il was another concession
from the South, and for this reason he had
voted against it.
Mr.. Clayton explained why he favored the
! Compromise Measure of l848, and opposed the
Badger amendment. He supported the former
because it was q true non-intervenion meas
ure. IL gave to certain authorities in the Ter
ritories the power to prohibit or establish Sla-
very, as they saw Git, subject to the decision Of
the courts. By that course the people of the
Territories would have been driven to the
courts for the settlement Of the question Of Sa-
very This disposed Of the whole subject, 80
far as the United States Government was con-
cerned. Bot the Nebraska bill with the
Badger amendment referred the question to
the people, to come back again by and by for
the consideration of Congress. The latter in
volved direct Intervention by Congress, and es-
tablished squatter sovereignty.
Mr.. Stuart was prepared to agree generally
with the Senator from North Carolina, that
| probably the Interpretation Of the bill would be
| the same without his amendment as now but
it was too much to say that it would certainly
be 40. There would have been room for d.
versity Of interpretation. He prepared that
amendment in question and would have voted
for it. in order that there might be no chance
| for controversy in the North in regard to the
true effect Of the measure. He had insisted,
before voting for tho BILL that it should be sus-
ceptible Of no two interpretations. He wished
to have it distinctly understood that Congress
yielded to these Territories all the power Con-
gress had over them He did not agree that
this was a Northern measure; he had not yet
| seen Northern man who had been consulted
about it; but, it having been brought before
| Congress, the Northern members were called
upon to do their duty. He believed that COM
promise of opinions was the true policy Of
American statesman He had hestated upon
this proposition to repeal tho Missouri Com
promise, lest, if aught should be done that
would shake tho confidence Of the people in
the sanctty, the permanoncy, and the utility,
Of compromises, il would plant germ of dis
cord which might produce most disastrous
| fruit. The time would come that it would be
necessary for Congress to lcgislate for the Ter
ritorics, from the beginning to the end Of their
laws. He meant to retain his right TO such
legislation.
All that was done by this bill was to leave
10 the people of these tipo Territories the right
to legislste for themselves; and this principle
was established no farther than these two Ter
ritories were concerned Hc would not have
voted for a section OF this bill, had he not be-
loved in the right Of Congress TO lcgislate for
the Territories. There was indeed no need Of
any action at all in regard to Slavery in the
Territories. He believed that tho laws Of
population were such, that these new Terrific