The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-13

souBut thty IT, nave IT. tncy
have fed upon they have clothed themselves with it. Why,
sir the echo Of their voices in denunoiaton of the Com
promise OF 1850 which gave quiet to the country and
cnry to the Unon has died away in these halls
and yet these talk to about the danger and mpro
priey Of this bill lest open up another slavery excite
ment
for the act of 1920 and depreciation of further excitement?
II their conversion has been remarkably sudden indeed
No. sr the whole tenor of their political lives contradcts
any such conclusion If you pass this bill you settle for
ever the principle of noninierventon aud this is what
they fear Take the settlement of this agitatng subject
from Congress- and give the settlement of il to the
American people where il of right belongs and it will
close this theatre of agitation to these These halls
will cease to be focus from which viii raaiate their polt
ical and social heresies r. faf .u
/ do desire Mr.. Chairman class all those who OPP
pose may oppose this bill with abolitonists for
satisfied that some of he at least as clear Of abol-
ton sentiments any member upon this floor; but /
would gentlemen to beware lest they know it,
they find their opposition aboonized and they themselves
in the position OF Withholding from the people what they
feel Of right belongs to them and what they determine
to assea mean the right TO Judge for thenselv upon
this as upon other questions which directly affect them
have said Mr. Chairman, that it important for
TO inquire wherein the Missouri Compromise ncon-
sisen with the Compromise of 1902 have already in
timated in what the two differ but desire further to
ment upon this difference have stated that the principle
of the Missouri Compromise based upon the right and
the proprey OF Congress to legsae upon the subject Of
slavery in the Terores that it did not stop here but
claimed the right in Congress TO fix 0re0er the character
of that Territory respects slavery not only while
tanned its territorial character, but the right to say
whether slavery should should not exist III given local
y after it had passed from its territorial probation and
assumed the rank and position of an independent sover
! eign State of the Union
Now it will do to say that it was only intended
operate upon that Territory while il retained its territorial
character that when it into the Union inde
pendent State its the act operation was to for the
debates upon this question show that of the grounds
upon which its passage urged was that by excluding
slavery from this region you would keep up the balance
between the free and slave &atesnot Territories but
States This feature then, in this measure is swept away
by its nnconsutionalty This powerful motive urged for
its adoption has by the Judgment of the country been de-
clarcd noperave and all that is claimed for it BY those
who oppose this bill k that it prohibits slavery du
/ ring its existence rs Territory. ltn.-'gt
The gentleman from Indiana, MIR. MAcb] who addressed
the committee the other day in opposition to the BILL
would cndow it with the sanctity of constitutional enact
men and supposes that the country will be terribly ag
tated if this Congress should declare it inconsistent with
the act of 1850, and therefore imperative
What sir is the country be agitated and the Union
dissolved by resembling resolution the main feature of
which void on account of its unconsutionay, and
the whole of which Inconsistent with the Compromise Of
1880? No. SIR this question may agtate members of this
House, and may, perchancc dissolve the relations which
of bear to each other and the country; but the
Union will be dissolved for no such cause The people
sustained the action of Congress of 1885, in the conflict be-
tween the power Of the people and the power of the gov
enmcn and they will sustain this Congress in wpng out
this remnant of disus of their capacity for sefgovern
! ment a.st.s f#
But it is argued that this should stand
peaed because it will prohibit slavery until the organiz
ton Of State government Now, apprehend that the
people of the Territory just capable of judging for
themselves as the people oa State upon this question
When people leave of the States and emigrate
to Territory to better their condition. do they thereby
lose their qualification for selfgovernment think
In the Organization of territorial hereo-
fore you hate left them pass such laws they deem
necdfn for regulation Of their cpacernS in the Ter
rories subject only TO such restrictions and limitations
were provted In the constitution ana why you would
grant them this power in New Mexico and Utah, and with
hold 1t from them in Nebraska and Kansas cannot con-
ceve Are the people That VIII settle the latter any less m
tegent any less qualhed for segoyernmenf, than the
people OF the former
But some gentlemen OF the North seem to think that
these Territories belong exclusively to the North and that
it would be great outrage to take off this estrcton lest
Shareholders from the South go there with their slaves and
ENJOY portion OF It, understands sir tht IL is the prop
ery OF the government purchased with the treasures OF the
South as well MS with the treasures OF the North and
know OF no right that as citizen OF Illinois, possess in
that Territory which any of the citizens of the South do
possess and the government and same consttu-
ton that would protect me IN the enjoyment OF my lille and
property there should protect the citizen OF the South IN
| the enjoyment OF his.
1t is contended by the opponents of this bill that slavery
existed IN this Territory before we acquired II IRON France
and having existence there, IL this prohibition be re-
moved the law governing the Territory ut the time of the
purchase will be revived and It's repeal VIII DC virtual
es'aolishehl OF slavery pu. !. s,iAes , li, 'n now
one, @ iuth oaluoi 'iei' may ~ !" ' 'iS, '''ie -
sun more ingenuity
The prevailing docTnc is lhat slavery cannon eXis, any
where without positive law the government 10 winch TINS
terrl,ors oeongeu oelone oua Phisnse at
lshea ~ oy posuVe ehac,ineh'i hehce w'e shaver! was
here was ohly ,efc W sunrlicet anu hot py lt'e .,
aW' h"t suppose sn''ei. uo cNis. ''eiu o peoio anu
l'cr ou, purcnase, ny i.ue VI NV WIN u
ucri'e ihe power W say W IN. oi,o WI" s' o 'ou
.ie.e IN ~ -, 'o e,o9 n.i. " '' , ~ ~; @
t't rom .e uie oi 'e PaSse VI aa. ~. is s,' - -
should DC free 'l nc snoulu no longer pc pErheu 70
I