Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-18

United States and do not propose to them here
either for the purpose Of defending my position
laying open the errors in the position of others There
is however such air OF selfsatisfacon in these de-
camatory accusations that am tempted, by briefly
touching Of the points, to ascertain how far the
4 suit justfes the complacency Of the writer.
And first will refer TO that kind of motive power by
which il is claimed that Immediately the acquisition
by the United States of any foreign territory slavery
tends il by the operation Of the Constitution how
1t may be excluded by the local laws by which, for
instance II Canada annexed 10 the Union
every stakeholder could take his slaves there and
hold them till prevented by aact Of the people embodied
in State constitution This very position heard main
tained with relation Canada by Southern Seoator
think by Mr.. Yuee-in answer to inquiry made by
Mr.. Dickinson The opposition TO this pretension the
writer does the honor to call an article in the Cass
creed. This is too high honor and one to which
have claim tell him it is article In the constitu
tional creed, firmly maintained, believe. by every
man In the nonslayehoding States, and, know by
many an able and patriotic statesman in the South Ii
was held by Mr. Clay and Mr.. Webster! And can also
tell him he is behind the age. This preension orignat-
ed know not when where but certainly very recent
y. 1t sprang up in night and it persisted in day.
Although it probed to the bottom by its opponents
at the last session of the Senate do recoect sin
gle member who entered upon its Defence and very
able Southern man. at least Mr. Harris, of Mssissipp
disayowed IL and thought in rather
" Between you and me, Mr. Chairman, said that gentle
man. the Constitution does carry save any where
except be runaway and it does take him back from
free State his master in slave State" Another mem
Der from savehoding State (slr Franklin, OF Mary
land expressed similar views. The doctrine had
any real foundation either in the Constitution in the
nature Of the Confederation. II rested the assump
ton that the public domain being acquired by the whole
Union, the WAoe Union had equal rights in its enjoy
ment. This postulate is undeniable. But what then?
1t further contended that the South could enjoy
their equal right Of settlement upon the public lands
less comparatively small portion Of its population say
S50,oO0 out of than 100000 of white persons,
could take their slaves with them or in other words
that every man. from every State of the Union, had
10 tha la dor,
there hold it-whiskey, banks, any thing elseal-
though prohibited by the local law. true answer to
this pretension is that any man, North South holds
property not recognised such prohibited by the
local law, his remedy is be found not in the violation
but in the conversion of such property into money
the universal representative Of value and to take that
his new home, and there commence his work of enter
prise IN young and growing community
cannot even glance at the numerous considerations
which fortify and render impregnahle this position.
shall content myself with adding that the maintenance
OF such doctrine leads inevitably consequences which
strike at that great element of institutions the rights
OF the States The assumption which have referred to
IS that slavery is essential the equal enjoyment of the
public domain Now, the public domain exists well
In the States as IN the Territories and every of Con-
gress in relation to its sale and settlement is equally
force wherever an OF the public land is be found
nere Is not one statute this subject which does not
operate as fully in Ohio in Oregon. IT, therefore, the
Constitution Of the United States gives to the STAKEHOLDER
the right to take his peculiar property to the public do
man. how happens it that the public domain is closed to
lhe moment state constitution formed
~ excluded by it? Does the constitution of State
overrue and override that of the United States Such
is not the reading of the general Constitution which de-
ciares It's own supremacy upon ell matters committed to
u over the constitutions OF the States Either therefore,
this claim of the expansive power Of slavery over the
public domain is unfounded slaves may be taken to
OHIO and to any other of the States where any por
tion of the public lands yet unsod leave the choice
OF this dilemma to the constitutional commentator Of the
ENQUIRER
But cutting these views and coming to the practical
recognition OF the true constitutional doctrine Of
intervention repeat what said in the Senate that the
doctrine Of the voluntary slavery has
practically abandoned by the passage those bills Every
man, and the South almost man, voted for them
Every man Vho voted to give those Territories the power
to egsate over the subject of slavery introduce to
exclude at pleasure knew full well that he was giving
to the Legislatures of these Territories who would not
consider themselves prohibited by the Constitution
authority which would be exercised the letter. and
that the fate Of slavery an institution in the country
would depend their action, rather wouddepend on
It's introduction by them without such introduction it
was excluded by the absence of any local law maintain
ing It. And squatter sovereignty is again arraigned by
tho Enquirer with much nvective though the
and the claim originated With me- The name--nckname
indeedowes its paternity to Mr. Calhoun, but the doc
trne the right Of man to govern HIMSELF has been heard
OF IN the world for timetoo seldom indeed prac
ucsily acknowledgement has made its home upon this
continent, brought here than two centuries ago by
the rms who first sqAaed dorn upon the rock OF Ply
mouth, having tho day before they debarked from the
Mayhcwer, combined themselves together in civil body
poltic never forcbly struck by the sagacity
OF aremark than have been during the progress of this
controversy, by the remark of Mrabeau that names
are things What is this doctrine contended for by its
friends, and misunderstood mrepresented by its op
ponen and sought be rendered obnoxious by the
position OF an obnoxious designation, but same tactics
which led to the application of the term Locooco the
Democratic party? principles cannot survive this kind
OF hostile political baptism they worth the labor
OF enuncaton ner the of preservation When the
people OF California, after having suffered by the neglect
OF Congress for two three years establish govern
ment established one for themselves they presented
/ their constitution and demanded admission into the
Union There were many-a majority they proved, and
had the happiness to be among thenwho maintained
the rights OF the people and the duty Of the National
Legislature to receive them into the Confederacy one
OF its equal members. There were others who denied
both their right and duty and the subject was can
yassed with great earnesness during the long session of
io5V 1t was then that uis claim that the Territories
possessed rights which Congress could justly violate
received the opprobrious speculation of squatter
reny but tits strong enough in the hearts the Ame
rcan people TO the worst name into an honorable
designation Tas settlers did the land h~etorc
tasy had no r7ghtas though land and rocks and trees
were dearer objects Of Legislation than the image OF God
himself or as though the possession of brte matter &C
cordng to the absurd feudo notions Of the middle ages
was essential to wisdom, patriotism, and intelligence.
Or, TO use the apt illustration of Dr. Franklin as if
jackass, whose value, upon the principle of property
qualification giving by its amount the right vote pos
sesses that privilege rather than the owner Squatter
sovereignty then is tho right Of man to govern himself
s denounced il tcarried with the right to seize
and hold the public lands never heard any man ad-
vance such unfounded pretensiou From the earliest
period OF the disposition of the public domain the hardy
pioneers rho subdus the earth and replensh have been
permitted TO cit upon the public land before its pre-
l~nra astAxf ~r01n asIY- - ~ .