Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-03-17

low, handed 10 us Yesterday. bv a gentleman of
this clty--an intelligent Whig-who has served the
Guy as representative: and done good service in other
ways to the public We commend the spirit of this
communication 10 one and ALL Let the parties de-
termIne TO examine this subject for themselves AMI
when so doing, let the outrageous denunciatons
heaped upon those who deemed the principle of the
Nebraska b by freesoilers and quasi -freesoers
pass for what it is worth. 1t is 10 be examined in the
light OF the consideration that TO act patroticay and
justly, we must act not only lovers of Liberty but
as the upholders of Constitutional Law The fol-
lowing is the communication -
HOW STANDS THE MATTER
The prominent topic al present uppermost in the
political mind seems 10 be the "Nebraska bl"-
whether Congress shall shall not legisate concern
ing slavery IN the new territory proposed be incor
Eorated Before making up an intelligent opinion on
Inc SUBJECT should like 10 propose few inquiries,
| proper answer TO which will have great weight
upon my mind in coming to decision. That Con-
gress has right to egslate for the territories and
TO say whether slavery shall or shall not be ntrodu
ced therein | have no doubt but when territory
becomes State it is believed by many that the au-
thorly OF Congress over such local legislation ceases
This seems TO me TO be clearly provided for in the Con-
stltutlon. If so, would like 10 enquire
81. Cannot the people Of Massachusetts. or of any
other New England State say, at any time, if ma
jority elect to do that they will have slavery in
ii as well as South Carolina or any other State?-
And even in Ohio, Michigan, or any other State in
cuded IN the North western territory, organized by
the ordinance of 1887, cannot the people of these
States adopt amended constitutions. introducing sla-
very within their limits in spite Of Congress? Or if
any new State is admitted into the Union with the
{" Wilmo Proviso" annexed as a condition of admis-
sion, cannot the people of such state together
any time after admission, if they chose so to do and
alter their constitution to egaze slavery therein?
"2 If these enquiries answered in the affirmative
as 1t seems to me they must, should like 10 enquire
whether Congress has the right Or power under the
Constitution to say whether slavery shall shall
exist in any State! And if it has not then, what
is the use of this hue and cry about the "Wilmot
Provlso, the Nebraska bili,' any other act of
Congress relating to the subject in the States?
' should like from you or some of your correspon-
dents, candid to these enquiries They
should be examined according to the existing state of
things, as the matter now stands, not as we might
wish them 10 be. Our constitution, not our desires
must be our guide. have opinions of my own on
the subject of slavery, formed upon careful exami
nation of it's history, and watchful attention of the
efforts to abolish it; but possibly they not in
cordance with many politicians with whom have
been associated They may not, however be the less
efecual or that account in checking its evils But
If on this, any other matter, | am wrong, wish
to be set right and shall be grateful to any for
doing it, X
We had supposed that it settled, if anything
can be said TO be settled, AGAINST the power of
gress TO legislate TO the internal policy of state,
10 establish this policy, and 10 always regulate it, is
Of its reserved rights--inheren derived from an
original assumption and exercise by the THIRTEEN
colonies, of the principle of the sovereignty of the
people Each colony, separately, q colony, as of
right, first exercised this power the people of each,
acting according to Their separate customs, laws, hab-
It's, and natural tendencies lad hold of it in 1776,
and then made Of ii for the FIRST TIME IN
| THE ANNALS OF THE WORLD They had seen
the immense value of this light all along their colo
nial experience, and This induced them to assert it
Hence on this principle they formed their state go
Vernments; and acting separate and independent
communltles-as as they were in fact long before the
fourth of July, l77G they agreed to form UNION,
and gave originally as from primary source Of
power, the power to make the declaration of inde-
pendcnce and made this mutual pledge of Union,
on the great condition OF retaining this light of
sovereignty and this same principle they adhered
to in the articles of the confederation, and in the
present constitution.
I Is ii TO be for moment held that the original thr-
teen stacs only established this principle for them
sclccs? Is it for rmoment TO be pretended that Lou
lslana and Ohio have not perfect sovereignty
Massachusetts Z! If not, then all the States stand
0" The great origtnat pTIncplc Of EQUALITY as TO
each Oter On no other principle could the old hr-
teen have ever united in union or agreed to form
nation and make the declaration of independence,
Or entered into articles of CONFEDERATION .or into
/ the more perfect bond of the CONSTITUTION.
Passing the question Of the right of congress to
egislate for the territories alluded 10 IN the above
communication, we know ssbt how better to answer
our esteemed correspondent, than by the following
quotation from PRESIDENT TAYLoR's California mes
sage Of January 2l, 1850:
Should congress, when California shall present
herself for incorporation into the Union, annex
ditOn to her admission State affecting her domes
tic institutions, contrary to the wishes of her people,
and even compel her, temporarily, 10 comply with it,
yet the State could change her constitution, at any
: time after admission, when to her it should seem
pedient. Any attempt to deny TO the people of the
State the ght of self government, in matter which
peculiarly affects themselves, will nlaIlibly be
garded by them an invasion of their rights and
upon the principles laid down in our own declaration
of independence, they will certainly be sustained by
the great mass of The American people, To assert
that they conquered people, and must, as State,
submit 10 the will of their conquererS in this regard,
will meet with cordial response among American
Greemen. Great numbers of them native citizens
of the United States, not inferior to the rest of
cOunrymen in intelligence and patriotism; and no
language of menace restrain them in the exercise
of an undoubted right guaranteed TO them by the
treaty of cession itself shall be uttered by me,
or engaged and sustained by persons acting undermy
authority 1t rs to be expected that in the residue
of the territory ceded 10 by Mexico the people
residing there WILL at The time of their Incorporation
into the Union Stale settle all questions of do
mesc policy 10 suit themselves
INTERMARRIAGE OF BLOOD RELATIONS The FIRE.
aeiicksburg News, says In the county in which we
raised, for 90 genratiOns back, certain family
of wealth and responsibility have inermarried until
there cannot be found in three or four Of them n
sound man or One has sore eyes, another
sciofuIa third is diotic, fourth blind, fifth handy
legged, sixth with head about the size of a tur
nip, with not out of the number exempt from
physical or mental defects of kind. Yet this
family perseveres 10 intermarry with each other,
with these living monuments constantly before them.
THE FOLLOWING enumerates the common appelIa-