The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-01-18

similar quest on has arisen ia regard to the right to
hold slaves in the proposed territory of Nebraska.
when the Indian laws shall be Withdrawn and the
country thrown open to emigration and settlement.
By the eighth section of An act to authorize the
people of the Missouri Territory to form Con-
stitulion and State Government. and for the cd
mission of such State into the Union on an oris-
nal footing with the original States, and to prohib-
it Slavery in certain Territories" approved March
6, 1920 was provided, 'tlat in ell territory ceded
by France to the United States under the name Of
Louisiana, which lies north of thirty-s degrees
and thirty minutes north latitude, not included
within the limits of the State contemplated by this
act, Slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise
than in the punishment Of crimes whereoft the par
ties shall have been duly convicted, shall be- and
is hereby, forever prohibited: Prorided alt1dys,
That any person escaping into.the same, from
whom labor service is lawfully claimed in any
State or Territory of the United States. such fu-
gitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to
the person claiming his her labor or service ss
afoi esaid
Under this section, as in the case Of the Mexi-
can law in New Mexico and Utah, it is a disputed
poirt whether Slavery is prohibited in the Nebras-
ka country by paEid enactment. The decision Of
this question inyolses the constitutional power Of
Congress to pass laws prescribing and regulating
ths domestic institutions of the vnroas Territories
of the Unior. In the opinion of those eminent
statesmen who hold that Congress is invested
with no rightfu authority to legslate upon the sub
ect OF Slavery in the territories, the eighth section
OF the act preparatory to the admission Of Misaou-
ri is null and void; while the prevailing sentiment
10 large portion of the u uion sustups the doc-
trine that the constitution o: the United States
secures to every citizen an unaienabls right 10
move into any of the Territories with his proper
ty, of whatever kind and descriptions, aatl to hold
and enjoy the same under the sanction oflaw.
Your committee do not feel Themselves called
upon to enter into the discussion of these eontro-
vertsd questions. They involve the same grave
issue which produced the agtatiou theseetional
strife. and the fearful struggle of $780, As Con-
gress deemed it wise and prudent to refrain from
deciding the matter in controversy then, either by
affirming repeating tho Mexican laws, or by en-
act decarstory of the true intent of the protection
afforded by it TO slave property iu the Territories.
SO your committee are not prepared now toree-
: ommend departure from the course pursued on
that memorable occasion, either by affirming or
repeating the eighth section Of ths Missouri act OF
by any act declaratoy of the meaning Of the Consii-
tutiont in pointsin dispute. Your
committee deem it very fortunate for the peRce of
the country and the security of the Union, that
the controversy then resulted in tbs adoption
: Compromise Measures, which the two great po-
r ltical parties with singular unauimiry haveaHirr-
ed as cardinal article ofthSir faith and proclaim
ed to the world as fnal settlement of The con-
X | 4 NJ or ,bo
A due respect. therefore, for the avowsd opin-
ions of Senators. well proper sense of PAT
r:otic duty, enjon upon your committee the pro-
eriety and necessity Of strict adherence TO the
principles and even literal adoption ofthe enact
nents, of that adjustment in all their Territorial
bills, SO far as the same are cot locally nappica-
Bile. Those enactmsnts embrace, among other
things less material 10 Tho matters under conside
&C alton the following provisions:
, "When admitted as State, The said Territory
e any portion of tbs saHe shall be received into
, the Unioa with or without Slavery nsther Con-
stsution may prescribe the time of their anis.
sion. ,-.--- .-
t. "That The legislative power and authority Of
said Territory shall bo in the Governor aud a Leg
re islative Assembly.
10 "That the legislative power Of said Territory
shall extend to all rstful subjects of legislator
I'd consistent with the Consultations cf tbs United
N States End tho provisions of this act; but ias
shall be passsd interfering with ,ha primary dispo-
OF sal of the soil; lax shall be imposed upon the
property ofthe United State; Dor shall Tho lands
r orcher property Of residents be tax higher
> than the auds OF o her property ct residents.
'Writs of error and appeals f:o.n the final decis-
inns of said supp ens court shall is allowed, and
+ may be taken 10 he Supreme Court Of the United
Il States. in the same manner ana under r,.he SAME
n regulations from the Circuit Courts Of the Uci
II ted States, where the value Of the property the
amount in controversy, 10 be ascersained by tbs
at cath affirmation of sitber purity, other
e potent Witness shall excsad one ihaa sani o!!ars
except only that in all involving title 20 slaves
= the sad writ Of Appeals shall be sI!nwed
i and decided By tie said supreme count, without
regard to the value oft the matter property, ts
in controversy; and except, also, that writ ap
; peal shall be allowed TO the Supreme Court of the
: United States from the decisions of said supreme
court created by this act. OF any judge thereof
oi tfthe district created by this act or oi
any Judge hereof. upon any writ CT habeas corpss
u involving the question of personal freedom; and
'f each Of the said district courts shall have ant ex-
ercse the same jurisdiction in all cases arising un-
70 der the Constitution and laws OF the United States
Vessed in the circuit ani distics courts of the
United States; and the said eupreme anu district
/ courts of the said Territory, and the respective
jupses thereof shall and may grant wrs of hcbeas
e corpus in all cases in which the are granted
BY the judges of the United States in the Disrie,
ID of Columbia
- To which may be added the following PROPOSE
10 lion, affirmed by the act of $780, known as the Fu-
Y gitive Slave Law:
That the provisions of tho "act respecting fagi-
tiyes from justice aud persons escaping from the
ct service oftheir masters approved February l2
ID 1925 and the provisions Of the "act to amend and