Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-22
EDGEFIELD,.s. c., MARCH %, 1854.

the territorial government should emanate.
Congress is the trusteeswho should exercise
a control over it. If a proposition were
made that Congress should pass.a territorial
bill which should take away from them
irrevocally the power Of governing the terri.
tories, never could agree to it, Then, |
may be asked why Twill vote for this bill,
which in some measure may lead to these
consequences. Sir, | shall vote for the bill
because am perfectly willing to trust the
people: and in the main, do not know
that those who settled in such numbers in
the territories, as to form government, will
not do right. / do not know that if one of
their laws were sent to me, as chairman Of
the Committee on the Judiciary. should he
very astute in looking out for. anything by
which could reverse or control it, because
| have great confidence in the popular mind
Of the American people. ! believe they are
worthy Of trust !; and in this instance am
willing to repose in them trust which |
think they will administer in justice. But if
it were abused, by making invidious excep-
tions in religion, such as preferrg the Catho-
lie 10 the Protestant, or the Ottoman to the
Greek Church, or any of the distinctions
which are revolving 10 the common principles
of the Constitution of the United States, or
if they attempted to pass a law containing
the provision which has been so much rep.
rotated, allowing polygamy, plurality Of
wives, should bring it promptly before the
Senate. have the constitution of Utah
before me now; and if it should contain a
provision SO abominably avorse to tho laws
and civilization of the United States as to
sanction pclygamy, l should bring it to the
Senate, and then should be able to see
whether gentlemen would be willing to re.
sumo jurisdiction over the subject. If we
cannot resume jurisdiction over the Terri:
tories in this mode, and flour power is ended
when we put in operation the machinery of
territorial government, there is an end of
the subject. Can it be that territorial
people, under any form of power, whether it
be one claimed by themselves, or one that is
conferred on them can assume to do what
Congress could not! 1t is unconstitutional
for Congress to pass the Missouri compro'
mise, or to eimpose territorial restrictions,
bu, it may give the power to do so to clan
destine squatters, &c.
Having expressed my views freely, Mr..
President, am willing to take the bill as it
is. | am willing to take it even upon the
assumption that no slaves will gointo Nebras-
ka or Kansas am willing to take it tupon
the ground that, if you adopt it, it will take a
fostering thorn from the side of the South.
am willing to take it upon the ground that
bv it the sentiments of honor are regarded.
Even if were perfectly certain that the bill
would operate injurousv to the South, with
the convictions on my mind that the Missouri
Compromise is unconstitutional, should be
bound to vote for the bill. lncver will COM
promise with measure oftransient eXpedien'
cy. We of the South have lost by compro.
misses. say this boldly to my Northern
friends; and there are some of them to whom
can appeal with confidence. There ARE
men upon this floor who would maintain
justice mes both from the North. AND from
The South and would as soon trust the
Northern man, when he is honest ,'as anybody
else. say so of the Supreme Court.
would as soon trust the Northern members
of the Supreme bench, who are sworn to adj
minister the law and observe the Constitution
of the United States, as would the Southern
judges who sit upon it. | think that so far
as regards the administration of the laws OF
the country affecting the North and South,
some OF the Northern members OF that court
have been more favorable to the South than
others. do not say that | like a Northern
man with Southern principles, or Southern
man with northern principles. have no OBJ
lection to man having any principles, pro-
vided they are honest. am willing, how.
ever, to trust judges upon the bench who are
sworn to administer the law and observe the
constitution. am, therefore, perfectly will
ling to trust this bill to fortune under the
impulse of justice.