Washington sentinel., 1854-02-24

by the power of Congress, and those who denied
the exercise of such power, all admitted the con-
stituonalily of leaving this matter 10 the decision
OF the people of the territories He believed that
all sovereignty over the territories resided in the
people of the territories, and was not in Congress.
Of that sovereignty no act OF Congress could dl-
vest them. Though The sovereignty might be in
abeyance, il nevertheless existed in the people,
and in them alone. California exercised this SOW
ereignty, and Congress was forced 10 recognise
it, He had defended the admission OF California
on that ground Because many had sustained this
great principle of popular sovereignty in 1850,
they had been hunted down 10 their graves.
This was government of ireemen, and not of
slaves. II was won and upheld for ireemen, and
not for slaves. Slavery exsred in the now free
States when The Constitution was adopted and in
their' constitutions was no provisions for the
freedom of the Africans. Many of them con-
tinued the slavery of the blacks for years after
the white men were declared free. This the
old question between prerogatve and privilege,
which had been SO long contested by Mr.. Madison.
storm was threatened upon the passage of
this measure. He remembered the similar predic-
tions in 1850 by the senator from New York and
the senator from New Hampshire the latter no
longer member of the Senate. Those senators
went home a few riots followed but the people Of
the north sanctioned the great principle of pop
ular sovereignty, and the agitation died away He
did not believe the freesolers represented the
sentiments of the north. All that was now asked
was that the same wise principle established in 1850
be extended 10 other territory covered by the
same flag and the same Constitution.
The Missouri compromise compact.
There were no parties 10 il. The north had never
approved that compromise Ii drove out of Con-
gress all those from the north who voted for il
except three
The democratic party, at The last election de-
clared the principle OF the compromise of 1850
final settlement, and carried every State in the
Union except four. The whig convention declared
the same, but sixty-six of its members said no,
and its candidates were repudiated 1t promised
no permanent peace.
The south did not claim the right 10 carry slaves
to Pennsylvania. 1t demanded the right 10 carry
slaves everywhere, where slavery was not ex-
clnded. Several senators had called upon the
spirit of Henry Clay 10 sustain them. But the
senator from New York would be The last man in
the world who would evoke the spirit of Henry
Clay, did he not know it would not come at his
bidding.
The Missouri compromise was no compact, be-
cause the north was never party TO it. 1t voted
nearly unanimously against it in 1S20 refused to
recognise il in 1921, by denying Missouri admis-
sion into the Union; attempted by nearly unani-
nous vote in 1886 to prohibit slavery in Arkansas,
and to-day openly avowed determination. to re-
Ject il. Yet called out to stand by the bargain by
plghted faith and honor.
lie proceeded at length to show that slavery
prohibition was no part of the policy Of our fathers,
and quoted the opinions of Messrs Madison, JEFF
ferson, and Jackson, as to the Improperly Of the
Missouri compromise.
He showed the fallacy Of the argument that sla-
very would exclude free negroes from emgrating
TO the Territories, by referring to the past that
thousands ofthem were annually settling in the
southern States.
He read from speech delivered by him in
Georgia, in 1850, TO show that he had justified the
admission OF California on the principle of the
sovereignty Of the people, and their right to exer
else that sovereignty. This principle of popular
sovereignty he desired to see extended to every
spot where the Constitution and flag Of the Uni
ted States extended.
MIR. HUNTER obtained the floor, and the sub
Ject was postponed.
=t STEAM FRIGATES.
On motion of Mr.. GWIN, the Senate proceed
ed TO the consideration Of the bill appropriating
three millions of dollars for the construction of six
steam frigates; and the. same was read third
time and passed.
After an executive session,
The Senate adjourned.