Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1855-11-21


aeri csed n if fsapessstson from Afrisa into the
lasrritory q 14issn.. ncsgrsss mo fofhsdss IN.
der severs penalty de- bringing OF alsrcs fror,
oster ss,ss or territories within the ttrritcry Of
Orleans SHE, AID s3rcsrra all sass 50 brought
IN and sold to be srec. and exercising fts soyer-
eigu sn,horifs In ffe expression Of its hostility 70
the traffic. II prchibifcd any resident Of the ter.
rsfor4, or other person, from bringing into the
teritoss any slave imported from Africa sabse-
! aaent 10 i7gs, and gave freedom to all SO
brought in. How docs this stringent and re-
striciire legislation agains; slayer, on the Lower
Nixisippi- these laws enacted during the ad.
ministration Of Jefferson, who has the reputation
Of being ACTIVELY instrumental in framing them,
and gave them his official approval contrast
With the proceedings Of this administration and
| It's snpporsersy Either jefferson or his friends
| did not understand the true theory of the gov
eminent, or the modern politicians in power,
who are setting up new party tests and removing
all distractions against the extension OF slavery,
| do not Such legislation as tha, of 1904 would
be pronounced dangerous by the demagogues OF
the present day; sectional, perous to the Union,
and not to be tolerated It is in direct conflict
with the absnrslites ofthe Nicholson letter and
the fundamental creed of this administration.
Slavery is an institution peculiar to and belong
ing the states which authorize and establish it,
and within those limits it is not to.be molosted.
Ii is strictly local, not national institution,
| sustained and governed by laws, differing in de-
gree in the different states. Freedom is nation
al. There is no power vested in the federal gov
ernment to establish slavery or permit it to be
established under its authority or sanction. On
the contrary, it declares that $40 person shall be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law Beyond the limits ofthe states,
therefore, there cannot be, constitutionally, any
slaves. There were none beyond those limits OF
the constitution in foot of the territory own
cd by the United States. Nor did Congress- cs-
tahlsh il any of the territories subsequently, cre
ated in the Southwest. 1t had its origin in state
legislation. A fair construction of the treaty
with France guaranteed to the inhabitants of
Louisiana security TO their slave property; but
restrictive measures were then immediately
adopted respecting the institution in the Terrific
~ of Orleans where these slaves were, and Up
per Louisiana was placed under jurisdiction Of
the Northwest. BY what means and contrivan-
ces it was, at different periods wrested from
freedom, until by the compromise of 1920 slave
~ was extended from the parallel of thirtythree,
to which it was limited in 1904, north to thirty
six thirty, and to the state of Missouri it is not
necessary to recaptulate Still less necessary is
it to enter into the details of the later wrong per-
petrated by this administration and the last
Congress in abrogating the Compromise of 1920,
by which the whole policy of the country from
the organization of the first territory was revers-
ed and the doors were flung widely open for
the extension of slavery. A new political party
test has been established at Washington, and all
who do not forswear the doctrines and princi-
pies of Jefferson, and acquesce in course of
policy that is in conflict with the Constitution by
sustaining 'squatter sovereignty are prescribed.