New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-11
TIE STRUGGLE OF SLATERT AND
FREEDOM
LETTER FROM FRANCIS p. BLAIR.

GrSILEnES: Having reDquished political employ.
nent and 10 avoid ercoun,eriay again its snxietes
addicted myself TO country life, sm constrained to
d. cline your invitation to bin the Republican Asso-
citation Of Washington City, although tempted BY the
bopor Of becoming its presiding officer. Yet feel i!
my duty t, say that 10 lie ain concur in the aims
of the Association. TO exclude Slavery from the
Territories Of the United Stats, and to iebuke tae
| violation Of TIE Compromises which we're made to
saId IS covenants between the Slave and Free Safes
to tffect that exclusion are in my opinion the most
! important movements which have engsged the pub
| lie mind since the Revolution
The extension Of Slavery over the new Territories
would prove fata to their prosperity but the greatest
calamity 10 be spprehended from il Is the destru ston
of tie Confederacy, on which the welfare Of the
whole country reposes Every conquest Of this ee
ment Of discort which has so of en- threatened the
dissolution of the Urion increases the danger. Every
surrender OF the Free States invi es invasion.
The csuae which your organiza ion Is intended 70
prom ole may well draw to its support men of all psr
ties Differences questions of policy, on cons.itu
tional coz .trucon, Of modes of administration may
well be merged to unite men who believe that nothing
but concert Of action on the par: of those who would
crest tie spread Of Slavery, can resis the power OF
the combination now embodied TO mske 1t embrace
the continent from oct to ocean.
The Iepeeli,g clause Of the Kansas bill Is pred
cated on the nuity of the clause ia the Constitution
which gives Co grss the Pc yer "to make regulations
respecting the Territories" of the United States. Yet
LothiDg is clearer in the history OF cur Government,
btn that this phrase giving poser to Congress to
make regulations respecting tie Territories" was
ntsDt TO give it the power TO exclude Slavery from
item
Mr.. JeffeIson's resolu,oTs Of 1894, declaring "hR
"there shaN be nfitker iarery Involuntary scTr
"tude IN any of the States laid of in the Western
Territory, was subsequently renewed ia the Congress
of 1855 which sdced, "M0t this regulation shall be
can article of compact aud 1t was 50 voed unsni'
nouy by the delegations Of eight States out of twelve
Ii was passed by the uDanineus votes of al the
States by The ConsTess OF lo7 Which sat cotempors
toD, and that Constitution gave Congress the power
"to make regulations res yec ing the Territories and
moreover Affirmed the validity Of 1.-The engagements
ente cd INFO before the adoption OF tho Cons uuion,
BY tie confe'era.ior-one Of which engagements was
that made By the regulation excluding Slavery from
the TeIiiores Thus the CoIgress OF me coliese,a
sanction 10 the exclusion
The fret exerted the power Of enacting Mr.. Jeffer.
sons iDieroc. of Slavery in the Territories then hetd
by the United Stses, TO which L has previously given
en- iuprt ssive ear cton by adding, " This regu'sio
she be an article o. " sners s 3
uncfr the Confederation, by declaring il " valid"
and employed TIE sam, termi regulation Of ne Ter
ritrUs" TO transmit the power reTe e1ersed - future
CopQiessfs In the face Of this history and the letter
Of the Constitution granting the power to make what
ever regulations il ceemed yiicg the Territories
of TIE United States the authors OF the kansls aud
Ntbrssks bill deny the constituionality of all the
eeulat ps bich exclude Sav ~ from the Territories
al set at nsusbt al tbs prececents that con' them
which beve followed 10 uninterrupted sEcccsson from
the four daton Of the Government
That other clause in the Cons tuition, empowering
Congress 10 pass LAVE to prevent the migration or
importation of slaves after 1908, shows the fixed pur
pose Of u founc of our Union to limit the increase
Of this evil. The coriequeDce was an Inhibition,
which prevents a South Carolina planter, who has
slaves in Cubs from bringing them to mis- home plant
atop; ard 10 remove tits obsruc ion to the increase
OF Slavery within the Union, and open Africa to sup
ply he demand inside by the new act Tue Northen
TO lend their sid an certanly those who embrace Mr.
Cabouns dOctlne, as stated oy Mr.: Douglas, tnat
"every citizen has inaiepable right to move into
any Of The Territories with bis property, OF whatever
"knd or desc iptor," the Constitution and compro-
mises Notwithstanding, can hardly fefsse H. III gas
on ibe annexation of the Mexican territories thet Mr.;
Calhoun asserted this principle to unset'le the liked
policy of the nation beginning with the era OF tue
Declaration OF Independence; and he appheo aike
10 the coppron isee of 1890 and 1850. Mr.. Douglas
thus sums up the position taken and the result:
"UDder this section, as me ee,. 2 &c oo;n,
whether Slavery is prohibited in the Nebraska country
by velid enactment. The decision OF this question
involves the constitutional power OF Congress 20 pas
laws prescribing ard regulating tne o9neslc iiisi.u
tions Of The various Territories OF the Coior. In the
opinion of those eminent statesmen VINO hoid tha'
Congress is invested with ne rgn!fui au,nciiy 10
leeislae upon the Subject OF Slavery In tne reinforce
the eighth secion OF the act Prepaia 10 the as
zion Of Missouri Is null and void while the oreyst
sentiment in large portion Of tie ULio1 sustains tas
doctrine tia. the Constitution oil tne UnTeo osaee
secures 10 every citizen an iRdeHdoe r'gh 10 move
into any Of TIE Territories WIN n .;
ever kind and description and 10 hod ara eD)oy tne
same uuce r the sanction of law. Your COMMITTEE GO
not feel themselves called upon to enter INTO me as
cu.sion of these eontrevertsd questions ihey Involve
the ssme ,ravs ;ssnes which produced the agitation,
the sectional strlfl and tse fearful struggle OF leo
F1ou this il an ears that the Compromises OF 1870
and 1850 involved the question OF the Vaidi'y VI ue
lew Of Mexico excluding Slavery IRON the ne "iycs1eo
Mexican territory, ard the law o. oui ~ ~ Nc
e1cludipg il from that north OF the line o. 20 ~ Mr.
| Douplas's Committee report recommended that as
"Copsrese deemed il wise and prueent 10 rets'h
from deciding the matters IN controversy teen, enI
| by affirming or repeating the Mexican Jaws, OF oy "a
act decaratsry Of the true intent OF the CONSTITUTION
al the exteptof Il protection Afforded by It 10 slave
property in the Territories 20 your Conmee are no'
| prepared t. recommend departure Hun ,,u VIC
course pursued that merofaoe % es'on .tnS =!
sfirmirg or recealiog the eighth secuon OF the HIS
sour Act or bv any at oecaratory OF the reaolug
Of the Constitution In rspec. to the legal points IN ois
| puie." .
Thee pas.s.es are quoted to shox tha! tne rsaes
made by Mr. Calhoun, Sc to .e coz .ors
left open for judicial cec.on BY tie Com nluee, Hno
never heless swept away, by Clause s1peeq l.nty
ADDED to their bill not only the Missouri ooniProH is
Of ls20 but also the Compronlse oi t:CO :.
| untouched the Mexican Laws probloiuhs SaTe1 "a
the ceded Territories Ard which Webster, Clay, Ben
ton ard 81 the ls1ing lights OF the seas V".A 'ue
exception of Mr.. Calhoun pFonoaDc'a 'ai'd '1N "-
efectusl restriction. ,, c.u.u,. ali;
fyipg doctrine IN ertenso. The power OF Congress 70
make laws excluding Slavery forever IRON is teirto
ries ss such, was denied, and al tns VIE
opened 10 Slavery On ths ground oil me ihAhenAols
right Of every citizen "to move INTO any OF tns
. - Whatever