Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-07-26
1.-THE DOCUMENTS"

or one idea of that assembly, whines
out in a beg the question way, for the docu'
in proof OF the position assumed. Poor
Davie You know your head, politically Is
off-the reward Of your iniomy has al last been
melted out, and (%rishtGul are your struggles III
the arms of death. We say 10 you DdriG, we
are mol in the habit Of pointing the authorizes
10 an adversary, until be so far exhibits his
msniless as 10 join in the issue, for by the
rules of all correct discussion, we believe
an assertion by one party is taken as aG'
mitted, until it is denied by the other. But
for the qualification Of our friends, and all
persons who may feel interested upon the sub.
ice; Of slavery, as it exits at the present time
in this Union, we give the following reasons
for our assertions in regard 10 the fusion resO-
luton.
In the first place, w asserted in substance,
that elf the resolution so far as i: countenanc-
ed and asked The Congress Of the United States
10 prohibit slavery in the territories, was car
RED into effect, it would he in open violation
of the Constitution The Constitution is the
source of all power 10 our National Legisla-
ture, without which it is powerleSS, and con-
sequently all its acts a nulli;y. Let us seethen
" hat power this Document delegates 10 Con-
gresS upon this subject. The last clause o!
Section 3, Art. A., of the Constitution Of the
United States reads: 1.-THE Congress shall
have power 10 dispose Of and make all need
full rules and regulations respecting the tefTl-
tory or other property belonging 10 the U. S.,
and nothing in this Constitution shall be so
construed as 10 prejudice any claims OF the u.
S. or of any particular State" This clause
we believe, contains and delegates 10 Con-
greSs all .ho power it possesses, in regard 10
managing and controlling the territories, "to
dispoSe OF and make all neeGful rules and reg
u~lations respecting The territory or other prop
erty." Is the subject ofslavery or the slaves
themselves, a part of the territory Of the Uni
ted States, or other properly Of The same -
Certainly not. The slave belongs 10 the indi-
| yidu1l, and this right has been repeatedly
held and declared by the Supreme Court Of
the United States, and The right 10 hold him
not being either The territory or other property
of the United SlcteS, congress has no juris-
diction of the case. If it had been the inten-
ton Of The trainers OF The Constitution 10 have
used the word terri itOry in said clause, in any
othe. light than that Of property, they would
not have followed The word Immediately with
the language "other property" There is no
power therefore, delegated 10 Congress by this
clause 10 legislate either pro or con upon this
subject, in the territories, titus leaving The
question as it should 60, wholly with the peo-
pie Of the territories, for it is d~eclsyed in the
tenth Article Of the amendment 10 the Consti
tuition that, The powers not delegated 10 the
United States by The Constitution, nor prohi.
bited by it 10 the States, are reserved 10 the
States respectively, or 20 The people," Have
not the While inhabitants of the territories,
the benefit Of this article Are they neither
estates nor people :" Fusionits will have il
that that they are allniggers, and consequent.
ly not entitled 10 The benefits Of the ConSlitu-
ton. The right 10 ~legiSlate upon this subject
in the territories, not being delegated 10 Con.
greSS am all power not delegated 10 the U.
S. being left 10 lie people, Congress cannot
I~egislaie one particle upon the subject, with
out exceeding the limits Of its delegated pow
ers, and so soon as il has done this, it has vi
olated the charter Of its creation.
The second element in said Resolution
which We opposed, was its opposition 10 the
admission of any more States into the Union
with slavery in their Constitution, in other
words, if a State formed from the territory be-
longing 10 The Uniled States, presents herself
and asks t. lie admitted into The Union, hav-
ing no Objectionable feature in her Constitu-
tor excepting he agilatcd question Of slavery,
can Congress ConslItutiOnaIly refuse her adj
mission? We think not, until the Constitu.
ton be altered or amended. Sec. 3, Art. 4 oil
the Constitution says, "New States may be
admitted by the Congress into this Union."
Now, true, the Constitution uses the word
may be admitted, not shall he. But let US see
a little farther. Article 4 Sec, A., says, "The
United States shall guaranty 10 every Stale in
this Union a republican ierm Of government"
The spirit Of The Constitution in giving 10
Congress The power 80 make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the territory or 9th
er properly Leionging 10 the United States,"
evidently is 10 keep possession Of the SOIL
project The citizens from foreign invasion, in
order that it may he settled as rapidly as pos
si5le, form themselves into States, and be adj
mitted in:o The Union, and thus in the end,
maize every inch of our territory, whether &C.
qulred by conquest or purcha7ed, add TO the
strength, wealth and prosperity of our Union.
And now, upon every principle Of right, would
il not he q violation of our Constitution, 20 r-
.quire a Slate thus formed, 10 Secede away
rights placed and defined IN her Constitution
by a majority Of her citizens, be fore she is o.
lowed 10 com into the Union, that The general
government, not only gives or admits, but alb
.solutely and Internationally "~guGranteeS"
TO The States in the Union. For in giving a
construction 10 the word "Republic' as used
in the Constitution, we must look 10 the ac:S
of tie parties placing it there, and from Their
expressed acts gather its meaning. AT the
H. r II ---. r r.