True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-26

The other clause IN The Constitution,
empowering CongfesstO pass laws to pre-
vent the 'emigfaticn or importation Of
slaves after 1908, shows the fixed purpose
of the founders Of our Union to limit the
increase of,his evil. The consequence
was an inhibition, which prevents South
Carolina planter. who has slaves in Cuba,
from bringing them to his home planta-
lion and to remove this obstruction 10
the increase of slavery within the Union,
and open Africa the supply the demand
made by the new ACT, the Nulli6ers are
already called on by their Southern allies
10 lend their aid and certainly those who
embrace Mr.. Calhoun's doctrine, asstaied
by Mr.. Douglas. that every citizen has
an inalienable right to move into any Of
the Territories with his property, of
whatever kind or description the Con-
stitulion and compromises nolwiilistan-
ding, can hardly refuse it 1t was on the
annexation Of the Mexican territories that
Mr.. Calhoun asserted this principle, to
unsettle the fixed policy ofthe nation, be-
ginning with thsera Of the Declaration Of
independence; and he applied it alike to
the compromise of 1920 and 1850. Mr..
Douglas thus sums up the position taken
and the result:
Under this section, as in the case of
the Mexican law in New Mexico and
Utah, il is disputed point whether Sla-
very is prohibited in the. Nebraska coun-
try by valid enactments.
The decision Of this question involves
the constitutional power of Congress 10
pass laws prescribing and regulating the
domestic institutions of the various Terri.
tories of the Union. In the opinion ol
those eminent statesman who hold thai
Congress is invested with no rightful au-
thority 10 legslate upon the subject Of Sla-
very in the Territories, the eighth section
of the act preparatory to. the admission Of
Missouri is null and void, while the pre-
vailing sentiment in large portion of The
Union sustains The doctrine that the Con-
slitution of the Unitel States secures Ia
every citizen as inalienable right TO move
into any of the Territories with his prop
erty, of whatever kind and description
and to hold and enjoy the same under the
sanction of law. Your committee do no
feel themselves called upon to enter into
the discussion ofthese grave issues which
produced the agitation, the sectional
strife, and the fearful struggle of $780,
From this it appears that the Compro
mises of 1920 and 1850 involved the
question of The validity of the law o
Mexico excluding Slavery from The new
ly ceded Mexican territory, and the law
our own Congress excluding it from the
North of the line of SO deg. 80 min. Mr.
Douglass Committee report recommen-
ded that as
Congress deemed it wise and exped
lent to refrain from deciding the matter il
controversy. then, either by affirming o
repeating the Mexican laws, or by an.
f act declaratory of the true intent Of tn
Constitution, and the,,extent ofthe protec
lion afforded by it to slave property il
the Territories, so your committee ar
not prepared now 10 recommend depar
ture from the course pursued on that mem
orable occasion, either by affirming or re-
pealing the eighth section of the Nilsson
, ri act, or by an act declaratory Of the mea
| ming of the constitution in respect to tn
r legal points in dispute
These passages are quoted 10 show tina
, the issues made by Mr.. Calhoun, as I
, the constutionality of the two Comprt
misses of 1920 and 1850, were expressl
left open for Judicial decision by the com
mittee, who nevertheless swept away, b
y a clause subsequently added to their bill
q not only the Missouri Compromise {
1850 which left untouched the Mexica
=. laws prohibiting Slavery in the cede
!. Territories, and which Webster, Clay
!, Benton, and all the leading lights of I'll
!. Senate with the exception of Mr.. Ca
houn) pronounced valid and an effectu
s restriction.
7, This repeal was the adoption of M
e Calhoun's multiplying doctrine in ertens
d The power Of Congress TO make laws e.
y cluding slavery forever from It's Terrll
,e ries as such, was denied, and all the lie
le ritories we've opened to Slavery on Il
70 ground of the 'inaienAble right" of eve
n citizen g 10 move into any of the Territ
a. ries with his property, Of whatever XII
r or description" and the law of squat
r. sovereignty was superadded, and substiI
in ted for the sovereignty of the Unit