Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-12-27

our Government than that this phruse
giving power to Ccngtess. "to make reg
gulstions respecting the Territories was
meant to give the power TO exclude Slavery
from them.
Mr. Jcfferson's resolutions sof 17s4, de-
lclaring "that there stdH be neither Slavery nor
in0olun!ary ssruiilds IN snyof the States" laid
Off in the Western Territory, was subse-
+ qusntly renewed in the Congress of 17ss,
which added "!hdt his regulation shall be
; an article Of compact" and it was so yo-
ted unanimously by the delegations Of eight
States out Of twelve.
1t was passed by the unanimous voter
OF ali the States by Congress OF 1857,
which sat co iemporaneousy with the Con-
venton forming the Constitution. and that
Constitution gave Congress the power "to
make regulations respecting the Tsrritoties."
and moreover sfh-med the validity ef -sihe
engagements entered into by the eonfeders.
ton" one Of which engagements was that
made by the regulation excluding Slavery
from the Territories. Thus the Congress
Of the confederation and the constitution
united in giving double senction to the
exclusion,
The first ezerted the power of snactisg
Mr.. Jefsrson's interdict of slavery ia the
territories then he'd BY the United States,
to which it has previously given an i'm
pressive sanction ty aiding, "This reguld-
ton shall be an article@of compact" &c;
and the Convention guaranteed this "en-
gagement," entered into under the Con-
( federation, by declaring it "valid," end
employ ed the same terms. "regulation OF
The Territories" to transmit the power here
exerted TO future Congress. In the face
/ of this history and the letter of the Con-
stitution granting the power to make what
ever regulations it deemed ft respecting the
territories of the United States, the authors
Of the Kanzas aud Nebraska bill deny the
constitutionaity Of all the regulations
which excludes Slavery from Territories,
and set at naught ell the precedents that
confirm them, which have followed in un-
interrupted succession, from the foundation
Of the Government.
That other clause in the Constitution,
empowering Congress to pass laws to pre-
vent the Emigration or inpertatlon",fo OF
slaves after 1908 shows the fXeJ purpose
| of the founders Of our Union to limit the
increase OF this evil. The consequence
was an inhibition, which prevents j South
| Carolina planter who has slaves in Cuba,
/ from bringing them to his home plantation;
and 10 remove this obstruction 10 the in
crease of slavery within the Union, and
open Africa TO supuly the demand made
tby She new act. the iIof hern nuiifsss are
already called on by their Southern allies
to lend their aid and certainly those who
embrace Mr., Calhcun's dottriae, rs stated
tby Mr.. Douglas, that e"eyery citizen Shss
an :naliienaole right to move into any uef
the Territories with his property, Of what
ever kind or ds5cr ytion," the Consultation
and compromises notwithstanding, can hard.
! ly refuse it. 1t was on theS annexetion- OF
/ the Mexican territories that Mr. Calhoun
asserted this prikciple, to unsettle the fixed
policy OF the .naton, beginning with the
year of the Declaration of independence:
and he applied it alike 10 the compromises
/ OF 1920 and 1880. DIR. Douglass thus
sums up the position taken and the result:
Under this section, rs in the case of TIE
.Ner,cln ilV IN .ysr HsGico and Utsh, it is
a dis puted point whether Slavery is pro.
I hi5i-d IN the Nebraska country by valid
engc 'lzents. The decision ot this question
involves the constitutional power OF Con-
.ress to pass laws prPscr Ding aud rrgula.
{ ting the domestic Institutions OF the various
Territories Of the Cnion. In the opinion
Of those eminent tesTren who hold that
Congress Is invested with 10 rigbtful au-
thorty 20 legisate upon the subject OF
Slavery in the Territories, the eighth Sec
ton OF the act preparatory 70 the adms-
5 sion OF Ms- curl IA null and void, while the
? prevailing .entmeut ia large portion OF
! the Union su='nIns ihe doctrine thu, the
Guns .tut'cn 81 tls L lied Staes cures
10 seve.y citizen an anatien0bie right to
move lnto any OF the Trnrories with his
properly, OF whatev5r kind aAd description,
and to hold and enjoy the same under the
SANCTION OF law. Your Committee do not
ieel ihemselVeS called upon 10 enter into
the discussion Of these controverted ques-
tons fEsy .yo.gr the same grave issue9
which produced NE agitation, the sectional
.tri.e, trd tie enrfuI struggle of 1850"
From 'hs Il appears that the Compro-
. miscs 81. ls!O ana 1880 involved the ques.
tlun %! he va,idity of Tie law o' Hex'co
excluding very IRON the newly-ceded
Mexican l=rfilory, aud the law OF our own
Congress excluding it from that north Of
the ilue 30 80 Dir, Doug'as's Come
mttee report rpcammende that as
";ongress de med it wise and prudent
to refrain ON deciding the matters IN con.
= troyersy, then, either by affirming, or re-
. pealng the M,xican laws, or by all aev dc.
/. cldratnry of the true intent Ui the Con-
f situation, and the extent of the protection
, afforded by it to slave prnp'r,y in the Ter
+, riIorlss, 90 your cCmm,tlee are not prepare
f ed now to recommend a departure from the
course pursued on that memorable occasion
> either by affirming or repeating the eighth
section of the Missouri act, or nv an act
decisra oy II the meaning o he Consii-.
. ton in respect to the legal points kin dis
puts." -f-. ..--..af. 80 s.. Vs. saf
These passages are QUOTED to show that
t the issues made by Mr. Calhoun, as to the
constiiuiionaIity of the two compromises
3 of 1920 and 1850, were expressly left open
ior Judicial decision by the COMMITTEES, who
I'LL. -