Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-12-21

Territories, and moreover affirmed
The volldlty of 'ihe engagements en-
tered into before The adoption OF the
Constitution 10y the confederation
one OF which engagements was that
made 10y the rceulsiion excluding
Slavery from the Territories. Thus
the Congress Of the confederation
and the Constitution united in giving
a double sanction to the exclusion.
The first eXeried the power Of
enacrng Mr.. Jciler>on's inierdict Of
Slavery IN the Territories hen heM
by the United States, to which /, had
previously given an impressive sane
ton 10y adding, This regulation
shall be an article Of compact. &c /:
and the Convention guaranteed this
engagement, entered into under
the Confederation, 10y declaring it
valid and employed the same
terms, regulation Of the Terrific
rieS, to transmit the power here ex-
erted 10 future Congresses. In the
face OF this history and the letter Of
the Constitution granting the power
To make whatever regulations it
deemed fit respecting the Territories
of the United States, the authors Of
the Kansas and Nebraska bill deny
the conslItuilonalty of all the regul-
atoms which eSclnde Slavery from
the Territories, and set al naught all
the precedenls that confirm them.
which have followed in uninterrupl-
ed succession, from the foundation
Of the Government.
That other clause in the Conslitu-
ton, empowering Congress TO pass
laws To prevent the migration or
importation Of slaves after 1908,
shows the fiycd purpose of the fnun-
ders oi our Union TO limit the ia
crease of this evil. The consequence
was an Inhibition, which prevents a
South Carolina planter, VINO has
slaves 10 Cuba. from bringing them
To his home plantation aud to re-
move tins obstruction To the increase
of Slavery within the Union, and
open Africa To supply the demand
made toy the new act, the Northern
( nulhfiers are already called on by
/ their southern allies TO lend lheli
AID and certainly those who EN-
brace Mr.. Cahoun's doctrine. a.
stated 10y Mr. Douglas, that ever,
ciiizen has an lnalieuable right tc
move into any OF the rerrliorlei
with has property Of whatever kin,
OF description. the Constitution an,
compromises Notwithstanding, ca
hardly refuse II. 1t WAS on The an
nexaiion of the Mexican ierrilouc
thai Mr.. Calhoun asserted this prin
ciple to unscille the fixed policy o
4 the H"tion. l,s.as,ou.ssas ,vsil, rho era 90
Tie Declaration OF Independence
and he applied IT alike to the com-
promises of 1920 and 1850. Mr..
Douglas thus sums up the postum
taken aud the result:
Under TIN, section, as ia the case
/ Of the NericaR lar in Mar Ner-
ico and Utah, it is a disputed point
whether Slavery is prohibited 10 the
| Nebraska country 10y valid enact
neut The decision of this ques-
ton involves the constitutional pow
er OF Congress to pass laws prescrib
( Ing and regulating the domestic IN
siituuons of the various Territories
of the Union. In The opinion Of
those eminent statesmen who hold
that Congress IS invested with ne
rghtful authority to legisiale upou
The subject of Slavery ia the Terri
tories. the eighth secuon Of the ACT
preparatory To the admission of Ms
sour is null aud VOID. while the pre-
valllug sentiment ia u large portion
of the Union susiains the docrin,
that the Constitution of the Unliot
States secures 10 every citizen an in
! alienaJie rigM To move into any o
the Territories with his property, o
( whatever kind aud description, auC
TO hold and enjoy the same unde
sanction Of law. Your Committee
do not feel themselves called upon Il
enter into the discussion of thes
couroverled questions They in
voye the same grave issues whic
produced the agitation, the section
al strife, aud the fearful struggle q
1850
From this i, appears that the Com
promises of 1920 and 1850 involve
the question of the law of Mexlc
excluding Slavery from the newly
coded Mexican territory, and the la'
of our own Congress excluding
from that north of the line OF 36
30. Mr.. Douglass Committee re
port recommended that rs
'Cougress deemed II wise an
prudent to refrain from deciding IN
matters in controversy, then, eilhe
10y affirming or repeating the Mex
can laws, or 10y an act declaraIory o
he true intent of the Constitution
and the extent of the protection at
forded 10y II TO slave property IN th'
Territories, so your COMMITTEES are
mol preplred now 10 recommend
departure from the course pursued
on that memorable occasion, eithe'
by afIiru ing or repeating The eighth
section of the Missouri Act, or by
any act declaralorY OF the meaning
of the Constitution ia respect to the
legal points in dispute
These passagss are quoted to she"
that the issues made by Mi Calhoun,
as ia The constiluilonaliiy of the lwo