Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-02-21
NO. So.

/
the existence of domestic slavery. They
claimed-and it was granted-the right Of
reclamation in case Of escape. They claims
ed-and it was granted-the right Of repres
sentation as an element Of political power
And hold, in the absence of express aus
thoriiy, that Congress has no constitutional
right to legislate upon the subject Of slavery,
(Applause.) l hold that the Territories
are the common property Of all the States.
and that the people Of all The States have
common right 10 enter upon and occupy
those Territories, and they are protected in
that occupation by the flag of our common
country; that Congress has no constitutional
power either to legislate slavery into, OF
exclude it from, Territory. Neither has
the Territorial Legislature, in my judge
ment any right to legislate upon that subs
ject, except SO far as it it may be necessary
to protect the citizens Of the Territory in
the enjoyment Of their property, and that in
pursuance of its organic law as established
by congressional legislation. When the
citizens of the Territory shall apply for ad-
mission into the Union, they may determine
for themselves the character Of their institu-
tions, (bv their State constitutions;) and il
is their right then to declare whether they
will tolerate slavery or not, and. thus fairly
deciding for themselves, should be admitted
into the Union as States without reference to
the subject of slavery. The Constitution
was formed by the people of the States for
E purposes of mutual advantage and protec-
tion. The States are sorereigrties, limIted
only so far as they have surrendered their
powers TO the General Government. Tie
General Government, thus created and lin=
tied, acts with certain positive, defined, and
clearly ascertained powers. It's legislation
and administration should be controlled by
the Constitutions; and it cannot justly employ
4 IFS powers thus delegated 10 impair or de-
= stroy any existing or vested rights belong
8 ing to the people of any of the States.
: In answer to the same question the gen.
teman from Illinois, (Mr, Richardsontl
: said:
e The next question requires more exten- /,
= ded reply. Ia the year 1903 we acquired
J louisiana; it was slave territory. In 1920
we divided, by line of 36 deg. 30 m n. that
:, territory; north OF the line was to be free.
" In lS45 we annexed Texas; that was slave
y territory; we divided that by extending the
: line of 30 deg. 80 min. through that-north,
IS TO be free. In l948 we acquired territory
). from Mexico. That was free. voted re-
=, peatedly to extend the same line west 10
= the Pacific ocean. ! voted for that line
with few Representatives from the North,
IS and TIE whole body of southern Represen7
tatives. WhenI gave those votes, did not
:. believe then, nor do believe now, that
y violated the Constitution of the United
l. States. If you have power, under the Con.
! stitution, to exclude slavery from half ter
D. ritory. think you have power TO exclude
,s from all, though such an exercise would be
-, unjust and wrong. haYe never, there
i fore, voted to exercise that power, except
,e upon the principle of compromise.
IN The position Of the honorable gentleman
< from Pennsylvania Mr., Fuller is such as
ie TO be satisfactory to every southern and ma,
= tional man upon this floor, or elsewhere
, My friend from Missouri, (Mr. Caruthers,l
like myself, has been Wing from his boy
hood. We both came here as Wings from
~ ~ Missouri; our position is naturally together,
- and our interests require that we should act
in together; and firmly believe that in oil im=
lit portant Legislation which shall follow the
Sc organization of this House, we will be found
- together
w ns IN respect simply to the organization Of
ir, the House, or selection Of a presiding off.
if Ger, that gentleman (Mr. Caruthers) has
ne thought proper TO pursue one course, and |
"a. "a have deemed it within my line of duty to
" pursue another and different one. Il has
ID, been impossible for me 10 vote for the gen.
lis tlenan from Illinois, (Mr. Richardson be.
81 ;s tbtpn han
S es another that wish to do on this floor, it ia
We to reflect faithfully and truly the will Of MY
ill constituents. They are Democratic oonsti.
it tuents, il is true. The district which rep:
sS' resent is democratic one. But, sir, the
ho people of that district, so far as have beer
of able 10 learn their sentiments from being
en- actually with them and visiting them, do moi
IL believe in the integrity of this Administra-
-. ton. They believe that its policy has been
,ct wrong from the le5 ginning; that 1t l~as been
US endeayoring to bind together all tie fas-enfs
I'D of the parties which brought il into power,
IN in order that it may preserve power; and
wv that, in that troublesome effort, il has for
cal gotten and neg ected the peace, interest, and
= welfare of the country. They belieye il il
ia' a party game, and not line Of true states
~ manship, which that Administration has
TO followed. ] cannot therefore, ln the faith.
,pe fp discharge of my duty to my constituents
zen indorse that Administration BY voting for the
m nu candidate 81 its choice and selection on this
,rr w floor. That is one reason, Mr.. CLERK. WY
qw | cannot vote for the gentleman from Hi.
= nois.
tes i have no personal objection 70 the gen,
on tleman from Illinois, Mr.. Riehardsor,) as