American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-02-23

ginia, January 90, .1849. Here is the
principle that the Virginia Democracy
lay, the Virginia people, without dis
tinction of party-haye ever maintain
ed upon this subject:
Be aresoloed onanimously 6y the
General Assembly Of Pirginta, That
the Government of the United States
has no control, directly or indirectly,
mediatcly or immediately, over the in
stitution of slavery, so as to impair the
rights of the stakeholder; and that, in
taking any such control, it transcends
the limits of its legitimate functions by
destroying the internal organization Of
the sovereignties who created it.
Now, sir, what is the principle of
"squatter sovereignty Incorporated
and asserted in the Nebraska bill, as
explained upon this aoor by Mr.. Rich
ardson, the chs:fman of the committee
that reported the bill to the House?
It's that the people of the Territory,
or the Territorial Legislature, has the
control over the subject Of Slavery
Am right2 @
Mr.. Richardson. I made no exposi-
tion of the bill itself.
Mr.. Garlic. The power, then Of the
Government?
Mr.. Richardson. i will say to the
gentleman what the bill states. All
the power that Congress possessed is
conferred upon the Territory, subject
only to the Constitution. The ques-
tiea, whether there is any power in the
Constitution, is to be settled by judicial
decision. 1 give no exposition of the
bill.
Mr.. McMullin. Will my colleague
allow me to ask him question I?
Mr.. Carlile. I will say to my col
league, whom / know to be my friend,
that l desire to be relieved from those
Interruptions. do not think it is.c
teous to interrupt gentleman to whom
the floor has been assigned. When j
get through with my line of remark
upon this parsionlar subject, 1 will yield
the floor for any question my colleague,
or any other member, may desire to
put to me.
Mr.. Richardson. Willtho gentleman
permit me to ask him a single question?
Mr.. Carlile. Certainly, because
referred to you.
Mr.. Richardson. If you had been a
member of Congress when the Nebras-
ka bill passed, would you have voted
for it.?
Mr.. Carlile. / will answer that am
committed upon that subject in letter
which ] wrote to the then Representa-
tive of my district, Mr., Snodgrass, who
died before his term expired.
After some further interruption,
Mr.. CarliIequoted the language Of Mr..
Richardson on Saturday, in which oc-
ours the following: "The citizen of
Virginia is as much entitled, in tho
common territory, to the protection of
his property, under the Constitution,
as the citizen of Illinois; but both are
dependent upon the legislation of the
territorial government for laws to pro-
tect their property, of whatever kind it
may be-" Mr.. G. proceeded ]
Sir, Virginia has ever maintained
the position, that to no Territory, to
the inhabitants Of no Territory, to no
judicial tribunal, is she bound, by any
allegiance that she owes to the Consti-
tuition, to leave the determination Of
her constitutional rights. She has de-
terminod them for herself, and she has
resolved, again and again in her Lcgis-
lature, that Congress has no control
over the subject of slavery, so as to im-
pair the rights of Shareholders in the
Territories. She maintains that that
right is clear and we'll defined; that it
admits Of no quibbling and no doubt |;
and thatit does not allow gentlemen to
say, in one section of the country, that
the people Of the Territory can settle
the question, and in another section
that they cannot. That is the differ
ence between the position that Virginia
has ever taken upon this subject, and
that asserted in the Nebraska bill.
Mr.. Richardson. A single question.
Do | understand the gentleman to say
that the Territory has no power over
the subject Of slavery2
Mr.. Garlic. No, sir, the Territory
has no power, whilo Territory, to
lcgislate upon the subject of slavery,
so as to impair the rights Of slavohold-
ers; but when she proposes to cease
her territorial existence, and to frame
her constitution, and make her appli-
cation to become member Of this Con.
fedorocy, she has a right to determine
the question for herself. When she
applies for admission into the Union.
and not until then. can she in her con.