Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-02-14
Extension of Slavery.

The government Of the United States has,
tusder its Consultation, no power, either to
extend, or to limit slavery. The institution
Of slavery is one under control only Of the
people Of the several States and Territories.
With il Congress can in no way r'ghauliy In
terfcrs, except 20 far as TO make provision
for the rendition of fugitive slaves. And the
national Legislature could not even pass a
fugitive slave law. had not provision therefor
boen expressly made ia tho Constitution.
Indians, and every other State north OF Ma
son and Dikon's line. may adopt the system
: of slavery, while Kentucky, and every other
southern State may abolish il, and no law of
Congress. though passed nnsnimo1siy. could
the question. Congress can designate no line
of demareation between free territory and
slave territory. II such hne has been at
tempted to be fixed In the past history OF the
eoaHtry, the act was outside of the power
conferred By the Consultation on tho National
LegislstHrs and therefore wholly invalid.
Tue government Of the United States Is
net 8 central, consolidated governnent-tho
original source of power. fs Is act sovereign,
except for certain purposes expressly preWd-
ed in the Constitution. Sovoseignty resides
with the several States on all subjects exoopt
those expressly given up BY them la forming
the national Constitution. In forming that
Constitution the States never gave up the
question of slavery, but left it where it origi-
nally was, with tho several States. Since
the adoption of the Consultation some States
have abolished it, and Others have establish
vent the one or the other. We of Indiana
have no more right TO interfere with slavery
in other States and I'm Territories, than we
have TO interfere with the laws Of other
States regulating the interest on money, on
banks, on capital punishment.
The phrase, Extension Of iSasery, has no
meaning as applied to the action of the Gen
eral Government. The United States Gov
cynmont can extend its territory by purchase
or conquest. IL can make" all needful rules |
and regulations +" respecting the Government
land aad other Government property in the
territories 80 purchased or conquered. II |
may fix the boundaries of any territory with |
a view 10 its admission ~ State and may |
organize the initial government 30 far as may |
be necessary TO enable the settlers of the ter
ritory to constitute Legislature of their |
own, but more than this it canIot do with |
out usurpation of power never conferred on
il. II cannot extend or limit slavery, or any |
other purely State institution.
IL asked, rs we sometimes are, whether
we are personally in favor Of tho extension |
OF slavery, we have to answer that, being
eitincn OF Indiana, we arc opposed, wo
have right 10 be. to the extension of slavery |
to this State. With the extension of slavery |
TO Kansas or Nebraska, we have nothing TO |
do. We have no right, as citizen of Indi
ana or as a citizen of the United States, to be |
opposed to slavery in Kansas, or to favor it. |
We have neither right nor responsibility, one
way or the other. Whenever we become a
eiusonof Kansas, we shall at once acquire |
the right of doing all in our power eithe,
ts promote or to prevent the extension Of
slavery to the tarritory.
The Democratic party is IN favor OF the |
extension of popular sovereignty. whether |
The exercise of sovereignty results in the eX- |
tension of slavery, or what not. We believe !
In the inherent right of the people Of every
Stats S.nd territory, in the exercise Of their |
own sovereign power, to sdopt any rules,
regulations and la~s, seeming to them best
to promote their own prosperity. |
ALI we ask, all we have, as citizens of In,li
ans, right to ask of other States is to act with
truth and fidelity to the obligations they as
sumed in becoming parties to the Union Of
the States.