Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-15

1t is a principle indicated by our experience
| Is is suited to all territories and all ages as
broad as the universe and as imperishable as
the mountains. Its application to the question
of slavery in the Territories, was intended as
6nality. Whatever the powers OF Congress
may be. it was polite and wise TO forego its
use and trust the question with the people.
For one regard the policy as settled forever,
aud that hereafter the people of the territories
through their local legislatures are to control
tue question of slavery in their own way and
why should they not be permitted to do this.
Many of my former neighbors are now in the
territories and it would seem unreasonable
that l should claim the right to legislate for
them. Certainly am not so competent to
Judge as they. There Is not only beauty In
this theory, but there is practical justice IN 1t.
A man ooses none of his natural or inherent
rights by changing his residence from State
to Territory. The sovereignty not delegated
to the General Government accompanies him,
in full form and virtue. can see but two
sources of power to legislate for the Territory;
Congress is one and the people the other; and
/ hold that when Congress expressly confers
upon the people all its powers, as in the case
OF the Kansas law, that the law-making power,
of the people is complete-equal to any sub
ject of local legislation. The practical work
ings being to the effect, that as the people
when they become State have perfect control
over the subject of Slavery, they should have it
as Territory. For the purposes of excite.
ment, however, the impression has been
enlightened, that the policy Of the Territory
on the question, is to be permanently settled by
an incipient step. Such is not correct view.
The question like any other, will at all times
be within the control of the people. Should
Kansas come into the Union as a Free State,
the people could afterwards establish slavery,
and Uice UerSa.
upon the general subject of slavery, have
often given my views | do not know why
Providence, in his wisdom permitted the At
rcan to find his way TO this continent,
nor why England was induced to tasten
the institution OF Slavery upon the Colonies.
| cannot tell what God may intend to bring
out of the relations now existing between
the races in our country but this do know,
that when the Constitution was agreed upon
between the States, each being sovereign and
Independent, slavery was recognized in the I'd
section Of the first article as to the ratio Of
representation in Congress, and in the I'd Sec
ton Of the fourth article. as to the rendition of
fugatives from labor. That after the fullest
elaboration. the convention, with Washington
at its head, agreed to tolerate and protect the
institution. know, too that when compact
is made between equal and independent par
ties, it is good morals and good faith to carry
it out. And still the institution so established
is constant theme of agitation. The most
anatical Abolitionists dare not deny that out
| side power can rightfully interfere; still war
of elimination and recrimination has been kept
up. The motives of the Southern people in
retaining it, have been subject to the most un
charitable criticisms, whilst in turn, assaults
of equal violence have been made upon North
ern men and their motives, all tending to an
alienation of the people from each other, and
| to prepare them for violent separation. From
my boyhood, and in my very heart, have de-
precated these mutual disseuions, because
they can do no possible good 10 either white or
colored race; their tendencies are to evil and
to evil only. They may hazard as | fear they
do hazard, the peace and best interests Of
twenty-five millions of white citizens, without
the possibility of improving the condition Of
the three millions of the colored race. 1t is
astonishing that even fanaticism-inveterate
ianatcism-should sanction practices so
wise, and efforts SO directly in contravention
of the Constitution, and so wasteful to the
heritage which it voucsafes to all. The aboli
ton presses TEEN with the most vile execra-
| lions Of an evil which they cannot avert, and
| their orators enunciate sentiments full Of trea
son. Wendal Phillips, for instance, declared
| in a convention, at New York" The only re-
medy Jorhe Stare IS The destruction Of the Cor
ernment" II challenge any man to tell me
| what the Union has done for u.s." Lloyd Gar
| rison, at the same convention proposed to re-
| solve That, the one grand vital issue to be
made with the slave power, is the dissolution
| of the existing American Union" Henry G.
| Wright said /: 81 like the resolution very
much" 81 don't care the snap Of my finger
| for the Constitution, when the question Of
slavery is to be concerned. The only thing of
Importance is that The mass of the people VEN
crate the Constitution. We should endeavor
to do away with this. l thank God that I am
traitor TO that Constitution. Edmund Quincy,
on the same occasion, said that, the Consti-
tuition displayed the ingenuity of the very
devil, and that the Union ought to be dissolved"
Mr.. Wade, now Republican Senator from Ohio,
in speech to the people Of Maine, in August,
1855, denounced the Shareholders as "band.
fu of aristocrats" and the system as one Of
outrage aggression and wrong =, that its very
life, its being, is an outrage, and that the infa-
nous .fugitire Stare lao should be repealed"
Mr.. Seward, in a speech made at Buffalo, in
October last, speaking of society in the slave
States, says that the non-slavehol6er in the
States is allowed no independence no neu-
trality whilst pistols and knives enforce not
merely their silence, but their actual partner
ship for slavery"
Mr.. Seward, in the Senate, on last Wednes-
day, declared with great earnestness of manner,
that the day for compromises had gone by"
Mr.. Sumner, Of Massachusetts,, in November
last, at Boston, said at is an ogarchy, odous
beyond precedent; heartless, grasping, tyran-
nical careless Of humanity, right or the Con-
stitution stuck together only by a confederacy
Of spoliations." The Boston Liberator, of the
10th ultimo, says: The United States Consti-
tuition is covenant with the devil, and an
agreement with hell !" and again. that /" the
only issue is the dissolution Of the Union"
The New York Standard is but little less VIC.
lent aud the Tribune is vigilant in its work of
tanning the flames. No man can notice these
things without feeling that we have fallen upon
evil times.
But let us turn from these disgusting incen-