Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-05-22
Why is it, Captain, that you do not reply in

Why is it, Captain, that you do not reply in
detail!
Says the Gazette:
'But again it is asserted that ''the whole policy
of the Government-every act of Congress in re-
lation to Territories from 1889 to 1854 has been a
| recognition otthis power" What, a recognition
Of the power of Congress over slavery in the Ter
ritories! So we assert on the contrary, that there
is not 10 be found single act upon the Statute
book from 1883 to 1920, period OF 80 years, that
even squlnts at any such thing 1t was not until
nearly all the men who participated in forming the
Constitution had passed from the stage OF action
that any such power was claimed for Congress- or
any attempt made to enforce 1t, although numerous
Territorial governments had been formed and
States admitted into the Union. Non-intervention
was the uniform practice of the Government from
the adoption OF the Constitution until 1920, at
which time the agitation of this most dangerous
OF all questions commenced, and demagogues and
political renegades have kept it in motion ever
since at stated periods. When their other political
capita became exhausted, this has always been re-
sorted 20"
Anybody who knows anything of our po-
.itical history "from 1889 to 1920" knows
that the above extract is mistake. We
have enumerated no less than sic instances
in which Congress did pass such acts, "from
1879 to ls2O," and they are on the Statute
books: lst. The Indiana Territory Act;
I'd, To admit Ohio; Sd, Illinois Territorial
act; 4th, The Michigan Territorial Act;
5th, To admit Indiana; 9Th, To admit Ill
inois Disprove them, Captain if You dare.
But We have something still more over
whelming. SIN 1900 the people of Indiana
Territory petitionea Congress to allO'o them
10 establish Slavery in their Territory. Mr..
Randolph. them Chairman of the Commit
tee on Territories, reported against the Pc
tition, AND CONGRESS REFUSED TO
GRANT IT! How does this coincide with
the Gd,ette's opinion, or rather assertion, as
we do not think he honestly believes it!
1t will not do for the Black Democracy to
attempt to convince the people of this Union
that the history of our government is lie,
and to erase all memory of our public acts.
The records cannot be denied-facts cannot
be gainsayed.
In our article of week before last we also
took the liberty of asking the Captain some
questions. but he paid no more attention to
them than post or the man in the moon.
We repeat them in the hope that his eye
may fall on them, and he may deign to re-
ply:
"Suppose Utah, with her rotten social sys-
ten, should apply for admission into the
Union, Captain. would you be willing to ad-
nit her on an equal footing with the other
States,
sSuppose colony of Ilindoos should settle
Washington Territory, and with all their
internal barbaric religious rites, should ap-
ply for admission as State. would you be
willing to admit them on an equal footing!
"Upon what authority do you declare the
Missouri Compromise and kindred legisla-
ton unconstitutional!
"Please answer these questions, Captain,
at your earliest convenience"
ave were in error in relating this incident in
relation TO Indiana STATE last week, it Is TRUE in
reference to the Territory. and is conclusive evil
dcnce that Congress HAS exercised power over the
territories