The daily union., 1856-01-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THURSDAY, JANUARY ~, 1856.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES.

Mr.. STEPHENS. ask the indulgence of the House but
for few moments wish 10 make some inquiries of the
honorable gentleman from Tepnessee MR. ZoLLcorFER in
reference TO some remarks made by him in the debate yes
terday. lie Is reported AS having said .1 E.0a.
"My opinion is that the advocates the constitutional
rory Of the United states-though they may live in the
south though they may profess 70 be the advocates Of the
rights of the Souhare doing To the South
| OF the North" +. ..# !.
wish TO ask the gentleman from Tennessee what he
means by that declaration and also ii he knows any
uenen, or any PERSONS at the South who ddvocae the
constitutional power of Congress to prohibit slavery
! Mr.. ZOLLlCOFFER am pleased that the gentleman
from Georgia has put the question to me- and shall be
obliged to him. and to the House. not to conne strict
y TO categorical answer My conviction is that the the
oy that the Congress Of the United States has the cons-
utional power to draw geographical line through the
public territories and to say where slavery shall exist and
where slavery shall be prohibited forever lisa theory giving
to Congress power which the constitution has
erred upon this body My opinion is that this theory has
done more damage to the rights Of the south
States Of the Union than the open warfare of northern
abolitoniss upon the institutions of the South do not
mean to be understood saying that gentlemen who
ertan this theory of the constitution are less patriotic
than gentlemen who believe do that the constitution
does not confer that power but my position k and what
wish to be understood as saying is that the theory is
erroneous and most dangerous And here let
mark that many gentlemen of the South whose patriot
ism have doubted have fallen into belief of this
theory and some gentlemen have gone far dendnd
that the Congress of the United States should mark the
line dividing the territory between the North and the
South and thereby determine forever where slavery should
go, and where it should be prohibited But grat-
lied that many Of those gentlemen have changed their opu
\ ions. 50
The gentleman from Georgia Mr.. SrErnExs asks me to
point him TO OF the South who enterains such opn
IONS would to hin that my understanding H. that
the gentleman from Georgia himself Mr. SrErHENsl ha,
upon the floor of this House maintained with regard to
the territory acquired from Mexico that unless Congress
would extend the line TO the Pacific
would 10y geographical line, divide the territory and de-
ermine toreO where slavery should exist and where it
should be prohbitedhe had other alternative than
TO return the territory TO Mexico "et keep our money
which 10 TO be paid for it," said he and let Mexico keep
her provinces and her people" That his position
| understoodt am gratifed that the gentleman who
then warred against the principle of non-intervention"
has changed his opinion and stands before the
try as advocate OF the prncipeof by
the federal government with the Territories of the Union
upon the subject Of slavery My opinion is that the new
States, TO be carved out of the public Territories when
thay shah be admitted into this Union, should 10
npon an equal footing with the old States under the plain
letter OF the constitution that they shoucome in full
iedged with all power for determining their fundamental
and constitutional laws is conceded to the old States
OF the Union repeat do not mean 10 say that gentle
men who entertain the opinions ascriOe to him less
patriotic than those who embrace the principle of non-in
put mean 10 say that such opinions are mere
dangerous to the South particularly when presented by
southern gentlemen, than when presented by open and
avowed abolidonists.
Mr.. STEPHENS. The gentleman is mistaken in atir;l,-
utng 10 me any such position opinions as he seems
from the record he refers TO- inclined assign me- did
not then advocate the power in Con-
i i
tanned that upon the principle of compromise should he
satisfied with nothing but fair division of this territory
have always and do now, maintain, original
question: that the Territories OF the United States tho
common domain in which the people of all the States have
equal interest," aud that the people of the States who
choose to settle them should determine their domestic in
suons for themselves as they please when they
form their State constitutions But when the North would
not permit the South 10 enjoy all in common coonize
all in common and TO settle all in common, without restrc-
on then ouy on the principle Of division alterna-
tive, would compromise the question at all. Now sir
/ Mr.. ZOLLCOFFER (nterrupting) win the gentleman
from Georgia allow read his declared opinions2
i Mr.. STEPHENS Not now. know all about my de-
Cared opinions. do not wish TO have my time now taken
up by reading
Mr.. ZOLLlCOFFER Very well sir.
Mr.. STEPHENS. II the gentleman has anything there
In contradiction 10 what say, will, when get through,
hear him read Il; but do not wish now 10 DO diverted
from other ponts Tho gen teman stated 10 the House
when be began that those gentlemen who voted for the
Missouri ne-the geographical line where slavery might
exist aud where should not-were dangerous TO
the interests Of the people Of the South than the abolition
ts Of the North Does he believe that those who n
ls20-when the South vas pressed to the wall-when they
took that meaEure only alternahUs-when the North
insisted bayng every foot Of the country and when
only by small jOry, the South reluctantly took this
| line in lieu Of total prohbidon-does he believe ask
that those men were dangerous 70 the South than
the aboitonss Of tho North were Does he say that your
Lowndeses and Clays with majority Of the southern
members dangerous 10 the rights and interests
Of the South and the peace OF the country than the avowe
abolitionists2
Mr.. ZoLLICoFFER. Perhaps the gentleman docs not
understand me again repeat and wish TO be properly
understood that this theory has done more damage and Is
dangerous TO the constitutional rights Of the South
than the open efforts Of abolitionists Many patriotic men
at the period to which the gentleman audes fell be-
eve into the In submitting what they regarded
the smaller Of two evils-namey, In admitting that the
federal government has he poer bind the States which
yet to be formed out Of the Territories Of the United
States In the character Of their domestic Institutions for
feel that that theory s dangerous 70 the South
than the open warfare Of the aboonsts
Mr.. STEPHENS Then, wish the gentleman from Ten
to state what theory he mcans2 Does he know
southern man, In the beginning in the middle down
the present. at any time in the progress Of this contro
yery, who entertained such Soy he speaks Oft
And does he know Of any southern who ever voted
for division Of the public domain except as an slterna-
ve2 Did the offer to divide originate with southern
men Has II ever been defended by southern except
n alternatve2
| Mr. ZoLLICOFFER. II the gentleman from Georgia
will allow me, will read extract from his speech in
\ 1850, the subject
I Mr. STEPHENS. Now, sir you may read u.
/ Mr. IOLLlCOFFEII On the l9th Of June, 1880 the
honorable gentleman from Georgia Is reported In the
Globe as saying
have from he Jsgiaping been, tho gentleman from
Mississippi says be is, In favor OF the stssoH Of the N
toaprontse line other fair and just dirS
ioW Of he Territory. But division which will
not give as ample protection aud security the South in
the enjoyment o her portion, II does 20 the North. The
on Of slavery south Of that line and all necessary protec
uon, would IN my opinion, be perfect Btookey of right
just much ne doctrine Of 'pou .iaerpcHtion This
was my position two years ago upon this oor and upon
the acquisition OF these Territories their
dseirsd Congress- and that II the duty 0f Congress
10 pass all necessary laws for the fair and equal enjoyment Of
them by all the people United States or such OF them
might there with their property every description
AS difference Of opinion exists between the North and
South upon lhe subject Of slavery thought and sl think