Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-08-04
ER DAILY sPY.MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1856.

is no violation of southern rights 10 prohibit
slavery that "neither the North or the
South, as SUCH have any rights there at ALL
Sir, concur fully in these declarations of the
Senator from lllinois--the "black Republi-
cans" concur fully in these declarations. We
believe, with the Republican fathers North
and South, that Congress has power to ex-
clude slavery from the Territores-that it
ought to exercise that power and we have
resolved to exercise that power not only in
the Territory covered by the prohibition Of
1920, but in all the Territories now acquired
or TO be acquired by the Federal Government.
Southern statesmen have held that Congress
has power to prohibit slavery in the Terrific
ries. The Supreme Court has affirmed Lhe
power Of Congress over the Territories. The
great names in our history have not only held
that Congress had the power to exclude slave
ry from the Territories, but they have gene
ally favored the exercise of that power.
Mr.. TOombs.-Not one
Mr.. Wilson.-Ihe Senator from Georgia
surely will not deny the fact that the states
men Of the North-the great constitutional
lawyers and jurists of the North-.have held
that Congress has the power to prohibit slave
ry in the Territories and he must admit
that many of the great names from the South
gave their sanction to the ordinance of 1887.
the
northwest Territory--to the Missouri prohi.
bition of 1920, which prohibited slavery in
the Louisiana purchase north and west of
Missouri-to the prohibition of slavery in
portion of Texas, should that portion ask ad-
mission into the Union, and to the prohibi.
of slavery in the Territory of Oregon. Many
of the eminent statesmen of the South have
left on record by pen, voice, or vote. their
approval of some or all of these acts for the
prohibition of slavery by legislative action. 1t
will be found, think, that the Supreme
Court has laid down principles of constitution.
al construction end Interpretation that affirm
this power over the Territories.
Mr.. Benz amin--That is difference of opin-
ion.
Mr. Wilson-The Senator from Louisiana
ssys that is difference of opinion but the
country has believed in that doctrine; Con-
gress has believed in that doctrine, and has
exercised the power. 1t was exercised in
1887, and was Endorsed Immediately after the
adoption of the Constitution by the First
Congress. Itwas exercised in 1920. 1t was
exercised few years ago i'll the Oregon bill
Senators from the South repeatedly gave their
almost united votes in favor of extending the
Prohibition of slavery north of SO deg. 80
min. to the Pacific Ocean. If you have the
right to prohibit slavery north of that line,
you have the right TO prohibit it south of that
line-the right to prohibit it in all the Terri
tories OF the United States. The Senators
from Georgia and Louisiana do not believe
Congress has this power. We believe-the
people of the tree States by immense MAORI
ties believe-we have the power. If ma
Jority OF the people shall decree tiff ma
jority of both Houses of Congress shall affirm
it, and the Executive sanctions their acts,
have no doubt the good sense and patriotism
of the people of the whole country, North
and South, will rally'with alacrty to the sup
port of the Federal Government to the main
tenance of the unity and indivisibility of tile
Republic. Defeated faction may plot treason.
able inst rrectlon; baffied conspirators may
mutter threats of disunion and civil war the
public mind may be momentarily agitated,
and the public councils temporarily embarras-
sed, by the expiring efforts Of waning power !;
but the people of the county, the intelligent,
patriotic, liberty loving, Laws abiding people
of the country, who accept ma Declaration of
Independence and the Cofqmg;Pn.. ution of the
United States as their polye al charts, will
bear the Government In satety through the
impending dangers.