The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-07-23

penSe Win Ine preliminary StepS WHICH nave
usually been required for the admission of
state into the union. But consderate men will,
l think, admit that, even assuming these char
ges to be in the main well founded, Congress
ought not to be asked to act in so summary
way, and upon so grave matter, except as
last resort, and after every attempt to secure to
the territory peaceable and regular state or
ganizatlon have been exhausted. The case be-
fore Us has not yet think, arrived at that con-
dition, and this brings me to the consideration
Of the fourth proposition, viz: the carrying out
of the Kansas Nebraska act
am free to confess that have for some time
past regarded this act with more favor than I
did when it was first presented to my considera-
ton as the instrumant by which the Missouri
Compromise was overthrown. This may have
arisen from the fact that have felt myselfcom-
PEELED to regard it as the only attainable mode
by which the country can hope to be relieved
from the injurious and demoralizing effects of
slavery agitation; or it may have been produced
by the great unanimity with which its principles
have been adopted, in all parts of the country,
by political party in which have been reared
and upon the maintanance of which, in its Won
ted purity conscientiously believe the future
welfare Of the country will depend. believe
also that the people Of the free States, when the
resentment justly excited by the repeal of the
| Missouri Compromise has subsidized, and more
especially when they shall have witnessed fair
and psaceable execution Of the provisions of
that act, will generally regard it as a mode for
the settlement of slavery questions, by which
they will stand better chance to have their
feelings and opinions upon the subject respected,
and one less exposed to extraneous and improp-
er influences, than has been the case with spe-
ciAc Congressional legislation have not the
leisure, if deemed it necessary, to assign the
reasons which have brought my mind to this
conclusion The points in regard to the measure
itself can be stated in few words.
The authority of Congress to transfer to the
people of the territories all the power it posses
ses under the Constitution to legslate for the
territories has, as far as know, never been
!, questioned. 1t has been exercised from the
commencement Of the government, in respect
to all the proper subjects of legislation, from the
highest to the lowest. Not having copy Of the
/ Kansas Nebraska act, I take its provisions in
regard to the authority it processes to confer
from Mr.. Buchanans admirable letter of accep-
tance, where the subject is, doubt not, fairly
presented. He thus describes it:
} "This legislation is founded upon principles
as oncent as the government ITSELF and in ac-
cordance with them, has simply declared that
the people of territory, like those of state,
, shall decide for themselves whether slavery
| shall or shall not exist within their limits: 4
declaring it to be the true intent and meaning oi
this act not to legsate slavery into any territory
, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and regu-
, late their domestic institutions in their own
: way, subject only to the Constitution of the
) United States"
From these terms 1t is too clear to admit o
dispute cavjl, that it was the intention of Con
gress to clothe the people of the territories with
ample power to exclude slavery from within
their respective limits, as we'll while they con-
tinued territories as in making provisions for its
exclusion from the state when that transition
shall take place. The only question that can
be raised upon the act in this regard must relate
to the effect of the grant-thatis is, whether the
Constitution authorizes Congress to clothe the
people of the territories with power to ex-
clude slavery therefrom while they remain terri
tories
6 have not the slightest doubt Of the power
of Congress to give this authority to the people
It Of the territories. But it is, tn nix, quite GER
: tain that if the objection raised in behalf of the
slave States in respect to legislation for the gov
ernmant OF the territories Is we'll founded that
q objections could not bo obviated, either by thc
t re storation of the Missouri Compromise, OF by
:. the re-adoption of the old mode Of settling the
@ question of slavery in the territories by the d
# rect legislation Of Congress. Whether these
questio are settled by the act of the people o
II hc territories, or by the direct legislation ofCon
o gress, or by the restoration Of the Missour
: Compromise, $50 far as that would reach,) the
|, validity Of the settlement in each case, AMI tc
= an equal extent, rests upon an act Of Consres;
} AMI upon the constitutionllity Of that act; ana
: this would Of courso, hlvo b5on tn, case if tn
n Nebraska Kansas act had not recognizsl in term
i the subjecsion of the powers it intended to gran
n in the Constitution.
y Mr., Buchanan, in his letter Of acceptance
pledges himself to the people. should the nomi
3 nation Of the convention be ratified by the peo
pie, that all the influence constitutionally DOS
a sessed by the Executive shall be exerted in
i firm but conciliatory spirit, during the single
: term no shall continue in Office, to restore th
9 same harmony among the sister States whicl
prevailed before the apple of discord, in the form
10 OF slavery agitation had been castin their midst
o He knows that this pledge can be redeemed bu
/ in one way, and that is by securing to the bons
Q flesettlers Of the territory if matters should b
: allowed to remain as they now stand, the full
y free and practical enjoyments of the rights in
;s tended to be granted to them by the organic ac
~ including that Of free suffrage, and no ore will
le understand better than he that nothing short o
J, the substance of those would answer the purpos
le or satisfy the excited and vgent scrutiny ofthos
h who will watch every step that is taken in th;
y matter. Doubts were at one time thrown ou
L ~ know not from whit qulrter-in regard t,
y the power Of the Executive to give this security
s. but affairs now in progress show that thes