Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-21

Guided from every inch of territory then
subject to Federal jurisdiction. When
the First Congress met, what did they
think? What did those twenty men,
/ fresh from the formation of the Constitu-
ton, think of its powers? What did
George Washington, the presiding officer
of the convention, think :? What did
James Madison think? Why, sir, you
can find their opinions in an act of Con-
gress passed without division and signed
by George Washington, and now in full
force unless it has been repealed by being
found to be inconsistent with the COM
promise of 1850. On the 7th Of August,
1889, they passed an act in these words !:
" Whereds In order that the ordinance Of the
United States in Congress assembled, Ter the gov
eminent of the territory northwest of the Ohio.
: NAV continue to have full effect, it rs requisite
that certain provisions should be made, so as to
adapt the same to the present Constitution OF the
United States"
And then they went on in two sections
to make few alterations which were ne
cessary merely by change of the officers
provided for under the Confederation.
In the opinion of those men, when they
made those alterations, merely requiring
a change of officers, they thought-per-
haps in their weakness, perhaps in their
foIly-that they had done all that was
necessary to adapt the ordinance of 1887
to the Constitution of the United States.
George Washington affixed his signature
to that act, and it stands on the statute
book to-day; and no man can challenge
the assertion, that is was the opinion OF
George Washington, $50 far as his official
acts are any indication of his opinion =
of James Madison, who did more to pro-
duce the adoption and ratification Of the
Federal Constitution, perhaps, than any
other man, with the exception of Alexan-
der Hamilton the opinion of John Lang
don, of Rufus King, of Pierce Butler, OF
South Carolina, of Mr.. Few and Mr..
Baldwin of Georgia, and those other men
whom I have named-that Congress had
, power under the Constitution to prohibit
slavery in the Territories. They did it
and their act has remained, from that day
to the present, unchallenged and unre
pealed. Let me ask you, sir, if, in the
Il history of this Government, from the time
L of the adoption Of the Federal Constitu
II ton down to the present day, any Presi
L dent of the United States has suggested
, to Congress that the existence of tina
u statute was not warranted by the Consti
, tuition, and ought therefore to be repealed
No sir. And do not believe that there
" a man rash enough at the present day t
venture his reputation upon such an on
, slaught as that would be on the Judgment
- the intelligence, and the patriotism of tn
" Father of his Country who helped t
. form the Constitution, and who signed thi
very act,
. Then, sir, look at the acts organizin
F." territorial governments ever since; an
you will find without exception, that Cor
gress have taken jurisdiction on this sub
r. : ject, MISUNDERSTANDING SLAYER
in some cases, regulating it in Others
You will find that in laws organizing tel
ritorial governments for even Souther
Territories of Louisiana and Mississippi
Congress did take cognizanee of the sui
- ject Of slavery, regulating and limitin
it in those cases and restricting it
. others.
- The country reposed in safety, peac
= security and harmony under this COZ
struction, until these latter days, when
- the new-light revelations of the present
has been discovered that Washingte
&c Madison, Langdon, King, Ellswort
=, Gerry, and all their compatriots who wei
IF engaged in making and administering Il
IN Constitution, died in happy ignorance
10 what its essential provisions were. CO
nj fess that, for one, l am willing to take n
oo chance of being mistaken, with those des
on fathers of the past, rather than run Il
be doubtful chance of getting illuminate
as from the new lights of to-day.
re WHAT ANTI-NEBRAsKA MEN WANT.
he Now, sir, what do we want? What
9W we ask? We ask that the country sh:
e, come back to the point from which
s; started. We enter upon no crusade again
nd any Southern rights. We ask for no ne
at doctrine, no new experiments, no ras
rs, doubtful, or untried measures. We a
rs, satisfied with the wisdom of the past. v
III are satisfied with the inheritance and Il
of legacy which the patriots of the Revol
IA; ton have left US. We are willing to tai
Ia; the Constitution as they understood it, al
nd the law as they framed and administer
of 1t. Is it arrogance for us to ask that Y,
I come with US there? We ask YOU to
~ fIIr+ har. rva Yoo,.o1x-