The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-01
VOL. X.

pete, in the school-room, at the blackboard
in the lecture-room, on the rostrum. in tbn
field, or in the shop, with the son of the Soutb
erner as we'll as the son of the Nortberner RI,
sir, never could feel fathers pride in witness
ing his struggles for position in the polite circles
while had, by vote Of mine, made him the COM
panion of slaves at his daily labor Rather tbon
see him reduced to practical inequality Of this
kind, would prefer to see his eyes plucked ont
| and given to the eagles, and his heart snatcbe5
out and given to the vultures. Place him on a
platform of equality--let him labor in the sam,
sphere, with the same chances of success and pro
| motion-let the contest be exactly equal between
him and others; and if, in the conflict of
mind with mind he should sink beneath The hi
| low, let him perish but by no vote or act Of
mine will give him an unequal battle. If copIJ
| not thus wrong my own child will not as a Sen
ator representing in part of the States of this
| Union, by any official act Of mine either exclude
| her free citizens from the enjoyment of opr com
mon Territories, or place them in compauiopsbin
with the feld-hands of Southern planters.
1t is this claim of Southern statesmen to the usa
Of all the Territories for slsveholdinQ communi-
ties, that is upheavng the elements of society and
dissolving old parties, North and West. The cry
of Black Republicansm, nor the threat to dissolve
| the Union, will stay the swelling wave The ,ry
of Abolitionism will'be equally impotent.
Abolitionist," with ts original meanino. was
exceedingly odious in the North and West a.
well as South When it meant an oficious inter
meddling OF the people OF one State with the do
| nestle affairs OF another-when il was said 70
mean social equality and amalgamation of the
two races, there were but few to approve il. AMI
| ], sir, was never one of that number Wbils
saw no generic distinction between the two
| races, 1t has always seemed to me that sometime
was due to the common instincts, affinities. and
decencies of life; all of which were so flagrantly
| violated by the great Democratic party in lSsf
| by elevating practical ANAL samationist to N.
second office in the gift of the nation, and again
| in 1910, by attempting TO repeat the outrage
never acted with such party never consultei
| them, advised with them, nor voted for them.
| have always defended the right of the peoule M
| the Southern States to regulate their own do
| nestle institutions in their own wav" But sir
claim an equal right for the people of the ,rLo,
| country, by their representatives in Congress 4,
regulate the domestic institutions of all the Terri
| tories belonging to the United States This +,
constitutional equality, rs ! understand it. LEI
each State control its own domestic affairs, within
its own jurisdiction and let Congress control h,
| domestic affairs of the nation, wherever her sor
ereignty is unrestricted by an existing State Co
eminent. And | shall not be deferred from m.
defence of this position by the cry of Abolitior.
| ism.
| And now, Mr. President, | conclude these tleQl
| |
| conclude that the Congress of the United State.
has power to prohibit Slavery in the Territories
| of the United States
| /. Because Congress has exercised this power
by declaratory acts following the acquisition Of
| the Northwest Territory, the Louisiana Territory
| the State of Texas, and Oregon.
| 2. Because Congress has prohibited Slavery in
| the organization OF Territorial Governments aud
in the admission of States formed out of all terri
| yrh a
bracing all that vast country north of the Oao
river and 800 30/ OF north latitude, extending
from the eastern line of Ohio to the Pacific Ocean
embracing period of time commencing with
1887, and reaching to 1850.
| 3. Because there is not on record in all the
| adjudication of all the courts of the country
State and National, extending from the foundation
OF the Government to the present moment a
single adverse decision.
4. Because in the acquisition of the Territorie.
the Government Of the United States acquired fun.
| complete, and exclusive sovereignty over them.
as the successor of the soveregns from whom
they were procured, of which she cannot divest
herself until she transfers this sovereignty TO State
| Governments
5. Because this power is indirectly asserted in
the kansas-Nebraska act, comforting on the peo-
pie of the Territories the power to egisate on all
suitable subjects of legislation, and to regulate
| their own domestic institutions in their own way
since-a power could never be transferred, which
was not previously held by Congress
Secondly, | conclude that this power ought TO
be exercised in the organization of Territorial
| Governments where Slavery did not previously
| exist
l. Because natural justice, as interpreted BY
the fathers of the Republic, demands it,
2 Because the supposed or real nferority Of
| the African race increases instead of dminishos
the obligations of civil society protect him from
the oppression of the strong and powerful.
| B. Because equality among the people of all the
States requires it: the permission of Slavery
| the. Territories practically excluding an over
whelmng majority of the American people from
their occupancy.
A. Because the peace and quiet Of the Terrific
ries requires that this, and all great questions Of
State, should be settled by the supreme legsla-
ture.
And, lastly, because its speedy exercise seems
to be the only means for restoring TO the people
OF Kansas the rights of freemen, of which they
have been deprived by violence.
VNrENTU