The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-16
SPEECH OF MR.. GREEN ADAMS,

The following extracts OF speech maue IN congress on
the 28th of July ls4s the Oregon bill embrace his
views on the slavery question Mr. Adams being an
American candidate for escor present his position in
ls4s will be interesting to the people of Kentucky
now propose submit few thoughts, very briefly on
the subject of slavery in connexion with this BILL and
then if my time will permit, call the attention OF my hon
orabe colleague from the third district to his
ordinary and unounded speech in which he has thought
proper to rdicule and abuse distinguished patriot
able honest, and honorable man.
In discussing the question of slavery permit to say
that have ambition to show myself TO be either
southern northern man, eastern a western man,
but would prefer show myself of my country and
my whole counTya man for the Union based upon the
constitution in every emergency And perhaps some Of
my southern friends both wings and democrats will think
the position upon this sub rather extaord
nary for living in slave State representing slave
constituency, and owning slaves, when tell them that
mai ntan Congress has the constitutional right to egsate
upon the subject OF slavery in the Terrories and further
will vote to strike out from this bill that section
tanning the provisions Of the ordinance of 1881
have heard much said in relation to the constitutional
power of Congress to egsae upon the subject OF slavery
in the Territories and maintain that TO show the exist
ence of this power beyond reasonable controversy Is
not necessary to time in reviewing the civil and
political history of the country for upwards OF half CEN
ury and quote and elaborate the numerous precedens
both legislative and judicial authority or argument
for the existence of this power though, if precedent
could under any state OF the case settle question
in the estimation of gentlemen this ought to be considered
settled by the authority OF precedent But whilst
do consider the authority of precedent necessary
absh the constitutional power OF Congress to legsate
upon the subject do not agree with the gentleman from
Alabama Mr.. HARRIS, who thinks that we might as well
quote the perpetraton OF one act OF vany as authority
for the commission of another neither do feel under
obligation to answer such an argument admit that
have Difference and respect tor the acts and opinions OF
wise and good of former times and they always
entitled their weight with me- at least argument,
if not as positive authority.
of power necessary TO execute expressly delegated
power; because maintain that the power to legslate
upon the subject Of slavery expressly granted in the
third section of the fourth article of the constitution Civ
ing Congress the power to dispose Of and make all
needu rules and regulations respecting the territory and
other property belonging to the United States would
ask gentlemen under what other of the constitution
do derive the to egate for the Territories
all where do they obtain the right to establish terrific
rial government unless it be from the clause here given
And Congress derives its powers to make territorial
ernmens and to legislae for the Territories from this
clause in the constitution has it not the power legsae
upon subject that does conflict with the federal
constitution And where in the constitution is the
stricon in regard to slavery find however, that the
dstng gushed from South Carolina Mr. CALHOUN
very summary disposes of this clause in the constitution
following manner land understand the able and pro-
found urist from Georgia Mr. BERRIEN take the
position) read from the third page OF Mr.. Calhoun 5
printed speech, delivered in the Senate 9th Of June.
Speaking of this clause in the constitution he says
at exclusively territory, regarded simply pub
lie lands Every word relates to in that character and is
but property Take the expression dispose OF, with
which begins 1t easily understood what it when
reg adng the territory character the object
the right sell make other disposition of it,
and what possible meaning can it have when SO applied
Take the next expression TO make all needu rules and
applicable to government in loose sense but they
applied in the constitution In every where
such as the rules Of or of the House
Congress- for the of their proceedings but
government, which always implies persons to be gov
erned."
Suppose as argued, that the term dispose Of" can
have reference application to government do they
restrict the power TO made all neediul rules and regua
tions2 Congress, as understand from the language OF
the constitution has not only the power to dispose Of
the territories but also ITO make all nedu rules and
ulatons' respecting them But Mr. Calhoun argues that
the terms make all needu rules and regulations
never applied in the constitution TO government which
implies persons TO be governed and he assumes that in
cry where they used in the constitution they refer
property things process such the rules OF
court the House OF Congress tor the government of its
proceedings Now take Il that rules Tor the government
of the House OF Congress are nothing more nor less than
govern persons in their conduct and not TO govern
property things. But need only refer gentlemen TO
the eighth section Of the first article Of the constitution
which gives Congress the power to make rules for the
government and regulation Of the land and naval forces
show that this position incorrect and that the terms
rules and regulations" applied in the constitution
10 the government of persons And now Mr.. Chairman
MAINTAIN that the terms rules and regulations when
used in the constitution nothing else than laws aud
the vention which framed the constitution, using them
with reference civil government could have intended to
give them other meaning, being not only their
law, but universal Specification Congress, then, ac-
cordne to the constitution make all needful laws
specng Territories and Congress is be the Judge Of
what needul. But Mr.. Calhoun and other gentle
have admitted the constitutional power by
mending and advocating the passage of the bill this
ing laid upon the table in this House under the sanction
Of their oaths TO support the constitution.
But sir my honorable colleague from the ninth district
Mr. FRENCH who found 1t necessary to discuss this ques
ton because other Kentuckian had spoken upon
subject leaves his constitution and travels off TO
Great Britain get Judge BackStones definition OF abso
lutte rights to show that Congress has right to egate
upon the subject of slavery in the Territories and
suitable the position which he assumes he has
sion for the rights Of personal security the rights Of
sona liberty but he arrays with much force and gravity
the right Of private property and arguing upon the right
to enjoy private property and the fact that slaves prop
erty the slave States and that the public lands in the
Territories the property Of all the States the slave
well the free States he adduces the ooroary that Con-
gress has constitutional right TO legsate upon the sub
ect of slavery in the Territories Now sir person will
deny the absolute right Of persons enjoy their private
property and person has greater aversion than to
the interference by government with private vested legal
rights but would ask if the passage OF law by Con-
gress prohibiting the introduction Of slavery into the Ter
rtores you please authorizing slavery in tho Terri
tories for hold that slavery cannot exist without the
thory of positive law nterferes with the rights Of citizens
in the slave States enjoy their slave property No
at all If that be interference with the right
Joy slave property there scarcely State in this Union
that has been guilty Of this interference with the right
trict OF Columbia purchase slave here to-day, he Is
my private property, have right to control and enjoy
the benefit of his service But sir take that
TO Kentucky the land of my birth and the home my
fathers and enjoy my right his service there No sir
colleague knows that the laws Of Kentucky prohibit It,
well Imprisonment for violation Of that law and
that the Of Kentucky enforced the