New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-16

spa sisx.rv into those territories excludes Il
"a law protecting slavery and that,
Kshsss and Nebrssks bill promotes the formation OF
teustst@s in Kansss and Nebrs.ksP .
sssRssxs-I did not see that question, Mr.. Clerk,
~, wss brought TO me by page from the desk
bus n repetition Of the first interogaOry, withthe
s,snoent will say that il ia doubted whether the in
s-Eon of Slavery existed 10 these Territories at the
:. thew we're acquired. Without going into the
I;on whether France, by the decree OF 1894 abOl-
"a the institution of Slavery there, will say that,
n were necessary that the Congress Of the United
.a should interdct that institution In those Terrific
sss IN order TO make them free, think that Congress
IA ebt in doing it. II it necessary, in order to
Tret 10 the South the right to carry the institution OF
S,yery there that the interC Of 1920 should be re-
eyed think that the Congress of 1853 was wrong IN
~sking that repeal; and cannot, Sir, but say, with
N light that has come to me upon this question: that
~ ir,terdict Of 900 forbade and abolished the n5tu
N of Slavery if existed there; that the repeal Of
at prohibtion in 1853, inasmuch as 1t allowed S!a
~ry 10 90 there under certain possible circumstance
,ss an act not promotive Of the formation OF Free
Sa.es. That, Sir, is my answer to that question
Mr.. FCLLEg then took the floor and spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr. PrtLER Of Penpsyvania-Mr. Clerk, ! voted
sr the resolution offered by the gentleman from Ten
nessee lMr ZolicOherl yesterday, because cordially
approve OF the principle embodied IN that resolution
Tsrly in the session felt it duty in justice TO my
sslf and 10 those With whom had been acting, TO de-
clare the opinions entertained and the course of ac
tion should pursue upon certain questions OF public
poicy. desire TO say now, Sir, what believe is
Known TO the malOrity-if not TO al-of those who
have bonored me with their confidence, that have
been ready at any and all times to withdraw nv name
from this protracted canvass have felt unwilling 10
stand, or to APPEAR TO stand, in the way of any fair
organization Of this body.
In answer TO the specific interogaOries here pres
enied / say that do not regard the Kansas and Me-
brsska bill as promotive Of the formation Of free
States and will further say, Sir, that do not believe
IL DrOun Of
lCries Of "GOOdP'l The second lntcnogat0ry re-
iates to the constitutionslity Of the Wimo ProvsO
| wss not a Member of the Congress of 1850, and
have never been called upon to affirm or deny the con-
sttutionslity of the Wimot Proyiso.
Il have never assumed the position that " If terrific
"sI bills silent upon the subject Of Slavery, andeav
"n would vote for bill with the Wilmot Proviso ~
"h." That question relates to tue legislative action
Of the distinguished gentleman from Illinois, Mr.
Rchardson. My political existence commenced since
that food IIaughterl. / was not member of that
Congress and having never taken any public position
upon that subject heretofore, am willing in all frank
nass and csndor to do now; and do so with great
Difference and respect for those distinguished men who
in t,Iues past have entertained and expressed differ
ent opinions Public history informs us that Slavery
existed before the Constitution, and in my judgment,
now exists independent of the Constitution. When
tbe peope Of the cOnfederated States met, by their
representatives in Convention, to form that COnstu
ton Slavery existed in all but one OF the States of the
Confederacy. The people, through their rcpresenta-
tiyes having an existing and Acknowledged night TO
hold slaves, conceded ths-the night to prohibit i'm
Dorationafter the year l50s They made no cession,
80 far as regarded the existence Of domestic Slavery
They c!ained-and il was grapted-the right of re-
clsmstion in case Of escape. They claimed-and
il was granted-the right of representation as au
element of political power And | hold, in the
absence of express authority, that Congress has no
constitutional right to legislae upon the subject OF
Slavery. lApplause.I hold that the Territories are
the common property Of all the States, and that the
people of all the States have common right to enter
upsn and occupy those Territories and they are pro-
tected in that occupation by the flag Of our common
country: that Congress has no constitutional power
either to legsate Slavery into exclude it from,
Territory. Neither has the Territorial Legislature, IN
nv Judgment any right to egsate upon that subject,
except so ar as il may be necessary to protect the
citizens Of the Territory in the enjoyment of their
property and fh0t in pursuance OF ITS organic law, as
established by Congressional legislation When the
citizens of the Territory shall apply for admission into
the Union, they may determine for themselves the
character of their institutions by their state Gons-
they will tolerate Slavery or not, and, thus fairly
deciding for themselves, should be admitted into the
Union as States without reference TO the subject OF
Slavery. The Constitution was formed by the people
Of the States for the purposes of mutual advantage
and protection. The States are ssvereignics limited
only 80 far they have surrendered their powers to
the General Government. The General Government
fbus created and limited, acts with certain positive
defined, and clearly ascertained powers. Its legs
Iaton and administration should be controlled by the
Constitution; and il cannot Justly employ its powers
thus delegated to impair or destroy any existing or
vested rights belonging TO the people of any OF the
States.
Mr.. PENNINGTON said when the House should ser-
ousy contemplate electing him as its Presiding Officer
be would answer the questions. He hardly thought
II worth while to take up the time of the House at
present.
Mr.. BAaKspALE-The nterrogatores, Mr. Clerk
which propose TO put TO the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts Bir Banks) intend for all the gentlemen
who are candidates for the Speakershp; and In order
propounded may understand them, will now read
Are YOU now a member of the American or Know
Nothing party s, . u.n;.
trct Of Columbia the United States forts, dock
yards. &c. -,
Do Won believe in the equality of the white and black
races in the United States and you wish to promote
that equality by legislation
Are you favor of the entire exclusion OF adopted
citizens and Roman Catholics from office
Do you favor the same mOdihcation-and this ques-
ton intend particularly for the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts Dir. Banks)-of the tarih now which you
did az the last Session OF Congress
Mr. RicHARDsoS-I wish to answer the questions
PropOunded. ,,,...;.
order to put one or two more uterogatores III ADDITION
TO those propounded by the gentleman from Missis-
sppi7 should like to know of each candidate forthe
Speak ership including my friend from New-JeIsey
(r Peupington whether he believes IN future state
or not 7 Laughterl And then, provided he answers
that que stion afirmativey desire to know whether
be beieves il will be free OF slave state R0ars OF
laugbter.
Mr. RIcHARDsoS-I have received a copy of the in-
Qunes propounded by the gentleman from Ohio MIR.
Hnghain). have looked over these interrogatories,
and Il seems to me that l have answered thom sub
santialy with the exception Of the first and fifth.
refer that gentleman therefore to the remarks sub