Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-01-25
From thsN.YEzpre...
The CongressionaI peings.

From the n. 7. Express.
The Congressional Doings.
Mr. ZoIicofers queries brought out Mr. Richards
son on an important principle. The Southern the
DRY of Territorial Government seems to be now
that Territorial Governments can not prohibit Sla-
very,-only the People of the State lin embryo) in
their State Constitution, because the Federal
Constitution takes Slavery into new Territories,
from whence it can beexcluded only by sovereign
State. The Richardson and Cass theory differs from
this,-for says Mr. Richardson, in his reply to Mr..
ZolicoHer
intended then, and intend now, that the people
who go there, who have gone there, shall decide
the question Of slavery for themselves and so far as
could to admit them States, with or without slave
~, as the people should decide. In common with
Northern and Southern gentlemen, have said that
in my opinion slavery would never 90 there; but
have never here or elsewhere, urged that as a rea-
son why voted for that bill. / voted for the bill
because it was just, right, and proper and wanted
nothing more to defend myself. ! repeat here an
argument have made over and over again before
my constituents, aud it is this if majority Of the
people OF Kansas or Nebraska are in favor of sla-
very, they will have it; fa majority Opposedto it,
then they will not have it,
In 1913 we acquired Louisiana; 1t
was slave territory. In 1929 we divided, by line
OF 80 deg. 80 min, that territory: north OF the
line 1t was TO be free. In lS45 we annexed Texas;
that was slave territory; we divided that by extern
ding the line of 36 deg. 80 min through thai:
north TO be free. In 1913 acquired territory
from Mexico; that was Tree. / voted repeatedly to
extend the same line west to the Pacific ocean.
voted for that line with few Representatives from
the North, and the whole body of Southern Repre-
sentatves. When | gave those votes l did not
believe then, nor do believe now that violated
the Constitution of the United States If you
have power under the Constitution to exclude
slavery from half of Territory, think you have
power to exclude from all, through such exer-
else would be unjust and wrong. have never
therefore, voted to exercise that power upon the
pnciple OF compromise.
The constitution does not in my opinion carry
the institutions OF any of the States into the Ter
ritOries; but G affords the protection there to
the institutions of one State of ano her. The
citizen of Virginia is much entitled in the
common territory to the protection of his prop
erty under the Constitution as the citizen of Hi
nois; but both are dependent upon the legisld~
ton of the Territorial Government for laws to pro
tect their property, of whatever kind it may be
Thus it will be that, though there may be
upon this point difference theoretically, involy-
ing questions for judicial DECISION vet there none
by Congress as the practical result is to place the
decision Of the questions in the hands Of those who
most deeply interested in its solution, namely,
the people Of the Territory who have made it their
home, and whose interests are the most deeply in
vOved in the character of the institutions under
which they to live.
There are great concession here. Nj Richardson
Comedies
LIST. The principle of the WiImot ProvisO,-that
is, of limiting slavery by Federal Law, over con
quered or purchased territory He thinks it ''un.
just and wrong" however, he admits the
power,-and as men generally differ about fright
and wrong, when once the power is admitted the
exercise it only becomes matter of expediency.
I'd. He denies the Southern Doctrine, that sla-
very goes a Territory under the protection Of the
Federal Constitution.
Sd. He admits las consequence, Of COURSE that
the People of Territory may, by Territorial Leg.
islatiOn, if they please, exclude slavery from the
Territory. THE people of The Territory are To solve
the question of slavery slavery.
Mr. Richardson's theory is that Of abolition
''squatter sovereignty, under which squatters,
independent of the Federal owner of the soil,
may admit, or exclude slavery at will.
The absurdity and wrong of admitting a few
squatters upon common territory, TO exclude Is
States of the Union from their immigration, or TO
compel l6 States to emigrate among slaves,-we
have often pointed out in our columns. But Mr..
Richardson not only holds to this absurdity,-but
10 another, viz:
That 10 slave States and l6 free States, may 10
to war,-pour out common blood, eXpend common
treasure,-and then that the l6 free States may
have the power to shut the Is slave States out from
the common enjoyment Of common conquered or
even common purchased soil. We belieye,-on
the eoutrary,-that when we steal from, or rob a
neighbour or corrupt and bride her public men to
sell out their parimOny, division among all the
robbers and plunderers should be equal and fair.
The "power" of one to take all, does not exist
unless by power, is meant force.
The great principle, then, of Mr.. Richardson is
that few fellows Filiibusters, prehaps') may
rush into Territory, and for all time keep out at
will one, or the other, halfof the Union,-by some
pecuIiarities in their local laws Hence, if the
bloody code of Kansas, which makes even the dis.
cusson Of Slavery crime there,-though guaran>
teed by Congress in the Kansas Nebraska Bill was
passed by bona fde Kansas mt is Law, above
the Law Of the United States -beeause il is Kansas
Territorial Legisl ton; but out upon such non
sense.