The daily union., 1856-01-27

upon an idea that would have excluded OF the old
thirteen from the Onion but oneNassachisetts alone
could have been Union by herself upon your principles
Is il supposed that the other twelve would have disputed
the character of State constitution TO be admitted
into the Union because II not republican If only
braced the principles OF rephbcanism their
state 10 these gentlemen who call themselves republi
cam that they desecra every principle consecaied BY the
they bear only 10 this view, but they do again
when they undertake TO set that they better judges
OF what right in the Territories and better legislators for
the people Of Kansas and Nebraska than the people OF those
Territories for themselves They do when they
themselves the masters and judges OF the proper in
suuons Of the people Of Kansas The people Of Massa
chuses and the people Of the other northern States
with attending to their own business them
selves up be superior 10 the people OF Kansas and Ne
braska and pretend that they can know their interests and
determine them better than they themselves Sir,
utterly deny the repubicanism of their pretenslons
Mr.. STANTON (interruptingl made an inquiry Of Mr.
STEPHENS which the reporter did not distinctly hear
Mr. STEPHENS. | going 10 bring my remarks to
close and would ask therepnbeans in this House, aud
particularly the gentleman from Uhp who objects 70 my
proceeding 10 listen. read, sir, what Mr. John Quincy
Adams who believe, as violent an ant-sayery man
in his sentiments as any an said TO the aboonsts at
Pittsburg, Pennsy yyania In November iS43' ...
"As to the abolition Of slavery in the District of Coum-
any doubts OF the power of Congress abolish slavery in the
Distrie-for have nonebut regard 1t as uiolaton Of
principles enact laws at the petition of peo
Die which are TO operate upon another people against their
AS he laws stand the people o the District have
property in their slaves"
Just upon the principle of its being ant-repG'tcan Mr.
Adams would not egisate for the people Of this District
against her ] consent lio did not question the power
ton of order do not thiak il advisable in discussion
of this kind that speech of this sort should out to the
country without there being an opportunity first 10 have
| il replied to,
Mf STEPHENS, shall moi trSspass op the tins Of the
House than few minutes longer,
The CLERK. The Clerk would state that the House. by
unanimous consent permitted the gentleman from Georgia
ilr CAMPBELL, of Ohio ! ask my colleague Mr..
STAgTny to withdraw his objection and allow the gentle
1 fNaara
to have debating society hare will seek opportunity
to reply to the gentleman and therefore desire that he
shall be fully heard.
Mr. STANTON withdrew his objections.
Mr.. STEPHENS. 1t is not my intention, Mr. Clerk, TO
trespass the indulgence of this House. nor shall do it.
have been brought into the discussion much further than
had any idea of when But there is one remark
which wish to make before concluding what wished to
sayand that is in regard to the doctrine Of squacr SOW
eregnty OF which several gentliemen, have spoken.
this mornng-if understood him aright-of the prnci-
pie of suater Sovereignty embraced in the kaDsas-No
braska bill Now these terms of sqaater sovereignty
and non-interventon" words which have been differ
emily understood by different gentlemen and differently by
the gentlemen at different times as have stated wish
say that understand "squatter sovereignty" now
and have always understood it, there is not particle
of it in the Kansas bill What understand by "sqnatter
sovereignty is the inherent and souefaa gg of tue people
of the Territory settling the domain TO eetab.
sh and up governments for themselves without look
ing to Congress and independently Of Congress.
Now sir that idea was embraced by some gentlemen n
ton by Congress and With ts gisW cal the atten-
ton of the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. 2oLooFFEs,I
who has read from my speech in 1850, when used the
term "noa-ineryenton" Many persons embraced that
with the other views Ia eonneEjGn with that term which
have referred to. Against that doctrine win that nder-
standing Of it, always stood opposed and am opposed
There Is not single feature, not particle OF
squatter sovereignty in the Kansas bill on That idea
Why sir their whole organic law emanates from Con-
gess Their legislature their Judiciary every department,
and the whole machinery of their govsrnmen proceeded
from Congress the inherent sovereign right OF the people
ssablsh government independently OF Congress is not
recognised in single clause of that bill. Ii gentlemen
by squalter sovereignty this pracpe say TO them
that there is not particle Of 1t in that bill and am as
much against it as nybody.
Mr.. ZOLLlCOFFER. Will the gentleman from Georgia
allow TO AJAX him question
Mr.. STEPHENS. Yes, sir.
Mr.. ZOLLICOFFER would be pleased TO know whether
the gentleman from Georgia interprets the kansasNe-
braska bill TO give to the people, to the legislative body of
the Territories Of Kansas and Nebraska, the power TO
abolish slavery during the existence of the territorial gov
Mr.. STEPHENS / answer the gentleman think that
the KansasNebraska bill gius the people of the Terri
tory grants 10 e all the power that Congress had over
Mr.. zoLLlOOFFER. Do you believe that Congress had
power TO abolish slavery that Territory during its
territorial existence
MIR. STEPHENS. think it would be unjust and great
wrong, for Congress TO exercise any such power,
Mr.. zoLLICoFFER Do you think it would be uncon-
stutional2
Mr. STEPHENS. think there is no power in the con-
suuon to do it, and it wonld be wrong from any result
ing power denying 1t would equal and just enjoy
rnent of the public domain by all the people and unjust
and tanttmoun 10 usurpation, 10 do it. SIR was going
TO say that the gentleman holds that Congress has such
power
Mr.. ZOLLICoFFER, OnterupGng) Do you believe
that Congress bad the power at all
Mr.. STEPHENS. Hear through What was going
is that all the power which Congress possessed
the Territories this subject is in this b given to the
people And the gentleman holds that Congress could not
prohibit slavery II So the people then, cannot Now,
what hold is that the constitution Is seut upon the sub
ect But such act by Congress In the supposed
would be AN act in my opinion, Of gross Injustice and
would be aatamount TO open violation Of Of the
express provisions OF ths constitution All the power how
which Congress had tho subject Is granted the
people, and they have got else say this and that
voted for the bill with this understanding Of its import,
aud determination that whatever the people of that Ter
ory should do the subject Of slavery whether their
legislatures should pass laws to protect II TO exclude IT,
simply leave IL without protection should for myself
abide by their acts was for taking off odious dis
elimination and unjust restriction by Congress against
who going from all sections alike, deeply inter
eed In IT. according to the principles of the territorial bills
OF 1850.
Mr. Z0LLI0OFFER, ] do not wish to misunderstood
the gentleman from Georgia aud ! therefore ask him
whether understand him as sayug that il would
the Territory yet that IL has the constitutional power to do
and that Congress conferred that power upon the Ter
ritory2 ..
Mr. STEPHENS. No. sir; the gentleman, it seems,
wishes to make say what did not say. | said
that Congress had the power to prohibit slavery in the
Territories. ...
Mr. ZoLLfCoFFER The gentleman from Georgia mis-
spprehends me II be supposes that intend to represent
him saying what did not understand him TO say.
Mr. STEPHENS. Very well, then; do not make me say
what have not said.
Mr. ZOLLICOFFER. II seems, then that I misappre-
hcnded the gentleman; but that certainly my under