Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-02-29

chamber were 10 agree TO dissolve this
Onion, they could not now do it. But,
sir, while this is true, if this excitement
shall continue-if this agitation shall be
kept up until sectional parties can be
formed and united-until the South can
be arrayed against the North, and the
North against the South-until the kind
| ly feeling of one section can be changed
to hate against the other section, we may
despair Of the perpetuity of our Govern
ment, and prepare our minds for its cer-
tain overthrow. Our wise and Spatriotic
fathers have warned US against the dan>
ger Of parties thus organized. live heed
their voices, or the warnings of history.
we will remove every induCcment; every
cause for such organization"
also beg the attention Of the House
to the following extract from the report
of Jsdge Douglas, made to the Senate at
the same time he reported the bill for or.
ganizing the Territories of Nebraska and
Kansas
Such being the character Of the con.
troversy in respect to the territory acqUi-
red from Mexico, similar question has
arisen in regard to tue right TO hold slaves
in the proposed Territory, of Nebraska,
when the Indian laws shall be withdrawn
and the country thrown open to emigra>
ton and settlement. BY the eighth Sec
ton OF an act to authorize the people OF
The Missouri Territory TO form constitu-
ton and Stale government, and for the
admission ot such Sta:e iuto the Union on
an cqual footing with the original States,
and 10 prohibit slavery in certain Terri
! Z, Il 7,l, ir
provided, That in all territory ceded by
/ France to the United States under the
name Of Louisiana, which lies north of
So deg. and 50 min. north latitude, not
included within the limits of the State
/ contemplated by this act, slavery and in
voluntary selvItude, otherwise than in the
punishment OF crimes whereof the parties
Shall have been duly convicted, shall be,
and is hereby, forever prohibited Pro
viaed utVuys, That any person escaping
into The same from whom labor or service
is lawfully claimed in any State or Terri.
tory of the United States, such fugitives
may be lawfully claimeI and conveyed to
the person claiming his or her labor or
service as aforesaid"
F." Under this section, as in the case of
the Mexican law in New Mexico and Utah,
it is disputed point whether slavery is
prohibited in the Nebraska country by
volid enactment. The decision of this
question involves the constitutional pow
cr of Congress TO pass laws prescribing
and regulating the domestic institutions
of the various Territories Of the Union.--
In the opinion of those eminent statesmen
who hold that Congress is invested with
no rightful authority to legisatc upon the
subject OF slavery in the Territories, the
eighth section of the act preparatory TO
the. ad Omission OF Missouri is null and void,
willie the prevailing sentiment in large
! portions of the Union sustains the doc~
trne, shat The Constitution of the United
States secures to every citizen an inalien-
able right TO move into any of the Terri-
tories with his property. of whatever
kind and description, and to hold and en-
! JOY the same under sanction OF law. Your
committee do not feel themselves called
upon 10 enter into the discussion Of these
conLroverted questions. They involve
! the same grave issues which produced
the agitation, the sectional strife, and the
fearful struggle OF 1850. AS Congress
deemed it wise and prudent to refrain
from deciding the matters in controversy
then, either by affirming or repeating the
Mexican laws, or by an act declaratory
Of the true intent of the Constitution and
the extent OF protection afforded by it to
slave property in the Territories, SO your
committee are not prepared now to re-
commend departure from the course
pursued on that memorable occasion, eli
lher by affirming or repeating the Ell ghth
section Of the Missouri act, or by any act
dcclaratory ofthe meaning Of the COnstitu.
tion in respect to the legal points in dis.
pute. Your committee deem it fortunate
for the peace OF the country and the Sc
curity OF the Union that the controversy
then resulted in the adoption of the com
promise measures which the two grea,
political parties, with singular unanimisy,
have affirmed as cardinal article of their
faith, and proclaimed to the world as a
final settlement of the controversy aud an
end of the agitation. A due respect,
Senators, as we'll as proper sense of pa
triotic duty, enjoins upon your committee
the propriety and necessity of strict ad-
herence to the principles. and even q lit
eraI adoption Of the enactments, Of that
adjustment in all their territorial bills. SO
far lhe same are not locally inapplieabie. !"
\ The Clerk. The gentieman's time has
expired.
Mr.. Edie. When the gentleman rose,
he proposed to occupy the time consumed
by call of the House there was NO
Z, objection, aud l presume that he is now
to be allowed 10 continue during that
time. Loud cries Of {" Go on be has
half An nour !"
4 Mr.. Garlic. The fearful condition in
which the country should be placed, that