New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-16
A CONGRESSIONAL CATECHism

of Mr. Zocotfcr delivered rthe House Of Represent
stves on Saturday the 18th inst Mr.. Richardson
had previously given hs sentiments ON the Goose gue''
ton;
Mr.. B,sKs-Nr. Clerk, voted for the resoulio
presented by the honorable gentleman IRON enneesee
mir Zollicofferl Yesterday with pleasure II emood-
les prnciple which think sound. Misunderstood by
me- when reported at the Clerks desk, II was uotng
more nor less than simply this that any gentenAn
who votes for candidate for any office ought 70 Know
the opinions of that candidate. l recognize the night
of every gentleman in this House who has been voting
for Speaker during this protracted contest 10 ascer
tain the opinions Of any man for whom ne easSs nus
vote Sir, should claim It as nay right 10 ksos .9s
opinions OF MY candidate 10 such an extent as
be satisfactory, to myself, at least
But Sir, as "A member OF the House, have otheI
rights. l offer myself as candidate tor no ounce
solicit no mans suffrage; and am not therefore,
called upon as candidate TO solve such difculties a
gentlemen supporting other persons may hnd IN tue eN-
sting condition of public affairs. Those who have
honored me by their confidence and votes are them-
selves responsible for the course they have chosen
and doubt not, they are able to meet that respons
bitv II is not for 10 provide for their defense.
can only saw as Othelo said of his wife, they hsd
eyes, and chose me-
/ have convictons-eonvictons of duty convictions
of principle the great matters in which the
try is interested and, as member of the House rop-
resentng District in the Commonwealth OF Msssa-
chusetts, have no hesitation IN responding to any
the inquiries propounded by the honorable gentleman
from Tennessee to the honorable gentleman from Hi.
nos. l ask the Clerk to read the first question.
The CLERK read as follows:
cards the b ss promotSe Of the ormson Of
Free stses in the Territories Of Kansas and Nebasss
Mr.. BASKs-lt will be understood, OF course, that
the pbraseology of this inquiry applies rather to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Richardson than to my
self answer, distinctly, that l do not regard the
KansasNebraska bill az promotve of the formation
of Free States nasmuch as il repeals the prohibition
of the Institution of Slavery the section of
try to which that statute applies think il does not
tend to the formation OF Free States. That is my
The Clerk read as follows:
Am ht in uppo'ng he advocates the Consutienseyof
ne mot Proso ,hst IN lsoO ne opposed II, 20
was unnecessary nasmuch as tho local laws in those
Territories already abolished sayeywhch ought to be- su
cient for oil FeeSoil aud that he committed himself
the position that Territorial bill. ent upon the subject
Slavery and leaving the Mexican law operate defeated
he would Tor bills with the wumot Proyso in thom
Mr.. BAsKs--I could give general answer in the
Affirmative 10 that intenogatOry believe in the
sttutonalty of that act which is known and generally
understood as the Wilmot Provso. l believe that il II
within the powe Of Congress TO prohibit the institution
of slavery in a Territory belonging to the United
States Whether Iwoud advocate the plsslge Of such
act in regard 10 a Territory where il was clearly
unnecessary, where by local. preexstng laws il had
been prohibited; or, in other words, whether would
advocate double inhbision have only TO say, that
if doubt existed IA to it, exclusion by valid mu
ncipal law, l should sustain an act which embodied
the prohibition known as the Wilmot or Jefferson Pro.
vso. la regard to the measures of 1880, can only
should have voted for the prohibition in the Teodo,
covered by those measures, if | had entertained d
doubt TO the exclusion of Slavery by existing munc
pal law. That is my answer
The Clerk read as follows:
Am right in syppOsng that bis theory s that the Cons
ton Of the United states doe. not Slavery TO- and protect
IL in, the Territories OF the United States %
Mr.. BAHKs-I do not believe that the Constitution
Of the United States carries the institution Of Slavery
TO the Territories Of the United States. Ny under
standing based the declaration Of Mr.. Webster
ft,ttf1 rf tLa I'D ttuaH
does not go to the Territories until ii s carried there
bv an act of Congress. Standing on the principle Of
the English law governing the interests, DO not
believe that the Constitution of the United States
carries 10 any Territory of the States any right TO hold
slaves there.
In order, Sir that nv answer should DO full and sat
siactory ought perhaps 10 put the negative OF the
proposition of the distinguished gentleman who leads
The Government party on this floor and In this crisis
recognize the right Sir 10 protection Of property on
the part Of the South as well as the part OF the
North in the Territories Of the United States; and
when | speak of property | mean that which y
considered property by universal law; do not mean
that which is property only because it is held a. such
under the laws Of particular State, and which lose.
its character of property 30 soon as 1t extends beyond
the limits of that State, except under certain
tOns covered by the Constitution of the United States,
When speak of property do not refer b. that spe-
cies. describe that which Il recognized as property
by uniyera al laws OF men, and not that which Is prop.
ery only when il made such by local laws Of limited
turb its eIstencenO purpose to diminish OF increase
il there. will acknowledge all its rights there ac'
cepting for that purpose the charts established BY
southern statesmen; but deny that il u such proper
~ as independent Of local law or Congressional enact
ment Is protected by the Constitution in the Terrific
ries Of the United States.
have nothing further 10 say on this very nice and
delicate question. believe that the Constitution OF
the United States was intended to do Justice 10 sl
sections of the countrytO the South equally with the
North. | am for that to-day and | adopt the Ian
2usgo of my friend (Mr. RichardsoD) who has always
aed with distinguished courtesy in all discus
sion- this subject, that should do Justice 10 the
South as vel as to the North. In no speech or dee.
laraton that has fallen from my ips, far ~ can
remember Il, have ever expressed different sentl-
mel; but, sir, cannot shut out from my memory the
great fact that the Constitution Of the United states
is instrument Of Freedom contemplated NJ such by
It's framer and interpreted such by all men of The
South and the North until withnthe last few year.
II y 4 chant OF Freedom, established To secure tDe
blessings Of Liberty TO ourselves and our posrrly,
giving liberty 20 the Stater 10 do what they shall think
TO be proper within their own localities under su'e
circumstances a. to them shall seem TO be ngt am
just, but claiming no night and cOnceding no ngh 10
them 70 carry their own peculiar institutions peyo'
the Limitations conferred by the doctrine oi tne 7o'
ereignty OF States.
No, Sir The Constitution Of the United States ls an
instrument, not Of immediate, bat ot ultimate ana u
yersa Freedom. Ii was 50 contemplated oy we si ga
men who framed il, and the world mas 40 regsueu
The national flag, that is its symbo, that maAe . w.
land over which il floats, in whatever quarter o' .u'
globe, 30 long as It covers an American eluLen, nal
lean TERRITORY j. the banner of ultimate and univsi
Libety-its white and red folds symbols OF
ary trials Of the cress of victory ana the p ns.rou.
nfice. NAV H. starry union forever stand a. So
and imperishabe as the golden fires OF oou ., ,bat
meut '(gr,at applause. That is my ans"e' I" '""'
questiOn.
@ ~ 'eory o. spS,s5 from Mexico snl F-re ~
ctsns Ksr.s, aud Aetr.sksl he N'''""h N''N