The daily union., 1856-12-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
In SENATE, DECEMBER 2.

her of extra copies of the Presidents annual message the
debate on the political topics discussed therein conn-
ued as follows:
Mr. TRUMBULL said Mr. President, if supposed that
this message aimed simply at few abohonists In
the North who wsh 1t is said to interfere with the
existing institution OF slavery certainly should not give
il any of my attention. Not only the President but
tors here may abuse the aboonsts roundly they
please and they will find ne defending them any
occasion But this document emanatng from the Chief
Magistrate of the nation here on the first days of the SEES
sion has thrust upon the slavery question the agitation
of which the senator from Virginia TO deprecae
He speaks of senators agating this question Gould he
expect otherwise than that senators would agtate the
question which the President of the United States
makes the prominent and leading question of his
message2 Did he expect that we should sit still here
when message read protesting to give an his
toca of the recent canvass and the recent cleo
ton which misrepresented them totally shall not go
into an argument prove here that the great party which
has swept the North and say has swept the States which
the gentleman has designated having sustained Mr.
Buchanan entertain views hostile to the Union or the
constitution, that they do not wish to interfere with
slavery any of the States OF this Union They adopted
platform they inscribed upon it their principles they
published it to the world, and every can read it,
part that platform is that the rights of the States the
must and shall be preserved That is creed Will you
tell us that want to interfere with the rights OF the
States You impute to us that Which we nave solemny
declared we are opposed TO.
think 1t is lust euch remarks those to which have
now listened from the senator from Mississippi that are
alternating section of this Union from the other he is
arguing here show that the northern sentiment wishes
to interfere with the institutions of the South. Does the
senator desire that state of things Why does he seek to
sentiments and opinions which we discaim
and disavow He asks why we did not disavow this at
the time in the North We did it at the outset did
it everywhere and on all occasions
But sir this message-and shall not take time to
discuss its various positions-contans the most
rauted assumptions to fact ana it states conclusions of
law sustained by the authorities The President of the
United States undertakes say that the Missouri Compro
mise the act of 1920 under which Missouri into the
Union obsolete and was unconstitutional Where did
get the authority for saying so2 The Supreme Court
ot the United States has said many words that in
cara to the Territories of the United States Congress pos
sses ali the powers both OF the federal and State govern
mens as to State That is the language of the Supreme
Court of the United States Is it denied by anybody that
the federal and State together have authority
to keep slavery out OF State
Mr. CASS | should like to hear that decision read l
never saw it.
Mr. TRUMBULL 1t is in the first volume of Peters Re
ports desire the pages bring it to from the libra
ry Never has it been said by the Supreme Courno such
decision be ound-tha Congress had not authority to
exclude slavery from the Territories have now the book
for which sent do not know, however that shall be
able to turn to the decision at aak my friend from
Connecticut mr. FosTER to oblge by looking for it
When found shall furnish to the senator from Mich
gan and shall be very glad TO have him read and pom
der on it; hope it will convince him.
Much of the Presidents message Ia taken up with dis
cusson as the equality of the States and the rights OF the
States The aenator from New Hampshire has well exposed
this portion OF the message in commenting on that part OF
which processes to set forth what settled by the
cent election. The President says:
The people of the United States have asserted the const
equality Of each and all Of the States of the Union
States"
Did anybody dispute it The message proceeds to say
"They have affirmed the constitutional equality of each
and all Of the citizens of the United States citizens
Who ever disputed H Was any such question in issue
before the American peopleH
"whatever their religion, wherever their birth their
residence, they have maintained the nvioabity of the
tutona rights of the different sections of the Union" "
who proposed to interfere with them
and they have proclaimed their devoted unaterabe
tachment to the Union and to the constitution
trust they have
objects ofnterest superior to all subjects of local
ona controversy, as the safeguard Of the rights of all
the spirit and the of the liberty peace and greatness
Ofthe republic
The President makes the same charge here which is re-
,terated in the Senate, that
Under the shelter Of this great liberty protected by
the laws and of the government they assaed
Citations have been formed in of the States of ind
vdus who pretending TO seek only prevent the spread
Of the institution OF slavery into the present future incho
ate States Of the Union really nfamed with desire
change the domestic institutions Of existing States"
How did he find that out2 Where Is the evidence Of
Sir assert that far know there foundation
for the accusation. 1t is untrue.
Ny friend from Connecticut has found the decision
which made alusion In the Of the American In
Company and others Canter ls Peters p $780,
the opinion Of the Supreme Court pronounced by Mr.
Chief Justice Marshall In that opinion is this sentence in
regard to Territories In eRsatinq for them Congress
exercises the combined powers Of the general and Of State
government" commend it and the whole case to the
careful examination Of my distinguished friend from Mich
lgan
Mr.. CASS The honorable senator will perceive that 1t
asserts power. 1t does not say how the constitution
limits their action.
Nr. TRUMBUBL II does not assert any power further
than this 1t says expressly that TO Territory, Con-
grss exercises the combined powers OF the general and OF
State government If Congress has the combined powers
Of the general government and of State government in
regard to Territory ask If has not power sufficient
to keep slavery out ofa Territory
Mr.. CASS. No unless the constitution gives it. The
power that is exercised must be power within the cons
tuition, or there is no authority for it,
Mr. TRUMBULL Let follow that up. There is
such escape for the distinguished senator There is
qubbing In this opinion about under the constitution
The declaration Is broad and unqualified that in regard
to Territory, Congress exercises all the powers both Of
the general and OF State government Now, the
tor tells tha that being So you cannot under
the constitution prevent slavery Will he deny the right
Of the State Of Michigan keep slavery out Of her
SHALL all the power which the State Of Michigan has in
regard to Its citizens possessed by Congress in
gard to the Territories Of the United States and IL the
State of Michigan exclude slavery from its borders
then If the Supreme Court of the United States be any
hory Congress exclude II from Of the national
Territories because II possesses in Territory all the
power which State possesses ts inhabitants and pos
also the power which the federal government
cses the States When 1t is said that Congress
not exercise this power unless the constitution gives It,
that begging the question. The decision Of the court
the language OF the Judge Is that Congress has the power
tie could say that II the constitution did give it
the constitution denied the power how could the judge
say that Congress possessed ti He had the conatution
In view when writing this opinion. Sir the doctrine
advanced sa and modern discovery. Congress for
aerly possessed and exercised this power and nobody
doubted IT, For the FIRST fifty years Of the government the
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