The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-20

y
70 regard II as the only at
tainahle mode by which
the cou TRY can hope 10 be
relieved from the injurious
and dcmorahZng effects of
slavery agitation; or II NAV
have been produced by Tie
great unanimity with viii b
its principles have besn
adopted, in all parts Of the
country, by a political par
" in which ] have been
reared aud upon the main
knance Of which, in its
wonted purity, ! conscien-
tiously believe the future
welfare OF the country will
depend. believe also that
the people OF the free states,
when the resentment justly
excited by the repeal Of the
Missouri COMPROMISE has
subsidized. and more espe-
c,ally when they shall have
witnessed u fair and peace.
able execution OF the provi
sions Of that act, will gene
rally regard II as a mode
for the settlement OF slave
ry questions, by which they
will stand u better chance
10 have their feelings and
opinions upon the SUBJECT re-
spected, ana one less expos
ed TO extraneaus ana I'm
proper influences than has
been the case wlIn specific
Congressional legislatiG9. 1
nave not the leisure, II |
deemed II necess ary, 10 as
sign The reasons which nave
brought my mind TO this
conclusion. The points in
regard to the measure it.
self can he stated IN a few
words. The authority of
Congress TO transfer TO the
people OF the Territories oil
the power Il possesses I'M
DER the constitution to legis-
late for the Territories has,
rs tar AZ Rnow, never
been questioned. II has
been exercised from the
commencement OF the GO
vernment, in respect TO all
the proper subjects Of legis-
lauon, from tue highest 10
the lowest. Not having a
copy OF the Nebraska. Kan.
sas act, 1 take its provi.
sions in regard 10 the au-
thority II processes to con-
fer from Mr.. Buchanan's
admirable letter OF accept
ance, where the subject IS, |
doubt not, fairly presented.
He thus describes IT,
This legislation is found
ell upon principles as an
cient as the government
itself, and, in accordance
with them, has simply de-
clared that the people Of a
Territory, like those Of a
State shall decide for them
selves whether slavery
shall or shall not exist
within their limits; .
declaring II TO be the true
intent and meaning Of this
act not to legislate slavery
into any Territory, nor to
exclude II therefrom, but
to leave the people thereof
perfectly free IN form aud
regulate their domestic in.
situations in their own way /,
subject only u the constitu
ton Of the United States.
From these terms il is
too clear TO admit Of dispute
or cavil, that il was the in.
tenuon Of Congress 10
clothc the people 6 the
Territories with ample
power to exclude slavery
from within their respec.
tive limits, as well while
they continued Territories
a. In making provision for
its exclusion from the State
when that transition snail
take place. The only ques
ton that can be raised upon
the act in this regard must
relate 10 the effect OF the
grant-that Is, whether the
constitution authorizes Con
gress 10 clothc the people OF
the Territories with a power
70 exclude slavery there
from while they remain
Territories.
have not the slighte -
doubt OF the power OF Con
gress 10 give this authority
10 the people Of the Ter.
ritories. But IL is. | think
quite certain that II the
objection raised In behalf
Of the slave States In re-
spect TO Legislation for the
government Of the Terri
tories Ia well founded, that
objection could not be Oh
waited, either by the resto
ration OF the Missouri com
premise or by the 70 -adop
ton OF the old mode OF set
Ting the question OF slave
ry In Territories by the di
rect legislation Of Congress.
Whether these questions arr.
settled by the act OF the PEG
Pile Of the Territories, or by
the direct legislation OF Con
gress, or by the restoration
Of the Missouri compro
mise, $50 far a. that WOULD
reach, the validity OF tn
settlement in each case, and
TO an equal extent, rest.
upon an at ofCoagress an,
upon the con=titutionality o.
that act; and this would, q
ccrte, have bcensthe Ca
" the Kansas Nebraska a.
had not recognised In term
the subsection OF the power
II Intended 10 grant In th,
constitution.
Mr.. buchanan, In his letter
Of acceptance, pledges him
self 70 tho people, "shoulo
the nomination Of the Con
vention be ratified by Tue
people, that all the power
and influence con sufutional
~ possessed by the execu
tive shall be excrted in y
nrm but conciliatory spirit
during the single torn he
shall remain In Office. 10 r.
store the same harmonr
among the sister State
which prevailed bcfor.
the apple of discord,
the form Of slavery agii.
ton, had been cast into the
midst lie knows that thi
pledge can be redcemc
IN but one way. and that T.
by securing 10 the bona ~.
settlers o. the Territory, II
matters should be allowed ts
remain a. they now stand
the full, free and practic1
euioyments of the right
int nded to be granted 81
them by the organic act
including that o. free SUI
fragc, and no one will under
stand better than he thai
nothing SHIRT Of the sui
stance OF those rights woul
answer the purpose or sat
isfy the excited aud vigilan
scrutiny Of those who will
watch every step that !.
taken in the matter. Doubt
were At one ume thrown
out-Ikno wnot from what
quarter-in regard 10 thu
power Of the Executive g.
give this security ; bus
Affairs now In progres
show that these doubts. V
they ever existed, hav,
been dispcllcd. The con