Demoine courier., 1856-08-21
what did Henry clay think

right OF Congress to pfohibi, slavery in
the Territories, and that he was in sym
palhy with the SO called, Democratic
Party. Now there has never been a
more utter perversion OF historical facts
than this attempt. The speaker quoted
from Clsy's speech on the Compromise
of 1885,. Let those who have any doubt
Of the "ereat Commoner's" real SEMI
menm on this question read the follow
ing extracts from this same speech and
others made by him duriag the memor.
able con.es. of 1850. In his speech
deliyersu Feb. 9Th 1850, he says:
"Mr. Presiden, shall not take yp
time. OF which so much has been con
sumed already, 10 show that the clause
which gives TO Congress the power to
make needfuf rules and regulations res
pcc,iae the territory and other property
Of the United States conveys the power
10 legislate Cor the Territories. l cannot
concur with my friend from Michigan
(Mr. Cass) but I mustssy that when
point j, settled by all the elementary au
,horiiies. and by the uniform in,erpre,a.
lion and action OF every department OF
our Government, legislative, executive,
and judicial, and when that poiu, has
been settled during period OF fifty
years, and never was seriously disturbed
until recently think ,ha, il we are to
regard anything az fixed and fe,,led un.
der he administration OF this Cons,,,u
ton. Of ours. il is the question which
has oeen thus Invariably and uniform.
ly settled. "-Appendix to Con. Globe
vol. 22d, part !. page lls. me
Again in the same speech. he aays:
"The general grant of power compre-
hends all the particulars OF which that
power consists. The power of acqujsi
ton bv Treaty draws with il the power
To govern all the territory acquired. II
there be a Powe, TO acquire. there must
be power 10 govern, and 1 think there
fore, without al present dwelling luther
upon Ibis part Of the subject, that from
the two sourcrs of authority in Congress
TO which have referred may be traced
the power Of the Government Of the
United States 10 act upon the ,,rri.oriss
in general. ~.
] come now 10 the question of The ex.
tent OF the power. I think ii 10 a power
adequate either to introduce or 10 er-
ciude slauery."-Appendix to Con.
Globe ID. In q speech Of July 2sd.
1880. he says:
II. is The opinion Of The opponents OF
the bill, aud the opinion too Of come Of
friends, although il IS NOT my own
opinion, that the constitution confers no
power upon Congress TO impose re.
s,riction upon the sabjec, OF slavery in
territorial governments. Appendix par,
I'd page 1909.
One more extract upon this poin, will
suffice, In his speech of FEB. 9Th. above
quoted from, he said:
"Why cir. remember. The is speaking
Of the North ives, Territory how those
settlements were made. They began
with very few persons. Marietta was,
| think, the frs, place ssuled in the
North Yves. Territory. Ny friend now
before me (Nr. Csrwinl will correct me
IT l am wrong. l, was small settlement
made by some two or three hundred per
sons from New England. Had those
few settlers tho right, from the momen,
they arrived there, mere handful oil
men, who may have planted ,hsmsel YES
at Marietta or Cincinnati, 10 govern and
dispose OF the territories or to govern
themselves a. sovereign community, 81
was IL not in the mean time right, and
proper, and within the cont en1plation
of the constitufion. that Congress. who
owned the soil, acting under The au,hor
i'y therein contained. Should regulate the
settlement Of the soil, and govern the
settlers in those infsn: colonies until they
should reach sufficien. degree. Of con-
sideTation, in rsspect of numbers and
capacity for self government, TO bs con-
s'ituted into more regular municipal or.
|gaaixa.ions. and be allowed to govern
shemselves.''
There is the record for these mes who
try 10 prove that Henry Clay was in IA
vor Of the doctrine Of Squa..er Sovereign
~. Gentlemen you had better back 90,
from this attempt. il won's pass.
And let Us get counsel from the "Ssgs
Of Ashland" on another point. Mr.. Fill
mo:e SAID and il il ofisn repealed ia both
sections Of the Country that if Fremanl
is elected. the Union would be dissolv ed,
there would be civil war and so on. Mr..
Fillmore has even gone 50 far a. to say.
he would advice the South 10 secede il
Frsmon. is elected. Read the rsbuke
which Hsnry Clay. if to were alive,
would administer TO Mr.. Fillmore. In
the sane speech from which we hare
quoted he says:
"Mr. President We have heard, all OF
W have read, Of the efforts Of France 10
propagate what, on the continent Of Eu.
rope! Not slavery, cir, no, slavery, bu.
the rights Of man. and we know the
late Of her efforts Of pro2sgandism Of