Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-02

timent in a large portion of the Union
sustains the doctrine that the Constitution
of the United Safes secures to every
citizen an inalienable right to move into
any of the Territories with his property,
of whatever kind and description, and to
hold and enjoy the same under the sane.
ton of. law. Your committee do not feel
themselves called upon to enter into the
discussion of these controverted ques-
tons. They involve the same grave is.
sues which produced the agitation, the
sectional strife, and the fearful struggle
of 1850"
From this it appears that the Com
promises of 1920 and 1850 involved the
question of the validity of the law of
Mexico excluding Slavery from the new
ly ceded Mexican Territory, and the law
of our w Congress excluding it from
that North ofthe line of36 degrees minu-
ties. Mr.. Douglass Committee Report
recommended, that as,
Congress deemed it wise and prud.
ent 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 the pro-
tecion afforded by it to slave properly in
the Territories, so your committee are
not prepared now TO recommend a de-
parture from the curse pursued on that
memorable occasion, either by affirming
or repeating the eighth section of the
Missouri act, or by any other act decla-
ratory of the meaning Of the Constitution
in respect 10 the legal points that are in
dispute"
These passages are quoted to show
that the issues made by Mr.. Calhoun. as
to the constitutionality of the two Gem
promises of 1890 ami 1850, were .ex-
pressly left open for judicial decision, by
the committee, who nevertheless swept
away, by a clause subsequently added
to their bill, not only the Missouri Com
promise of 1920, but also the Compro-
mise of 1850, which left untouched the
Mexican laws prohibiting Slavery in the
ceded Territories, and which Webster,
Clay, Benton, and all the leading lights
of the Senale-with IL exception of Mr..
Calhoun,-pronounced valid, and an in
effectual restriction.
This repeal was the adoption of Mr..
Calhoun's multiplying doctrine in extenso.
The power of Congress to make lawsex
GLIDING Slavery forever from its Terri
tories, as such, was denied and all the
Territories were opened to Slavery on the
ground of the " inalienable {" right of
every citizen 'to remove into any of the
Territories with his property Of whatever
kind or description F." and the law of
squatter sovereignty was superadded,
and substituted for the sovereignty of
the United States owe the public do
main.
Thus fell, at the diclation of Mr.. Atchi
son, supported by the coalition effected
between the Wings and Democrats OF
the South. under the pressure and through
the inirigues Of the NulliGers, Mr.. Jeffer-
sons noble principle, endeared to the
country both for its moral grandeur and
political wisdom. 1t is the first thought
uttered in the Declaration OF Independ
ence; and TO the denunciation of TIE King
OF Great Britain, for the crime of bring
ing slavery TO our shores; the original
draft, adds, as the deepest aggravalion.
that " he has prostituted his negative for
suppIessing every legislative attempt to
prohibit or to restrain this execrable
commerce."
The first Legislative attempt to restrain
the progress Of the mischief which the
King of Great Britain visited upon this
country, was Mr.. Jefferson's resolution
excluding Slavery from the Territory of
Tie United States in I184-the next was
that introduced by Rufus King, in l7G5
the third, that of Nathan Dane, in
l787-all receiving the votes of the two
thirds of the States of the Confederacy,
and the last the unanimous vote.
The fourth movement was that Of the
Convention, in the Constitution itself,
providing against the importation of
slaves after 1903. declaring the binding
validity of the engagements entered by
the Congress of the Confederacy on the
Government of the United States, to ex-
clude it from the Territory, and securing
10 the new Government the power ofmak-
ing similar provision for tile future &C
QUESTIONS of Territory. The filth re-
gulalion to restrain the progress off SIa-
very was that ofthe Compromise Of 1890
the sixth, that Of 1850. 1t is remark-
able, Though these great measures had
their origin with Democratic leaders,
Federal and Wing leaders o~fgreatcst re-
now united in their support. The con-
stitutional provisions on the subject had
the unanimous suffrage Of all the illus.
hious men in the Convent on who framed
the Constitution of the United States,
and from the silence on the subject in
the State Conventions, called to ratify
The Constitution, it may well be preSum-
ed that these alSu were unanimous in their
apI roval of what had been done under
their confederacy and in the new Consti-
tn ion to restrain the introduction and
limit the extension %ofSlavery. And may
not men of all parties now unite to re-
store, what the patriots of all parties. dur
ing the first seventy years of our Gov
eminent contributed 10 establish.
The work of restoration is simple and
easy, if the men who abhor the late in
novatiOn on the ng-setiled policy of the
nation can be induced to ~relinquish petty
differences on transitory topics, and their
united voice, in the next Presidential
election, for some man, whose capacity,
fidelity and courage can be relied upon
to oppose the issue which the present AID
miniSlration has made to control it,. The
contest has grown out of Presidential IS
pirations. The decIsion of the people at
the polls in choosing a Chief Magistrate
will end it. Senators will easily comply
when the NATION demand is backed by
the existing Presidential power and pat
ronage, and hopes of the future success
sion, which always animate the leading
members of the body.
The Administration has staked itself,
on the suDDort of the marty of DriyileOe.