Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-02-05

words OF Mr.. Calhoun, whom The President IN
dsrtakes 10 follow, but with unequal STEP
that the Territories belOngnOt 10 the United
States. but to the several SlAtes-that In the
States. severally, reside the dominion Of SOW
over them (Calhoun's Works, vol.
a, p. 497,) That was the only position. BY
which that great man could make plausible his
objection 20 the slavery inhibition by Congress
lie hei that the TeniIones we're ths common
property Ofihe several States, held jointly for
their common use, and therefore be claimed
that it was unjust and uneqal that ANY por-
ton Of the partners Outnumbeling another
portion should Dust them Of this common prop
erty Of theirs, or prescribe them from emIgra-
ting thither with their slave property. lie did
not question the power Of Congress to govern
the Territories, as the trustee Of the States, and
for their benefit, but denied that under the
Constitution slavery could be prohibited therein.
If the States are tenants in common in the Ter
r%itories ii they be the partners in the proper
ty-how can one portion Of these partners out
number another portion and GUST themH Sure
ly not by Legislation, for they do not lsgislate
as States over the Territories. How then2 By
entering the Territory, and ousting their ccpsr-
tners by force, or by acts of uSurPation.-
That, sir, has been done already not by the
MOI. slaveholding partners. and that is the inev-
table result Of Mr.. Calhoun's proposition, a.
dopted by the President, that the Territories
are under the dominion, and sovereignty Of the
States severally. That is the result OF this
constitutional equality of each and all of the
States of Che Union as States asserted by the
President, for the government Of Kanzas. in
stead Of the sovereignty OF the nation. This
attempt to secure equality to the States as
such within the Territories cannot be Effected
No legislation can secure it, 1t is impossible
in the nature Of things. The slaveholding
States assert that men are property; The non
slaveholding States assert that men are not
property, and cannot and shall not be made
property Georgia, by her constitution, de-
clares that the Legislature shall have no pow
err 10 pass laws for the emancipation Of slaves
without the previous consent of each Of their
respective owners. Ohio, by her constitution
declares that there shall be no slavery, except
in punishment of crime, upon due conviction.
If the domestic institutions Of the several States
are to obtain in the Territories, as the Presi.
dent asserts, how can they coexist there when
they thus conflict? You might as well expect
to separate and distinct substances to occupy
the same place at the same time, or life and
death to coexist at the same moment in the
same body,
Sir, this proposition Of State equality in the
Territories is a mere absurdity, except upon
the hypothesis that the Territories shall be par
titioned. Partition would be a compromise
! and when the South assumed this position, hel
great leader [Mr. Calhoun l.old as, Let u,
be done with compromises; let US go back anC
stand upon the Constitution [Calhoun'S
Works, vol. 4, p. 3l7.l agree to lhat-tht
North agrees to that no more compromises
We stand upon the Constitution. Then, sir,
there is to be no more partition Of these Terri.
tOries-no apportionment of one part as slave
territory, and another part as free territory
This being so, l say again, the equal common
Of the States, 'as States within the Territories
is impossible. The privilege to hold slaves in
the Territories for a shcrt time, until q %territori-
al statute or a constitution excluding it shall
have been adopted will not secure to the
States equality in The sense used by the Presi-
dent. II would not meet the demands Of the
South to permit them to go into the Terrific
ries with their slaves t o-morrow, to be driven
back and busted by superior numbers the next
month of the next year. To make good this
Gemand, say TO gentlemen, you must--you
will take another step, and that is, to assert
your right to hold slaves within the Terrific
ries after, as well as before, their erection into
States. This necessarily results, il within the
Territories the equality of each Of the States, as
States. is to be maintained.
Why, sir, we werG told but a Jay or two a.
90 by the gentleman from South Carolina Mr.
Orr, that territorial statutes were absolutely
necessary to protect slave property within the
Territories. Enaclments 10 that end have
already been made in Xmas by usurpets.--
Repeal these enactments, as | trust you will
repeal them, and what sanction or protection
then have yOu for slaves in Kanzas? None
sir, none, You have q crime act for the
punishment of murder, m%'imiug, robbery lar
ceny &c, when committed in any place under
he exclusive jurisdiction of the United. States ,
DC, This act, with its penalties. By its own
lcrms, as well as by your organic law, is in
full force il Kanzas; but |! furnishes no pro-
tecdon to slavery or slave property there. II
any person should steel a slave within that
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