Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-01-28
CONGRESSIONAL.

nature as the right OF all other property.
Second-The right to hold this description
Of property and traffic in slaves at the time
Of the American Revolution and the adop-
ton of the Federal Constitution, vas so
universally recognized, both by England and
this country, that no man thought of dispu-
ting it. He took some issue with the Court
on both these points; the legal principle
was unsound and unsupported By authority.
What purported to be the statement OF a
fact was equally unsupported by truth or
The first proposition was more
distinctly and fully expressed in the Le-
compton Constitution, when it declared that
the right Of property is before and higher
than any Constitutional sanction, and the
right of an owner of a slave to such slave,
and its increase is as inviolate as the right
Of the owner in any property whatever.
lie had higher respect for the Lecnmpton
Convention than for the Supreme Court,
because the Convention had been more ex-
plicit than the Court in stating just what
they meant. He did not deny that in States
tolerating Slavery. there was legal property
in slaves-in some OF the free States there
was qualified property in human beings. In
New Hampshire criminals were sent to the
Penitentiary for public good, and anybody
might contract with the Warden 10 have
custody of these prisoners in their labor.
The laws recognized his right to the labor
OF Inc c,nyicts, andhe can take them where
he ~pleases within the jurisdiction Of the
State, but if he cross the Connecticut and
undertake to make them quarry marble in
the green mountains of Vermont, his right
10 their labor would cease.
Precisely similar was the right Of a slave
holder to the labor of his slaves. 1t is a
legal right where slavery exists BY law,
and no where else. The moment a slave
goes beyond the jurisdiction which imposes
the servitude, that moment he is free. There
was essential difference btween the labor Of
human beings and the right of property in
inanimate and in the brute creature. A man
may 90 al! over the world with a horse, and
everywhere, both amoEg civilized and saw
age nations, Il S right to the ownership will
be respected. This right does not depend
upon the existence of statute law, but
because by the universal consent of man
kind a horse is the subject of property.
When the horse was created he was made to
be property, and man was made to OWN him.
The right dates back to the earliest period
OF recorded time, when God created the
earth and gave it TO man to cultivate, and
fliDl tho l,pl with cattle and fish and
fowls; but never gave him dominion over
his f elbow mar. He reserved his last and
greatest work for his own popular worship
This distinction has been recognized by
every writer who ever wrote Oh the subject,
and by no States more clearly and decisivelY
than by Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, and
other slavehoidihg States.
1t had been also recognized by the unani-
nous concurrence of every member OF the
Supreme Court of the above named States;
and in support OF the argument he read ex-
tracts from various authorities. During bis
remarks he declared that if the attempt be
persisted in u force the Lecompton consti-
tuition on the people Of Kansas, he hoped
they would fight apd resist even unto blood
and death.
Mr.. Harlan obtained the floor. when the
further consideration of the Kansas question
was po,tponed until Monday next.
Mr.. ~Iverson OF Georgia. introduced a bill
to increase the eifieancy Of tie army and
marine corps, BY retiring tne disabled
officers. Referred TO committee on Military
Affairs. lie also gave notice of his inten-
ton TO introduce a bill to change and regu-
late the mode OF appointing Cadets to the
Military Academy at West Point, and 10
modify the laws relative to that establish
ment. Adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Davis, Of Mass. introduced
a French spoilation bill. The Speaker laid
before the House the resolves o. the Ne
braska legislative assembly, stating that d
very large majority Of the legal voters o. the
territory voted for Ferguson, whose seat as
delegate is contested by Chapman, aud re-
pelling certai in associations cast upon Fer
guson's character. The following compose
the select committee TO which was referred
the bill to divide Clerks and Messengers in
the departments at w ashiBgton. among the
STATES and Territories pro rate: R0bb,
Smith, Seward, Kelsey, Pendleton, Gilman
Clemens and Anderson.
The House went into Committee OF the
Whole on the Presidents annual message.
Il number OF bills were introduced, inclu.
ding one by Mr.. Scott, of California, provi-
ding for the better security of passengers on
board Of vessels navigating the ocean, pro-
PEELED in whole or in part by steam. He
stated that it had for its basis a memorial
from the board of underwriters o{New York
Referred to committee cu Commerce.
Mr.. Mckibben. of California, introduced
a bill granting alternate sections of land in
California in aid of railroads in that State.
During the debate on the proceedings to
refer so much of the message as relates tt
the Pacific Railroad TO select committee
,Ir. Maynard said such a road was recon-
mended in the Cincinnati Platform. inaug.
ural and annual messages of the President.
Il was as much a part of the programme o
the Administration as the acquisition o
Cuba and protectorate OF Central America
Laughter.
Mr.. Greenwood believed such 4 road
would be constitutional and proper. Con
gress had talked enough about the subject
and ought now TO act. He had preference
for one route, but was prepared 10 vote 70
almost any other, rather than have 10 e a
all.
Mr.. Bennett OF N. Y, offered a substitute
proposing to refer the subject 20 a commit
tee of thirteen, designating the number re
spectIvely to be appointed from each section
Of the Union, according 10 federal represen
t%atiion. He remarked such committed
would not be likely to favor Executive, o
certain leading gentlemen's plans, but max,
a fair report. He did not believe the South
ern route practicable. New York is NOR,
Interested in the road than the whole South
and three-fourihS of the business with Cali
fJrnia is north of Virginia.
Mr.. Letcher said as there seemed to be