Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-01-21
THE LATEST NEWS.
By Telegraph to the Worcester Daily Spy
By the American Telegraph Companys Printing Lines
Office in GenraI Express Office, Lincoln House Block.
CONuREss.
CONG K Esq
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Jan. 20.
SENATE.

Mr. Hale resumed his remarks from Mon
day, and commented on two OF the positions
held by the Supreme Court in the celebrated
bred Scott case. First, the Court afhrms
that the right of property in slaves is of the
same nature the right to all other property.
Second, that the right to hold this description
of property. and to traffic in slaves, at the
time of the American Revolution and adop-
ton of the Constitution, was universally
recognized and acknowledged, by both Eng
land and this country, that no man ever
thought of dsputing it. He took issue on
both these points. The legal principle was
unsound and unsupported. What purported
to be the statement of fact, was equally un-
supported by both truth and history.
The first proposition was more distinctly
and fully expressed in the Lecompton Consti-
tuition, where il declared that ''lhe right of
property is before and is higher than any con-
stitutional sanction, and that the right of the
owner to the slave, and to its increase, is the
same, and is as inviolable as the right of the
owner to any other property whatever" He
had higher respect fer the Lecompton Con-
vention than for the Supreme Court, because
the Convention had been more explicit than
the Cont in stating just exactly what they
meant. He did not deny that, in States toll
Grating 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 the public good, and anybody
might contract with the warden having the
custody OF these prisoners, for the use of their
labor. The laws recognize his right to the
labor of the convicts, and he can take them
where he pleases within the jurisdiction of the
State; but if he should cross Connecticut
River, and undertake to make them quarry
narbla n fha (Irean Mouptoips ~ Uoryoo,s
his right to their labor would Immediately
cease. Precisely similar was the right of the
STAKEHOLDER to the labor of his slaves. 1t is a
legal right where slavery exists by law, and
nowhere else. The moment the slave goes
beyond the jurisdiction which imposes the
servltude, that moment he is free There
was an essential difference between the
right to the labor of human beings, and
the right to property in inanimate things,
and in the brute creation. A man NAV
go all over the world with a horse, and
anywhere, both among civilized and savage
nations, his right to the ownership will be re-
speeted This right does not depend upon
the existence of statute laws, but because, by
the universal consent of mankind, the 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 to do
so dates back to the earliest period ofrecorded
time. When God created the earth and gave
1t to man to cultivate, and filled the lund with
cattle, and the sea with fish, and the air with
fowls, God also gave man dominion over the
cattle, and the fish, and the fowls, but he new
err gave him dominion over his fellow man.
he reserved MS last and greatest work for his
own peculiar worship. This distinction had
been recognized by every writer who ever
wrote on the subject, aud by no States more
clearly and decidedly than Virginia, Mary
land, Louisiana, and other slaveholding
States. 1t had been also recognized by the
unanimous concurrence of every member of
the Supreme Court of the United States. and,
in support OF his argument, he read extracts
from various authorities.
During his remarks, Mr.. Hale declared that
if the attempt be persisted in, to force the Lee
compton constitution on the people of Kan
zas, he hoped they could fight and resist, eren
unto blood and death.
Mr.. Harlan of Iowa obtained the floor.
The further consideration of the Kanzas
question was postponed until Monday next.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
Among other bills introduced, was one by
Mr.. Scott, providing for better security on
board vessels navigating the ocean, propelled
In whole or in part by steam. He stated that
it had for its basis the memorial of the under
writers in New York. Referred to the Com
mittee on Commerce.
Mr.. MeKibber introduced a bill granting
alternate sections of land to California, for
railroads in thst State.
A debate took place on the proposition to
refer so much of the message as relates to the
Pacific railroad commission, during which Mr.
Maynard of Tenn, said that such a road was
recommended in the Cincinnati platform, and
in the inaugural and annual message of the
President. 1t was as much part of the pro.
gramme of the administration, as the acqui-
sltion OF Cuba, and protectorate of Central.
| America. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Greenwood said such road would be
constitutional and proper Congress had
talked enough about the subject, and ought
now to act He had a preference for one
route, but preferred to vote for almost any 9TH
| err, rather than have none at all.
Mr.. Bennett of N. Y, offered a substitute,
| proposing to refer the subject to a committee
of thirteen, designating the number respect
lively to be appointed from each section Of the
| Union, according to federal representation.
He remarked that such committee would
not be likely to favor the executive, or certain
leading gentlemen's plans, but would make
fair report. He did not believe a Southern
| AOute pIhctlcdole. new Ork is more Inter-
ested in the road than the whole South, and
three-fourths of the business with California
is at the North of Virginia.
! Mr.. Leteher said that as there seemed to be
desire to nurse this bantling. he preferred it
should go to the Committee on Roads and Ca
nals-the chairman having nothing else to
nurse, unless the House gave him this. Mote
| by the Reporter-Mr. Jones OF Tenn, the
| chairman, is bachelor.)
Mr. Letcher observed, that so far as he was
concerned, he was opposed to a Pacific rail-
road, whether recommended by the President
or anybody else.
| Mr. Harris of ILL.,. said that he had an OBJ
| lection TO the source, meaning Mr.. Bennett of
New whence came this proposition to
divide the Union into patchwork He sup
| posed the gentleman from Virginia (Mr
Letcher) would not be read out OF the party
for opposing the Presidents views upon this
subject because he was not an aspirant fo1
the Presidency. If he were, the Washington
Union and other papers would be attacking
him.
Mr.. Washburn of Illinois, was for a Paci-
nc Railroad, earnestly, sincerely and in good
faith. lie did not care from what side the pro.
position came, nor to whom the credit would
| be attributed.
Mr.. Harris viii you vote for the southern
route
| Mr. Washburn-That will depend upon
circumstances, but as far as / am concerned,
| Will vote for no route unless it is fixed by
law. voted Tor the wagon route to the Pa.
| cIhc, but instead of the roate being left IN