Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-01-21
srwe refsr again to the points in di.

some things, quibbled at theirs, and With
Yankee cunning seught to erade all but one
that of the power of Congress over the Ter
%ritories. His idsa that Congress has no
power, be presumes to establish upon the
authority of the proceedings Of the Con-
We. ton which framed the COnst;tution."-
Now, we won 4 have him De a little mere
explicit, What part Of the proceedings of
Convection does he base his argument up
on! We hope he will point it cut. He
goes on to say hat Article 4, Sec. 8, Of the
Consiituticn applies only 10 the landed pro-
perry of the Territories. Now to reason
able mind, the first clause Of this section
does refer to the landed property, but what
rgles..Gnd regulations were necessary, but as
g government. But for Mr.. PURDV benefit,
who seems to think it 6 very strange con-
struction. We viii quote what he must
concede good authority, to show that It has
been so construed from the formation of the
Constitution until the advent Of slave De-
mocracy. Chief Justice MARSHALL. in the
e.se of the Atlantic Insurance Company IS.
CAETER, speaking for the court said, in re-
gard to the people of Flarid7, 'they do not
share in the Government till Florida shall
become o State; in the mean time Florida
continues 10 be a Territory Of the United
Ststet, governed b. virtue Of that clause in
The Constitution phich empousrs COngress.! TO
make all nesdfuH rules and regulations respect
ing the Territories or other property belong.
ing to the United States" Docs he want
better authority than MARSHALL. Take
that of ThozAs JEFFERSON, who ne con
ceds tried to amend the Constitution, so as
TO make it explicit on this subject. Take
the bill which organizes the North Western
Territory sanctioned by the very men VINO
framed the Constitution. Well Mr. PURDY
dare say that these clear headed patriots
usurped the power they exercised. They
Legislaied on the subject OF Slavery in the
Territories. The act by which slavery was
prohibited North of thirty six degrees, thirty
minutes was passed by a vote in the House
of Representatives, Of 1874 to ~, and we
have no evidence that those I2 ever doubted
the power of Congress Oh this subject Mr.,
MoKRoK, then President of the United
States, before signing the act submitted ! il
TO the consideration of the Cabinet, who
decided that the restriction of Slavery in Q
Territory psS rithin the Constitutional! pou.
ers Of Congress. This opinion was nevel
doubted in its correctness. No objection
was ever raised upon lis Constitutions cur
-ectness even ty its opponents. 1t received
the master touch Of a CLAY and a WEBsTEI
whom the Democracy now revere. Yet il
these latter days, such men as Mr.. BUcH
ANAE, Mr. DOUGLAS and their s~a,eiteS
mere pigmies compared with the p%olitica
lights gone before them have dared 10 Sc
themselves up as teachers in Isreel, If "
want the true construction st Of Constit I'll
tional rights, go TO the men who framed il
and not to political demagogues who woui
sell their country's liberty for thirty peice
of silver. And when we go back to the tim
OF which we speak we find that the right c
Congress TO govern the Territories va
never disputed. wat constantly practice
and sanctioned by the master minds o! Ii
nstion. VIII Mr.. PURDI set his power c
construction sgsinst that of MARSHAL, c
WIRT, of JEFFERSON, of MOERoB, OF Nal
IsoN, Of WEBSTER and of CLAY, surely h
has not the fooihurdnsss to Go any sac
thing. But let US look a little closer at TIL
matter. If Congress possesses any rigt
whatever to govern he Territories is il nc
derived from the Constitution. If Congress
can 60 beyond tia, of dispusing of the lant
ed property of the Territory then mes, Ut
euestionably t'can 60 the full distance W
claim, and exercise sovereign power. 1t
conceded BY the opposition that the nation
Government, has the power to appoin. tn
Territorial officers, as has been done
Kansas. Other rights are also coDcede
which are just as difficult to find a Constitl
tional guarantee for as that which we.clain
But why this distiGctioni 1t is very east
explained. 1t was born and bred in
Southern hot house solely for the propag
tiOn Of slavery. But as we have alreaC
said when you concede TO Congress al
right or power, or obligation whatever ov
the people of a Territory you concede
them the power to govern. These arg
merits We submit % Mr.. PURIFY. and tn
briefly to his dodge of the Constitution
guarantee OF property in Slaves. He evad
the issue BY substituting "recognize" i
stcsd of guarantee" and sanction a
even then docs no; point to the clause fo
which be takes his authority. These wcr
are very different in their Specification.
Our Government might recognize an e,
fer the sole purpose of Graduating it; a
this is the only way s!a:ery is even reco
nized by the Constitution of the Unit
States. Mr. PURuY does not dare to q
swer our question in relation to the adm
sion Of Utah, but Yankee Ike asks a que
lion in return, which not relating to d pc
sibil;ty will not be answered, but until O
question is answered Mr.. PURDY must haI
his head in shame at the mention of SUI,
ter sovereignty.
BILL PAskED.-The bill renewing t