Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-17
Senator mason's Views on Kansas.

Senator DInson's Views on Kansas.
Ia the Senate on Monday Mr.. Mason, Of
Virginia 10 an elaborate argument, reviewed
the history of the events and causes which
have brought African slavery into discussion
as connected with the expansion of our ter
rtory and the admission of new States. BY
the very terms Of the Constitution, African
slaves were recognised as au element OF po-
litical power, aud it was chiefly, if not sjle-
". because of this fact that the Increase OF
slavehOlGing States was opposed. 81 II had
been in 1920, when tue Missouri contest
arose, and 50 il had been at toe subsequent
periods ut which the ant!-siavery agitation
had been revived in Congress.
Much stress was laid by many Senators
on the ordinance Of 1877, as indicating re-
pugnance on the part of the early statesmen
Of the land TO the spread of slavery. lie
had the authority of Mr. Madison for affirm
ing that that great measure was designed as
"a blow against the slave trade rather than
the migration aud diffusion of slaves already
within our borders. In proof of this he
cited letter addressed by Mr.. Madison to
Robert Walsh, esq.
Alter recitIng the circumstances under
which the compromise measures OF 1850, were
passed, Mr. Mason proceeded to defend the
repeal OF the Missouri restriction in connexIOn
with the X nsns Nebraska act. Heretofore II
had been usual for Congress To reserve to itself
"a supreme control over the Territories Of the
Union. By that bill new policy was insu-
gurated-:he policy Of nOn-interventlon,
which lett the people free, under the llmlta
tons imposed by the Constitution, TO form
and regulate their institutions in their own
way. Tnis act gave no countenance to
"squatt.r sovereignty" lie had never al.
mitted that the people Of q Territory were
competent to exclude slavery until at the pc
riod Of forming their State constitution, and,
at the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska law.
he had anticipated that the more sOutherly
of the two Territories would become slave
holding State. And such, In all probability,
would have been the result, If. 10 violation
of the spirit OF the act, the North had not
resUrtei TO such extraordinary means and
agencies for peopling the Territory with
emigrauts from the tree States. This was
in reality an attempt to defraud the South
and to defeat the natural and legitimate
working of the bill.
Mr.. NJ, after reviewing the progress OF
political events in Kansas, proceeded to dis
cuss the foundation upon which tue right OF
property in slaves is defended. He held taat
that right was before and higher than any
constitutional sanction, resting rs II does on
the same basis with all other property, and
being equally entitled TO respect where it ID
not positively int4rdlcted. Before our sepa-
ration from Great Britain slaves were held
under the common law of that country,
which recognised as property whatever was
held rs property in the land from which 1t
came. Slavery, being thus planted in this
country. had grown up as domestic cond!'
ton, aud did not rest for its establishment
upon any positive law. Experience had
proved that slavery was the natural and nor
NAL condition Of the African race. Under
it the negro was elevated in the scale OF be-
ing Left to himself he relapsed into bar
barIsm. la view OF the Moderation wrought
in his condition by involuntary servitude.
and 10 view Of the benefceot agency now
exerted by African labor IN the production
of staples needed by the whole world, why
was it that the extension OF slavery encoun-
tered such determined opposition from the
North? 1t was because the Constitution had
made it al element of political power.
The speaker closed his remarks by allud-
ing to the capacity FIR expansion possessed
by n coniederated Government like ours, pre-
vIdsd each member of the Contederacy would
respect the just rights Of the others.