The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-09-30
had reference to territory which might
thereafter be ceded.

- A|tiOU do duc W SlIIhG out the pro-
viso from Mr.. Jeferson's report. Under
the old Confederation it required na.
Jority of the original thirteen States to
adopt any measure or any part of prop
osition as reported, and two against it;
and, as six was not a majority of the
thirteen States, it was stricken out. Mr.
Jefferson of course, voted in Congress to
retain the proviso, but his colleagues from
Virginia oyerruled him. To 1887, an a.
mended ordinance was passed for the
government of the Territories, and in
that amended ordinance there was pro-
hibition of slavery in the Territories.
The same year the Constitution was form
ed, Il submitted to the States for adoption.
At the time the Constitution was formed
Congress bad provided for the governnent ut
ofthe Territories then owned by the Un-
ion, as well as for those which should
thereafter be ceded to it. Hence there was
not that precaution in providing for the
government of the Territories which SUBJ
sequent events have shown to be.necessa-
ry. The Constitution, however, does pro-
vide that Congress shall have power to
dispose of, and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting, the territory,
or other property belonging to the Uni
ted States;" and when it is remembered
that the acts of the States cediDg the ter
ritories to the Union, several of which
preceded the form alton of the Constitu-
ton, expressly ceded the jurisdiction as
well as the soil, and that Congrass had
already exercised jurisdiction over the
territory, the apparent necessity of con-
tinuing that jurisdiction, the absense of
any provision comforting Jurisdiction upon
any other power, or making provision in
any other way for the government of the
Territories. the presumption is strong. if
not conclusive, that the trainers of the
Constitution intended to confer upon Con-
grcss the general and unqualified power
to govern the Territories, in the grant to
make all needful rules and regulations
respecting the territory or other property
belonging to the United States; and SO it
was understood by the early statesmen OF
this Union, without, perhaps, single ex-
ception-in proof of which may be cited
the repeated Instances of legislation by
Congress for the government OF the Ter
ritories, commencing with the first Con-
gress under the Constitution, and con.
tinuing for long series of years.
Butssoon new Territories were acquir-
ed. Under the Administration of Mr..
Jefferson, in 1903, Louisiana was pur-
chased, and in 1919 Florida was also
purchased At the time Of the purchase
slavery was in existence in both Louisi-
ana and Florida, and it was allowed to
remain there, and nearly all of the States
formed out of those Territories were ad-
mitted into the Union as Slave States
But in 1919 Missouri applied for admis-
sion, or rather applied for leave to form
a Constitution preparatory to admission.
In that day, as many of the elderly gen.
tlemen | see before me will remember,
there was an exciting contest as to wheth-
er Missouri should or should not be ad-
mitted as slave State. A proposition
was made in Congress to prohibit the fur
ther introduction of slaves into Missouri,
and'to provide for the gradual emanci-
patton of these already there. This met
with strenuous opposition. The amend
ment passed in the House of Represe nts-
tives, but was defeated in the Senate, and
the bill fell for that year.
In 1920 the proposition for admission
was renewed, aud resulted in the passage
of bill authorizing the people of Nilsson
ri to form State Government, the bill
containing provision familiarly known
as the Missouri Compromise. That COM
promise, as you will recollect, was this !:
Congress consented to admit Missouri as
a State into the Union without any re-
striction in reference to slavery but it
put upon record solemn agreement be-
tween all parties, that for all time to come
slavery should be inhibited in that part
of the louisiana purchase lying north of
the line of tbirty-six degrees thirty min
utes north latitude. For while this ap-
peared to settle the question. From 1924
down to ls46 there was little or no diff
Guilty on the question of the government
of the Territories or the existence or non
existence of slavery therein. In lo46
We were engaged in war with Mexico
President Polk asked for an appropria-
tion from Congress the object OF which
was to conclude treaty of peace. Ills
first proposition was that Congress should
appropriate two millions to be used IN the
negotiation of peace with Mexico. 1t
was known that treary OF peace would
bring US additional territory. That was
we'll understood by every attentive obser-
yer of passing events. When the bill was
offered Mr.. Wilmot, a member from the
Bradford district, in this State, moved
proyiso that in the territory which might
be purchased there should be neither sla-
very nor involuntary seryitude except on
conviction for crime. This IN terms, was
very similar to the Jefersouian ordinance.
The proviso passed the House by large
vote. and weat to the Senate. 1t vas the
evening that closed the session. A mem
ber took the floor and occupied the time
preventing the transaction OF business up