Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-01-26

clarIng slaves 10 be common property, or
them among the list of arti-
sles or eha,tles universally recognized
the civilized world as common
subjects of property. That cannot by any
just law, be made property which is moi
the subject of property. Men entitled to
life and liberty are not the subject of
property TO men entitled to life and liber-
~. Equals are not the subject of proper
ty TO equals. The Constitution of the
United States was never Intended TO es--
iablish or sustain, and does NOR now sus-
tain, this peculiar relation or institution
in any Territory of the United States
There is another serious aspect to
this anti Republican doctrine of slavery
under the Constitution. If the right to
hold slaves existed In Kansas at the time
of the passage OF the Kansas act under
the common Constitution, it existed in
Uiah and New Mexico and Oregon, and
Washington and Minnesota Territories.
Ii the right TO hold slaves exists under
the Constitution Of the United States IN
dependent of local law, the Constitution
being the Supreme law Of the land as il
expressly declares, then every act pro-
hiblting slavery in any,,of the Territories,
The ordinance of 1887, and every law and
Constitution of every free State, abolish
ing or prohibiting slavery, were and are
unconstitutional, ard the right of
shareholders to bring into Wisconsin their
slaves and to hold them here as such, and
TO sustain the institution of slavery here
now exists, and slave labor, forced upon
US, Is liable to come In competition with
the free labor of our citizens 1t is a
question which rises far above all party
considerations. The free people of Wis
consln Will never consent to any such con-
struction of the Federal Constitution.
We owe At to ourselves, and to other
free States, and to the spirit of our insti-
tutIons, TO record cur solemn protest
against It. Wisconsin was born of Vir-
glnla when IDEAS of free government
filled the minds OF her great statesmen,
and when Liberty was the theme of
her Orators. The child has not forgot
ten the early taught lessons by the pa
rent: There shall be neither slavery
nor Involuntary servitude IN the State of
of Wisconsin otherwise than in the pun
ishment of crime whereof the party Shall
have been duly convicted"
The right to control, is necessary in
cldent to the power TO acquire Territory.
Congress has no power 10 establish slavery
IN the Territories, becauseit derives no
power from the Constitution, and to es-
taollsh slavery was not one of the purpos-
es tor which II was ordained and estab-
hShed. The Federal Government has
no right to acquire Territory except for
purposes consistent with objects Of our
institutions, 1t has a right, and il is du-
ty to prohibit slavery in the Territories,
because 1t has power to leg islate over the
Territories, and slavery is the an tagonist
OF that Liberty. To secure the blessings
OF which the Constitution was ordained
and established
The right of Congress to legisate for
the Territories has been conceded by ey-
cry President, and sanctioned by every
administration, from that of Washington
down to that Of President Pierce. II has
been declared by the adjudication of the
Supreme Court of the United States
Every organic law, organizing l Terri
torlal government, passed by Congress.
IS an act of the legislation. The act of
Congress, organizing Territorial Gov
eminent IN Kansas, holds the same rela-
uon TO that territory that 4 State Coustl-
tuuon does to the State. Congress can
coAfere 30 power of legislation that it does
not Itself possess, and every act of legis-
!atol by Congress establishing an organ
&c law Is legislation for the territory and
for The people of the territory; is legisla-
non over the territory and over the peo-
pie OF the territory, affecting the rights
and privileges and institutions of the peo-
pie OF the territory. 1t is the duty of Con-
gress to exercise that power of legisla-
uon over the territories in order to pre-
vent the aggressIonS of an enemy TO the
common liberty which the people have
under the Constitution, a right TO enioy.
10 certain extent, the people have a
right TO regulate their own institutions In
their own way. But the people have no
right to do wrong. The majority of the
people have no right TO Cypress the min
orIty. Constitutions are adopted and laws
made with view to protect The rights of
hinorltles against the excuses of major
ities, as we'll as to protectthe rights of the
majority because of their intrinsic merits.
Under constitutional! government, the
power OF The people Is hot unlimited
Inc people must be bound by the law. or
mere is the end of civil government.-
Our Ho'ernment is nota pure democracy
when the will of the people necessarily
becomes the law. Otherwise. if the ma.
JoFity determined upon a Limited Mou-
archy or absolute DespoiisIn, without re-
gard to constitutional safeguards, our gov
ernmen' might be changed tomorrow,
and all our liberties oyerthrown. Under
our present form of government, the peo-
pie IN every organized State, having re-
gard 10 the bounds set to their action bv
the constitution, and having in view the
great objects of the Government, have a
right to say through their legally chosen
agents and representatives., by what kind
Of law their lives and liberty and proper
y Shai' be protected and preserved.
ihlS applies NOT tn tho ri0b,s &C -