Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-05-19
poIiLi6aL-
~. @ : SPEECH OP % ~ u
EI0|llI. / II lOHiiNi iii,i. 4 BINGHAM
'DaSr's e tas !, ass.sgf { R.pSs'~a~

ia a.lf... -dprN Z6t1, nos.
Mo BINGHAM. j congratulate n
'couBtEy that the distinguished gentlernal
from Georgia / Ne. STEPRkNs has seeI
At on this day to acknowledge what b
'baS heretofore. during The iaSt and pres
snt Congress, steadily .and peRistently dc
nied, that Ihsyposition Of those with whom
Z have The honor to act on this floor an,
elasHbsre u regard lo ihe power Of Con
gEeas over tbe several Territories dnEinl
she Nholsstims IN which. they continue i
be Territories and up 10 The very momsu
'of their transition from . Territory to
Slale, i The true position under tie Con
atitntiDn ef the United States, and one 4
'b6sseognizsd and legiiimaiely enforced b.
congressional lesislatiOo. II ril -
The gentleman from Georgia predictet
bis reply 10 the distinguished aud learnes
gentleman from Maryland. MI. DAVIS.
among ether things, upon the ground tha
the Congress Of the United States haG
heretofore dictated to the people Of Lou.
isiana conditions precedent to their admis-
zion into the Union as State. / desire
inaamuch as the gentleman from Georgia
made special refetencetoth Louisiana en-.
abling oct, to call the attention of The
HOUSE and Of the country TO its proyisiops,
tos theputpOse Of showing that itgOes asfar
as any msn on this side Of the House has
ever seutufsd 10 60 in respect to the au.
thoFity OF Congress osef the Territories, and
its power TO impose restrictions upon the
admission Of new States into tie Union.
Admit that the act Of Congress, passed
10 1911, to authorise the people Of Lou
isiana 10 forms State constitution and
government and to provide for their adj
mission into the Union, was a j0st and con.
stilutional enactment, aud you admit all
that ask, all that any man can ask, up.
on which to predicate an argument against
the proposition submitted to this House BY
the committee Of conference, appointed
through il, and in favor Of the power Of
Congress not only to reject that bin but to
reject the Lecompton Constitution under
any and all conceivable circumstances.
l do net know, nor do care, whether
TIE honorable gentleman from Georgia as
snmed and asserted the validity ofthe Lou.
isisna act merely for the occasion, or not
thank him for bis concession that that
Sct was precedent which he might with
propriety quote here against the argument
of fihe gentleman from Maryland. Sir, if
the gentleman's admission be right, IL that
statute be valid, IL totally sweeps away the
dogma Of the sovereignty of new States in
the formation Of constitutions preparatory
70 admission, against the expressed will of
the whole people Of the United States. as
set forth by their Representatives in Con-
eFess assembled. The ad mission Of theau-
thority of Congress to impose upon new
States the restrictions Of that statute con-
csdes the right Of Congress to reject any
new State until It shall have adopted a
conltitution, not only republican, but also
consistent with the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, and also in conformity with
such conditions precedent as Congress may
deem just and proper to be imposed. ]
quote from that statute as followss ssti
oi"SEo. 3. Aad6eitf farther snaeted, That
allfree white male citiasns of the United
States. who shall have arrived at the age
of twenty.oue years. and resided within
.sthe said Territory at least one year previ.
GUS to the day Of election. and shall have
paid territorial, county, district, or parish
tax; and all persons having in other res
pects the legal qualifications to vote for
rspresentatiVesin in the General Assembly of
the said Territory, be, and they are here.
by authorized to choose representatives TO
,iotm a convention, who shall be appoftion.
sd among the several counties, districts,
sand parishes within the said Territory of
Orleaus,in such manner as the Legislature
ofthe said Territory shall By law direct.
The number Of representatives shall not
exceed sixty: and the elections for the rep
sessntativss aforesaid shall take place on
the third Monday 10 September next, and
ahall Be conducted ID the same manner as
.Ss now provided by the laws Of the said
dTaEitoryD for elscting members for the
House Of Representatives; ta5lag ,.oJ }
a'r aSKC. 8 And be It further enacted, that
.ahs members of the convention, when du.
~iy yeiyteds .bes and they are hereby author.
,jis6d to, meet at the city Of New OAeaps, on
1.-The salst Monday Of November next, which
eOhsention; when met.shalI first determine,
BY : mejoFily Of the whols number elec.
,ted, whether It be expedient or not, ct that
time, 10 form q constitution and State gov.
ernment for Tire people within the said ter.
5silosys aud If Il be; determined to be expe.
.disnl, then the convention shall ia like
msnner declare, in behalf Of the people Of
,!4ha said Territory, that it adopts the Con.
8 slitaaion cfthe United States; whereupon
Abe said cbusenliou shall be, and hereby is,
authorized % form a constitution and State.
sgOgsFnmspt Tor tie people Of the said ter
6iAoFyypFeyided the consultation to be form
I'D, virtue Of the authority shafein civ;
ish. shkll b republican, and CONSISTENT with
lhs Constitution Of the Unitsil lStates,tLat
II shall coptsin The Fundamental principles
sof civil aud religious liberty I and Il sbsIi
'aeeure to tbe citizen the trial. BY Jury IL
all criminal cases, and the privileges of
kha writ of adbeds coypxs, conformsbiy 10
sha peuyiSpm Of the 0onsGtutlon of the
ls Deiled Etstes; and that taafiersshe admis.
ihiop ef ths said Territory Of Orleans as q
Essgs into the Union, the laws which such
Ssals msy pass shall be promulgated and
klzlseords pf every description shalI6e pre-
sefyed, aad Rs judicial and legislative writ.